The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine completed over the weekend, meaning new mock drafts are flooding the Internet. Not so surprisingly, one of my favorite “draft analysts”, Matt Miller, just dropped his Post-Combine mock draft. I always enjoy reading who he selects for the Dallas Cowboys because I think he has a good feeling for team needs, and he certainly didn’t disappoint with who we selected for America’s Team.
I like Matt Miller’s picks for the Dallas Cowboys, but I personally would’ve gone a little different direction if I’m being completely honest. There’s some players he passed on who I wouldn’t have. But, we will get to that later. First, let’s take a look at who he chose for the Cowboys with their first three draft picks.
Matt Miller’s Picks for the Dallas Cowboys
Round 1, Pick 17 – CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
Round 2, Pick 51 – Brycen Hopkins, TE, Purdue
Round 3, Pick 82 – Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M
Analysis
Overall, there’s a lot to like about Matt Miller’s selections for the Dallas Cowboys. CJ Henderson would replace Byron Jones, Brycen Hopkins would replace Jason Witten, and Justin Madubuike would replace Maliek Collins. It all makes sense and would be a good draft haul for the Cowboys, but I don’t like the fact he passed up on a few really good players to make these selections.
For instance, Matt Miller decided to draft CJ Henderson in the first-round with Henry Ruggs III still on the board. Ruggs fell to 22 for the Philadelphia Eagles, which is even more disappointing. The Cowboys definitely need more CB depth, but I don’t think they should pass on a blue-chip, game changer like Ruggs. I think they can wait till the second-round to address the CB position.
My suspicion was confirmed when both Noah Igbinoghene (Auburn) and Cameron Dantzler (Mississippi State) were drafted right after Matt Miller selected Brycen Hopkins with the Cowboys second-round pick. I think Igbinoghene and Dantzler are both starting caliber CBs and possibly have more upside than CJ Henderson.
Getting Justin Madubuike in the third-round would probably be considered a draft day steal for the Dallas Cowboys. I personally have him ranked much higher, so much so I don’t know if he would be there at 51 for the Cowboys. So to get him this late in the draft would be a huge win.
I’m right with you on your analysis. If we pick at 17 I think it needs to be a bonified home run. If Henderson is the bpa I would be in favor of trading back a couple spots if possible. I’d support ruggs > cj. I also think that if we’re drafting a tight end, the second round is too rich for this class. I do have a pet cat at TE in this group, the kid from FAU. That kind of production and size jumps off the paper.
I’m right there with you Ben. I like Harrison Bryant as well, but my “pet cat” at TE is Adam Trautman (Dayton). I think he’s the most complete TE in this year’s draft class.
17: R1P17
S XAVIER MCKINNEY
ALABAMA
51: R2P19
WR BRANDON AIYUK
ARIZONA STATE
82: R3P18
CB NOAH IGBINOGHENE
AUBURN
120: R4P17
DL JAMES LYNCH
BAYLOR
164: R5P18
LB LOGAN WILSON
WYOMING
179: R5P33
EDGE TREVIS GIPSON
TULSA
231: R7P17
TE CHARLIE TAUMOEPEAU
PORTLAND STATE A NICE DRAFT IF IT HAPPENS!!!!
That would be an excellent draft, although I don’t think it’s a very realistic one. If the Cowboys want Noah Igobinoghene, they’re going to have to take him at 51. Even then he may already be gone by the time they are on the clock in the second-round.
Like CB Henderson to replace Jones, Ok with TE Brycen Hopkins if Safeties Winfield and Dugger are gone. Love DT Madubuike in 3rd round.
I’m not as high on Henderson is most people are. I’d rather have Jeff Gladney, but ideally I would wait until the second-round to take a CB. And I personally wouldn’t take a TE until the third or fourth-round. I’m happy to roll with Blake Jarwin this year as the TE1.
Substitute Winfield Jr for Hopkins and I’m doing a cartwheel with this draft. Here to believe Madubuike will be there in the 3rd though with his combine performance.
I don’t think Madubuike slides that far, even after his combine performance. He’s still a top 5 DT in this year’s draft class and might not even be there for the Cowboys at 51.
We are not taking tight end in second round. CJ Henderson dominated the combine. He was smooth and effortless. It has been confirmed that Cowboys interviewed him at combine. If we can get Gladney in second, then I would prefer the Xavier McKinley at 17.
There is no arguing Henderson put on a show at the combine, but all that does is confirm he’s a really good athlete. I’m not completely sold on him as a prospect though. I would put Jeffrey Okudah in the tier 1 of CBs, but I don’t believe Henderson belongs there. I think he’s in the tier 2 with Gladney, Fulton, Diggs, Igbinoghene, Terrell, and possibly Dantzler. It was me, I’d wait if I was the Cowboys and draft one of these other CBs in the 2nd-round.
I wouldn’t be opposed to drafting Xavier McKinney at 17. It all depends on who else is on the board though.
I think it’s 100% going to depend on who they can nab in free agency. If they can get Karl Joseph, Chris Harris, and/or Randall Cobb signed then they can go with pure best player on their board. I could definitely see some trading back for S or CB depending upon how the 1st round falls.
Yeah, not knowing what they are going to in free agency puts a damper on any kind of mock draft for the Dallas Cowboys. It’s still fun to speculate though.
The first 2 picks are a waste of picks in my opinion, I don’t think Henderson is good enough to be picked that high in the first round and we’re bringing back Blake Jarwin for a reason!! I don’t see us wasting a premium pick on a TE after bringing back Jarwin!! I know Jarwin hasn’t gotten the 2nd round tender yet, but it’s gonna happen, so why do that and then waste a 2nd round pick on another TE!! That wouldn’t make sense to me!! If it was me I’d pick Xavier Mckinney at 17 no matter who else is on the board cause we need safety help more than anything, and we have been ignoring that position for far too long!! And in the 2nd I’d get the best corner available and then get the best DT available in the 3rd round and the rest of the draft I’d go best player available!! But that’s just my opinion!!
I like Xavier McKinney, but I honestly don’t like the value of drafting a safety in the first-round. I don’t think there’s much of a drop off, if any, in waiting until the second-round and drafting someone like Antoine Winfield. It really all depends on how the draft goes and who’s the clock at the time for the Cowboys.