I thought it would be a good time to do another mock draft for the Dallas Cowboys before the kickoff of the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine. Things sometimes get blown out of proportion with the way some of these prospects perform in the “underwear” Olympics. A good performance can improve a players draft stock, but a poor performance can do the complete opposite. Either way, evaluators can use this event to confirm or deny what they have seen on film.
In this 7-round mock draft for the Dallas Cowboys I decided to address some of the obvious needs, but also add some much-needed depth and speed to the roster. You may or may not agree with who I’ve selected for the Cowboys, but that’s one of the fun things about mock drafts.
All of the selections are based on my own personal draft grades and where I believe these prospects will be selected. Of course, they are subject to change after each prospects individual performance and their medicals are revealed at the combine.
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R1/19 – DAL: Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia
Isaiah Wynn will likely be the top-rated player on the board when the Dallas Cowboys select at 19th overall. He is a plug-and-play player at LG, even though he played LT at Georgia. He immediately upgrades the Cowboys OL and solidifies the unit for years to come.
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R2/18 – DAL: Justin Reid, S, Stanford
Justin is the younger brother of former 49ers safety Eric Reid, a player involved in the 2013 trade that allowed the Cowboys to acquire Travis Frederick and Terrance Williams. Justin is a good all-around player who is capable of playing FS or SS. He would be a Day 1 starter and probably be the most talented safety on the Cowboys roster.
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R3/17 – DAL: Keke Coutee, WR, Texas Tech
I’m personally hoping that D.J. Chark is still on the board when the Dallas Cowboys select in the third, but he likely goes much earlier because of his rare combination of size and speed. But, Coutee would be a nice consolation prize. He might just be the best deep threat this entire draft class. He’s a little undersized at 5’11”, 180, which could cause him to struggle against bigger/stronger CBs in the NFL. But, he provides the much-needed speed the Cowboys offense is currently missing.
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R4/16 – DAL: Mark Walton, RB, Miami
If not for an unfortunate ankle injury that eventually required surgery last season, Walton would likely be drafted much higher. He’s not an every down RB in the NFL due to his size, but he is one of the more explosive players in this draft class. He would make an excellent complementary back in both the passing and running game for the Cowboys. He’s a home run threat every time he touches the ball.
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R4/37 – DAL: Fred Warner, LB, BYU
Fred Warner is an instinctive off ball LB who could eventually become Sean Lee’s replacement at WILL. For the time being though, he would be Lee’s primary backup and a core special-teams player. Warner can play sideline to sideline and looks comfortable playing in space when asked to drop in coverage.
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R5/34 – DAL: Durham Smythe, TE, Notre Dame
I personally don’t like the depth at the TE position for the Cowboys. Witten is declining and there’s not much behind him to inspire much confidence. Hanna could be a cap casually, Swaim is in the last year of his rookie deal, and both Blake Jarwin and Rico Gathers are projects.
Smythe would likely step in and be the TE2 as a rookie. He is the classic “Y” TE, who is a better blocker than receiver at this point in his career. I think he is a capable receiver though, he just wasn’t asked to do it much in college at Notre Dame.
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R5/36 – DAL: Holton Hill, CB, Texas
If not for suspensions and off the field concerns, Hill would be a top 50 selection and possible first-round draft pick. I’m willing to take a chance on him though in the fifth-round due to his talent because of the young and up-and-coming CBs the Cowboys currently have on the roster. Hill could be a draft day steal if he can get his act together.
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R6/19 – DAL: Kentavius Street, DE/DT, NC State
Street was a DE at NC State, but his lack of desired length will likely cause him to kick inside to DT in the NFL. He is one of the more athletically gifted defensive lineman in this draft class and I expect him to put on a show at the combine. I think he could have a role similar to that of Tyrone Crawford and play both DE and kick inside to the 3-tech with the Cowboys.
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R6/34 – DAL: Christian Sam, LB, Arizona State
The Cowboys need LB depth in the worst way, so I decided to double dip. Christian Sam is a talented player who could see his draft stock improve if his medicals check out at the combine. He missed all of 2016 due to an injury, but rebounded last season. He would be an excellent special-teams player as a rookie and could be the primary backup at MIKE and SAM.
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R7/18 – DAL: David Bright, OT, Stanford
The Dallas Cowboys lack of offensive line depth hurt them in 2017, but Bright could help in this area. He played both guard and tackle at Stanford and also took practice snaps at center. That kind of versatility to play several different positions is invaluable on game day. As a rookie, he could be the primary swing tackle.
