Round 7 (231st overall): Al-Quadin Muhammad, DE, Miami
With the first of the two seventh round draft picks for the Dallas Cowboys I decided to double dip at the defensive end position and take Al-Quadin Muhammad.
The only reason that Muhammad is available this late is because of his numerous off the field problems while at Miami. Otherwise, he would probably be a day two selection.
He was suspended the entire 2014 season after punching a student in the face and was also suspended for the season opener of the 2015 season for a violation of team rules. He was ultimately dismissed from the team for an undisclosed reason, so there are plenty of red flags that the Cowboys will have to look into.
Despite all of the off the field problems though, Al-Quadin Muhammad (6’4″, 250) has the talent to rush the passer in the NFL, which is something that the Dallas Cowboys can certainly use.
All of the off the field problems are worrisome, but I think the former Miami Hurricane DE is worth taking a chance on in the seventh round.
(249th overall): Justin Senior, OT, Mississippi State
To complete the pre-combine mock draft for the Dallas Cowboys I decided to take Justin Senior to give Doug Free a little more competition at right tackle.
Dak Prescott should be all too familiar with Senior having played with him at Mississippi State. His former right tackle could fill the same role in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys.
Senior (6’5″, 310) has the size required to play the position, but needs work on his technique and footwork if he wants to start the NFL. He can also stand to add some strength to his upper and lower body.
Justin Senior might not be ready to push for the starting RT job as a rookie, but he could provide valuable depth while continuing to develop his skill set. That’s all you can really ask of a seventh round draft pick.
Would you be okay with these draft picks for the Dallas Cowboys?
Let me know what you think in the comment section below.
Love it. Like to see DE Jordan Willis or Tanoh Kpassagnon in the mix for the 3rd and 4th rounds. Looks like Dallas has to resign a few of wide receivers, safeties and corners. The draft can’t cover everything.
Thanks for the feedback Edward. I agree with you, the draft can’t cover everything. The Cowboys that we have to address some of the holes in the roster through free agency.
I doubt Jerry will take a TE in the 1st. rd. The Cowboys did that once when they took a supposed great TE from LSU, I think his name was David LeFluer. I guess he was great at LSU, but he was a real stinker in the NFL. I believe he was out of football 3 or 4 years later.
I think Jerry will address the defensive side of the ball in the first couple of rounds. They have no pass rush to speak of and most of their secondary are free agents. Carr is thinking about retirement, Claiborne can’t stay healthy, and they don’t think they can afford to keep Church.
I think Jerry will go DL or DB in the 1st. Rd. and then DL or WR in the 2d. and then maybe TE or RB in the later rounds
Sorry to change the subject. And I know this is second only to what happens to Romo. But there have been some “tapping the brakes” articles on Jaylon Smith lately. Do you still think he will be back 100%?
I don’t think he’ll be back to 100%, but closer than some of these internet Docs would have us believe. I saw all the talk about him wearing an AFO, but I also see him doing drills at full speed without the AFO, indicating he’s made good progress. But time will tell.
Brett, I agree with Bryson. I’m not sure he will be back to 100%, but the way he is moving in these videos he has been posting definitely looks like he is pretty close. Unfortunately, we’re just going to have to wait and see what he looks like when he is finally able to get back on the field in pads.
Overall, probably not my preference, but you make a good case. I would personally be against drafting a tight end, even as a BPA selection, in the first. Although I certainly get the appeal of Njoku, it still just feels like too much of a luxury pick. However, I am absolutely right there with you in rounds 2 and 3 with Moreau and Rivers, and in context, I would be much more okay with Njoku if they were the picks that followed. Likewise, I would probably be okay with Dupre in round 4. Not a huge fan, but I think that’s appropriate value and he would fill a potential need. I feel like the late rounds come down to personal flavor, but I think your 6 and 7s were solid choices. Good effort and write-up, Brian.
