The heat is turning up on the Dallas Cowboys front office. It appears that when you pull back the surface-level layers of this team, it is actually not as talented across the board as they tried to tell the fan base. Failing to address key positions year after year is starting to show this season and may cause the Cowboys to miss out on a playoff spot.
Check out my seven-round mock draft to see how I believe the Cowboys should address their positional needs to get this team back to the playoffs and potentially to another Super Bowl one day.
Round 1 (No. 14 overall): Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Cowboys can not go another year without spending significant capital on running backs this offseason. They tried to go the veteran route this year by bringing back Ezekiel Elliot and bringing in Dalvin Cook, but neither option has worked. So in the first round, the Cowboys opt for Boise State's Ashton Jeanty, arguably the best RB in a talented and loaded class.
Round 2 (No. 45 overall): DeMonte Capehart, IDL, Clemson
The Cowboys are once again being bullied in the trenches and instead of being the top-tier team in the NFL. It seems like everybody is getting in on the game plan of simply running the football. The Cowboys need to attempt to address the IDL position once again. DeMonte Capehart stands at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds and has an opportunity to be a productive run-stopper for Dallas.
Round 3 (No. 76 overall): Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
Stopping the run game not only takes good play in the trenches but it also takes good play from the linebackers. With this selection, the Cowboys draft Alabama defensive signal-caller Deontae Lawson. Lawson is an instinctual second-level player who excels at stopping the run, something the Cowboys need desperately.
Round 4 (No. 112 overall): Antwane Wells Jr., WR, Ole Miss
Another positional need that is showing itself is wide receiver. Since the departure of Amari Cooper a few years back, there hasn't been a true one-two punch in Dallas. The addition of Juice Wells could be a great asset. Wells is a versatile player who can align in multiple positions and be a great complementary piece to CeeDee Lamb.
Round 5 (No. 155 overall): Jordan Hancock, DB, Ohio State
The Cowboys need to get younger in their secondary. Jordan Hancock is a CB who has the frame to be able to move to nickel and safety in some situations. This defense under Mike Zimmer appears to be trying to figure everything out and a versatile secondary defender like Hancock could help this process out tremendously.
Round 5 (No. 169 overall): Jimmy Horn Jr., WR, Colorado
Explosiveness, explosiveness, explosiveness. The Cowboys have relied on Brandin Cooks for this element of the offense but they need to get younger and need more than one option at receiver to provide that. Jimmy Horn Jr. is an electric player who could fill the role of being a vertical threat out of the slot but also help on special teams.
Round 5 (No. 170 overall): Parker Brailsford, IOL, Alabama
Adding depth to this offensive line is a must. Parker Brailsford is an athletic IOL who can play in both power and zone schemes. Brailsford adds depth to an offensive line that is making the transition to getting younger. Brailsford has the talent to compete for a starting spot and allows the Cowboys to put their best five OL on the field.
Round 5 (No. 171 overall): Raheim Sanders, RB, South Carolina
With this pick, the Cowboys go back to addressing the RB position. Raheim Sanders is different in physical profile from Jeanty but is a great complementary piece. This could set up a true thunder-and-lightning situation for the Cowboys.
Round 6 (No. 192 overall): Tonka Hemingway, IDL, South Carolina
Tonka Hemingway is another big-bodied IDL who can provide physicality and size to this defensive front. Hemingway paired with Capehart provides steps in the right direction for the Cowboys and gives them a young tandem to develop.
Round 6 (No. 208 overall): Austin Barber, OT, Florida
This is another pick for depth, with Terence Steele's play being inconsistent over the last few years it makes sense for them to draft a player they can develop in the future. Austin Barber is an athletic OT who has the lateral movements to be a reliable starter in the NFL. He just needs to improve his play strength.
