Dallas has a world of options in the draft and an unknown set of needs. Here are 4 candidates emerging as best fits at the end of January.
The Dallas Cowboys have a multitude of needs in 2020. The question will remain open, at least through March, if they will work on improving those areas without veteran help or what they will leave to improve during April’s draft.
The conventional wisdom is to fill holes during free agency so you can draft freely come April, but with 30 free agents, the Cowboys are going to have a lot of holes to fill. Of course, mock drafts exist in a vacuum of free agency help during the first two-plus months of the calendar year. For now, the assumption is that open holes remain that way and for the Cowboys, this opens up endless possibilities.
Dallas could use help at several levels of both offense and defense this offseason.
Running back is taken care of, with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard inked for the next three years (Elliott for seven, but his guarantees run out after 2022). The offensive line is good for a few seasons, though the club could look to improve the backup depth. Assuming Dak Prescott is resigned. Dallas won’t be looking to make a major investment at quarterback, either.
Wide receiver and tight end, though, have their share of question marks for Dallas. Amari Cooper isn’t signed, Randall Cobb is out of contract and Jason Witten is likely leaving the club. Only Michael Gallup and RFA Blake Jarwin are guaranteed to return to the passing game.
On defense, there are more questions than answers. DeMarcus Lawrence is the only starting defensive lineman who is guaranteed to return. Robert Quinn, Maliek Collins, Antwaun Woods and Michael Bennett are all up in the air as free agents of some kind.
Linebacker depth is a question, and both Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch regressed, though the club is invested in both so heavily they’ll each get the 2020 season, at least, to prove their bounce back-ability. In the secondary, there’s a lot of questions with all of the corners (starting with Byron Jones) either out of contract or entering their walk year, Jeff Heath’s contract is finally up and there’s room to add talent besides Xavier Woods.
All of this, at least until some free agents are inked, lead to four regular objects of affection for the Cowboys to select at No. 17, according to mock drafts.
Defensive Tackle Javon Kinlaw (South Carolina)
Wide Receiver Henry Ruggs III (Alabama)
Safety Xavier McKinney (Alabama)
Safety Grant Delpit (LSU)
The majority of mock drafts, at least until the combine results start shuffling prospects around, are looking to deliver one of these four players to Dallas.
Kinlaw is the longshot to be available. He’s a highly disruptive player with a high ceiling as a pass-rushing interior lineman. The way he gets to Dallas could be the injury route, as he has knee concerns that knocked him out of Senior Bowl week after two practices. Ruggs is a speed-demon wide receiver the Cowboys thought they had in Tavon Austin when he was healthy enough to be on the field the last two seasons.
The safeties . . . well, Dallas has neglected the position for so long it’s become laughable.
Over at NFL.com, where they have a multitude of draft analysts to match the multitude of positional openings, there are conflicting opinions on where Dallas goes first. Bucky Brooks thinks the Cowboys should roll with the speedy WR Ruggs.
Adding speed, quickness and playmaking ability to the receiving corps could be a priority with several gifted free agents poised to hit the market.
Meanwhile, Lance Zierlein rolls with McKinney on the back-end.
Assuming Dallas locks up pending free agent Byron Jones, McKinney would give the ‘Boys a versatile, interchangeable safety who can also line up over the slot.
An interesting note is that both analysts had the other’s pick available when Dallas was on the clock. Zierlein could’ve shipped them Ruggs, Brooks could’ve assigned McKinney.
Kinlaw was gone in both (No. 9 in Zierlein’s mock, No. 14 in Brooks’), and Delpit was available in both.
Certainly, the Cowboys could look at other positions, or other players at these positions. The needs are numerous at this time of year and the options are plentiful.
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