Well, it's been fun Cowboys Nation. Unfortunately, draft season this year will come to a completion tomorrow afternoon when the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft kicks off. That means no more Dallas Cowboys mock drafts this year, but hey…we can always start on 2021. It's never too early to take a look at next year's draft class, right!?
To say the 2020 draft season was an interesting one would be an understatement. The Coronavirus/COVID 19 pandemic threw a huge wrench into the process which has made scouting and evaluating this year's draft class all the more difficult. It's really going to be interesting to see how it impacts the things throughout NFL Draft.
But enough with all of that talk, let's get to my final 2020 Dallas Cowboys seven-round mock draft prediction. I tried to select players who I've been able to confirm the Dallas Cowboys have “met” with whether formally, informally, or virtually. Below is what I came up with…
Round 1, Pick 17 – Zack Baun, EDGE/LB, Wisconsin
With C.J. Henderson and K'Lavon Chaisson likely gone, Zack Baun becomes the name I'm writing down on the draft card if I'm the Dallas Cowboys. Linebacker, EDGE rusher, special teams demon… Baun is a Swiss Army Knife type of chess piece the Cowboys can deploy in a variety of ways. He's also a good insurance policy if Aldon Smith/Randy Gregory struggle if/when they're reinstated and if there are any lingering issues with Leighton Vander Esch's surgically repaired neck.
Round 2, Pick 51 – Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn
Noah Igbinoghene is a wide receiver turned cornerback whose on-field play projects well at the next level. He's still learning the intricacies of the CB position, but his athleticism and strength to alter routes in press coverage makes him an intriguing prospect. His rawness may keep him from becoming an immediate plug-and-play player as a rookie, but his ceiling is as high as any CB in the 2020 draft class. The added value he brings as a special teams player makes him well worth a second-round pick.
Round 3, Pick 82 – Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina
Bryan Edwards is the only player in my final mock draft who I haven't been able to confirm whether or not the Dallas Cowboys have shown any interest in. So the selection is based more on my admiration for Edwards as a player and how I think he fits in the Cowboys offense as a “big slot”. I love the size, physicality he would bring to the position and his versatility to play on the outside as well. I think he would be a perfect complement to both Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup.
Round 4, Pick 123 – Kenny Robinson, S, XFL
I thought about going with UCLA Bruins TE Devin Asiasi here because the Dallas Cowboys are supposedly infatuated with him, but Kenny Robinson is someone I have graded higher and plays a more “need” position for the Cowboys. He may have taken an unconventional path to get to this point in his career, but is range and instincts as a centerfield type safety are hard to come by. I believe he has a real shot at earning a starting job as a rookie.
Round 5, Pick 164 – Colby Parkinson, TE, Stanford
After passing up on Devin Asiasi a pick earlier, I decided to draft Colby Parkinson here. He is yet another Stanford TE to make his way to the NFL and could join former teammate Dalton Schultz in Dallas – who could be his main competition. I think Parkinson is pretty similar to what the Cowboys already have in Blake Jarwin, but I don't believe that's a bad thing. If Jarwin happened to get injured, Parkinson should be able to step right in and take over without changing the game plan.
Round 5, Pick 179 – Broderick Washington, DT, Texas Tech
Broderick Washington was a late addition to the Senior Bowl as an emergency fill-in for Javon Kinlaw and took full advantage of his opportunity. He played multiple interior positions in odd and even fronts in his three years as a starter at Texas Tech, playing at least 70% of the defensive snaps each year. He's a tough-minded DT with a nasty streak who competes with power and tenacity. He would add some much-needed depth as a rotational player as a rookie for the Cowboys.
Round 7, Pick 231 – Cohl Cabral, C, Arizona State
Cohl Cabral is a former offensive tackle turned center and as such has the versatility to play multiple positions along the offensive line. The Dallas Cowboys could definitely use more depth along the interior of their offensive line and Cabral would provide just that. He still needs to add a little more strength in order to hold up better at the point of attack, but there is enough to like about his skill set that should earn him a roster spot and backup role as a rookie.