I would say this is a workable draft with maybe a question mark or two. I have also done some mocks taking Njoku in the 1st just to see how the rest off the draft might shake out. His ceiling is very high though he still has a way to go before he gets there but most recruits do. I guess it might depend on how they approach free agency with their TE’s and what they internal skinny is at headquarters in Witten beyond 2017. This is a deep draft at TE and I think they can get a good one in later rounds. I know Bryan Broaddus is quite high on Moreau and he does seem to be moving up boards. However still a bit green at CB having been a former RB but maybe has a higher ceiling than others. Needs to play more physical. I like Rivers a lot and would be on board in the 3rd. I’m not sure on Joe Williams but it depends on his answers in interviews as to why he quit the team. Also smaller than I like to see there. But Emmett was only 5’9″ and he was very durable. Just depends on the player. For me though, there are several players I like in later rounds that should be there. Kareem Hunt was one but he has punched his ticket through his senior bowl play to probably round 2 and can solidify that at the combine. But I would rather look at the later rounds at guys like De’Veon Smith, Aaron Jones, James Connor, Marlon Mack. But again it depends on our approach to free agency. I just hope they let Dunbar walk! Lastly on AQM, he does come with some red flags and although it was supposedly self defense, he did break a guys face and did get in trouble over his luxury car rental business, both which resulted in suspensions. He got some splainin to do. But hey in the 7th round might be worth the risk. But all in all not a bad draft at all.
Thanks for commenting Randy. I kind of liked the way this draft turned out. I kinda doubt the Cowboys would take a TE in the first round, but I wouldn’t be surprised either.
i want one of those CB in the 2nd round:
Jordan Lewis, 5-10, 188, CB, Michigan unofficial 4.47 in 40s
Cameron Sutton, 5-11, 182, CB , Tennessee, unofficial 4.40 in 40s
Corn Elder, 5-10, 179, CB, Miami, unofficial 4.41 in 40s
Alfredo, I like all of those CBs as well. The only problem is I think all of those players best position in the NFL is in the slot. The Cowboys really need a bigger CB that can match up with the taller more physical WRs. They don’t currently have that on the roster.
Kevin King has been rising up boards with a great showing at the Combine. In the Cowboys defense that always has safety cover over the top I think King could become a pro bowler. Your take on his fit with the Cowboys? Same thing could be said for Obi… Looks like a stud out there yesterday
I’ve been a fan of Kevin King for a while. I think it would be a good fit with the Cowboys. Of course, he is going to have to learn to play a little bit more physical for Rod Marinelli.
I agree. It looks like he has the right traits that the Cowboys want in an outside CB, and I think he has the strength to jam the way rob needs his CB too. He could be a really good fit in the 2nd if cowboys go Edge or SS in the 1st. Should still be there at 60 with the deep class of CB. Any other year he’s got a 1st Round grade for sure
He might even be a better pro then Sidney Jones if he lands in the right system. Right now my mock for the Cowboys is
Round 1 – DE – Derek Barnett
Round 2 – CB – Kevin King
Round 3 – TE – Evan Engram
Round 4 – WR – Fred Ross
Round 6 – SS – Eddie Jackson
I like your first two selections, but I’m not high on the rest of the players you drafted. I think taking Fred Ross in the fourth round is too high and to me Evan Engram is a big WR. Eddie Jackson’s lack of physicality and unwillingness to tackle is concerning for me.
I would be ok with it. Replace Njoku with Hassan Riddick or Jabrill Peppers and i would be praying to God for that Draft… ; ) lol
I
like Riddick and Peppers, but I don’t know how either player fits in the
Cowboys 4-3 defensive scheme.
Reddick would fit perfect at SAM OLB that can extend the Edge and Blitz on 3rd Down. The Cowboys defense was designed as a hybrid of the Old Tampa Bay Teams and the Seattle Seahawks 4-3. Reddick would fill that Bruce Irvin Roll and Peppers would fill in the Cam Chancelor Roll. That would open up the defense to maximize Byron Jones abilitys. Splitting outside to cover the X receiver man to man on 3rd Down while Peppers commands CF
TE never do very well when taken in the 1st. Rd. Dallas tried that back a few years ago on David LaFluer out of LSU. He was pretty good in college, but was a real dud at the pro level, and I think he was out of football within 4 or 5 years. There are too many other needs to fill instead of taking a TE in the 1st. They should look at DL or secondary with the first couple of picks. They should look at RB again since Dunbar is visiting the Rams, and with Elliot doing the stupid crap he is pulling, like pulling a woman’s shirt down in public, what is up with that? He is going to get into a real mess if he doesn’t cool it, and end up suspended. He really needs to grow up and act like a professional football player. There was enough of that kind of crap when Johnny Manziel had his melt down last year, we don’t need it again.