6 first-round prospects most often linked to Cowboys at No. 17

Who are the players most heavily linked to the Cowboys this draft season? Will one of these players be the pick at No. 17?

The Cowboys are back in the first round after a year-long hiatus. 728 days after Dallas selected LB Leighton Vander Esch 19th overall, the team is set to add its newest member, and ideally one who will provide an immediate on-field impact.

After months of build up, pot-stirring and speculation, teams will submit their choices virtually in what figures to be the most bizarre NFL draft in recent memory. No one knows how the picks will ultimately play out, but there seems to be consensus among the prospects expected to be available for the Cowboys are on the clock. In some years, Dallas’s pick is telegraphed via one of their ten draft commandments, but this year, the field is wide-open. Nonetheless, expect one of the names below to be one of the pick at No. 17.

OLB K’Lavon Chiasson

Behind Ohio State’s Chase Young, pass rusher is mixed bag in this draft class. But the Cowboys have an immediate and long-term need at defensive end, and their first pick might be their best shot at finding an answer here.

Chiasson recorded 6.5 sacks among his 13.5 tackles for loss for the National Champion LSU Tigers, and is seen by some as having as good a chance as any towards becoming an impact talent for any NFL team.

CB A.J. Terrell

If Chiasson isn’t there, is Terrell the most likely option at No. 17? Although initially seen as a fringe first-rounder, he’s gotten a lot of buzz recently, and definitely seems to be on Dallas’s radar. Despite a rough National Championship game, Terrell spent three productive years with Clemson, and possesses a lot of traits for teams to work with.

Safety Grant Delpit

Also from the Tiger’s champion defense, Grant Delpit could represent the  final piece for the Dallas defense. Long needing a high-end safety, Delpit is one of the top safety prospects available, and might be the first one off this year’s board. PFF’s Steve Palazzolo mocks him to Dallas, stating:

“Delpit is rangy when lined up as a deep safety, and he can cover tight ends in man — something that is extremely useful when going up against the Eagles and Giants in the NFC East. His 36 missed tackles over the past two years are an obvious concern, but few safeties in the draft can make an impact on the back end like Delpit. “

Safety Xavier McKinney

If not Delpit, another SEC safety could fill the Cowboys need at the position. Alabama DB Xavier McKinney is as good as they come, and 17 is around the sweet-spot for safeties in recent years:

2019: DB Darnell Savage (No. 21)

2018: DB Derwin James (No. 17)

2016: DB Keanu Neal (No. 17)

Depending how this draft plays out, McKinney could easily be the mid-first round pick who ends up one of the draft’s biggest steals. 105.3 The Fan’s RJ Choppy selected him for the Cowboys in PFF’s recent Media Mock Draft after Chaisson came off the board.

LB Kenneth Murray

The wildcard who seems to have emerged as actual option, Kenneth Murray might the pick who raises the most eyebrows in Dallas. Many agree with spending the pick on a defensive player makes the most sense, but not so much at linebacker, given the Cowboys seemingly have Jaylon Smith and Vander Esch installed there.

What Murray’s selection would say about either of those players remains to be seen; either Vander Esch isn’t a lock to return fully healthy, or they want to move Smith to more of a pass-rushing role. Whatever it is, the team has seemed enamored with Murray this draft season.

CB CJ Henderson

Henderson was a popular early mock pick for the Cowboys, but seems to have risen out of their selection range in Round 1. Some even see Henderson as the draft’s top corner, ahead of Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah.

It seems doubtful at this point he’ll still be on the board at No 17, but if he is, Henderson is one of the no-brainers Dallas should lock in.

Trade!

Trade down for more picks? Sure. To the Jets for Jamal Adams? Even better! The middle of the first round is a tricky spot, especially given this year’s draft prospects. It’s possible things break in the Cowboys’ favor, but there’s also a scenario where the team has no first-round graded players available. At that point, they could get creative. Dallas tried to deal for Earl Thomas during the 2018 draft-might they be even more willing to go all-in for 2020?

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