Brian Martin
Normally at this point in the offseason we would be diagnosing all of the information obtained at the NFL Scouting Combine, but sadly due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that’s not the case. That leaves us with nothing to look forward to until the start of the new league year (March 17) and free agency.
Since there’s really not anything else going on I thought I would take this opportunity to do a complete seven-round mock draft for the Dallas Cowboys before they make any moves in free agency. For this exercise I used The Draft Network’s mock draft machine
Let’s get started, shall we!?
TRADE: Cowboys send 1.10 to New York Jets for 1.23, 3.66, 4.107
Round 1, Pick 23 (from Jets)
S Trevon Moehrig, TCU
Word is the Dallas Cowboys are really high on Trevon Moehrig so it wouldn’t be completely impossible if they made him their first-round pick in a trade-down scenario. He is a perfect fit in Dan Quinn’s heavy Cover 1-3 coverage scheme as a single-high safety.
Round 2, Pick 44
CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse
Ifeatu Melifonwu (6’2″, 215) is a tall, lengthy cornerback and fits the mold Dan Quinn likes in his outside CBs. He would pair nicely with last year’s second-round pick Trevon Diggs and give the Cowboys two young, talented press-man corners for the foreseeable future.
Round 3, Pick 66 (from Jets)
OT James Hudson, Cincinnati
James Hudson is a DT turned OT who would be an excellent insurance policy and eventual replacement for Tyron Smith in the not so distant future. He still a little raw as a blindside protector, but his ceiling is as high as any OT in the 2021 draft class.
Round 3, Pick 75
LB Jabril Cox, LSU
Jabril Cox is a perfect fit as a WILL LB in Dan Quinn’s 4-3 scheme. His ability to make plays in space and in coverage is exactly what the Dallas Cowboys defense has been lacking. And, his addition would mean Jaylon Smith can move back to MLB where he seems to fit better.
Round 3, Pick 99
DT Alim McNeill, NC State
The Dallas Cowboys are in desperate need of upgrading their defensive line and Alim McNeill would go a long ways in doing just that. He is a perfect fit as a 1-tech and his ability to set and reset the offensive line would help keep the LBs behind him clean to make plays.
Round 4, Pick 107 (from Jets)
CB Keith Taylor Jr., Washington
Keith Taylor Jr. (6’2″, 191) is another tall, lengthy CB who fits Dan Quinn’s preferred parameters. Taylor has the versatility to play outside or in the slot, which could be invaluable, but is at his best in a heavy press-man scheme like the Cowboys plan on deploying.
Round 4, Pick 115
EDGE Adetokunbo Ogundeji, Notre Dame
Adetokunbo Ogundeji (6’4″, 260) is an intriguing developmental defensive end with starting potential. He is gifted physically and has tremendous length with above average get-off at snap the ball. He would provide much-needed DE depth behind DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory.
TRADE: Cowboys send 4.139, 7.232 for Minnesota Vikings 4.119
Round 4, Pick 119 (from Vikings)
S Talanoa Hufanga, USC
I like the idea of giving Donovan Wilson first shot started strong safety, but I don’t think he should go unchallenged. Talanoa Hufanga is a versatile, hard-hitting safety who excels around the line of scrimmage. He he is an excellent blitzer and also has experience playing as a dime LB as well.
Round 5, Pick 179
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa
Ihmir Smith-Marsette is a smooth moving, versatile WR with special teams ability in the return game as both a kick and punt returner. He can play in the slot or outside and can be used on gimmicky plays as well. He is exactly the kind of depth WR the Cowboys can utilize a variety of ways.
Round 6, Pick 194
DT Ta’Quon Graham, Texas
Ta’Quon Graham (6’3″, 290) is a developmental 3-tech who I believe provides DT/DE versatility. He was an All-American DE in high school before kicking inside at Texas to DT. He relies mostly on his length and power, but possesses the intangibles to become a rotational player early on.
You did well to address our two biggest holes on defense with our first two picks, but you did so at a huge trade value disadvantage to the cowboys. You had us trading down 13 spots but only got us a third and fourth round pick when teams have given up no less than second round picks to move up even less spots than that. I’d stay away from using the draft network’s mock draft machine because it’s clearly busted lol.
Honestly, I don’t think this is too dissimilar to the 2013 trade down that landed the Dallas Cowboys Travis Frederick. I know the trade value doesn’t add up, but in the end I’d be happy if this is the way things turned out.
Love the Mock Brian , Moehrig would be a nice trade down , plus doing so allows us to address the best we can in draft , pretty much the rest of our needs in top 3 rounds , Safety , CB , OT , LB , and DT
Like Meilfonwu and Taylor jr at CB , both tall and rangy , fits great with DQ system
Also like the Hufanga pick , we shouldn’t just give the SS to D Wilson necessarily , which is what we did with Woods last year and we saw what happened there , I see Harrison Smith similarities with Hufanga as well
Thanks for the compliment. I really like the way this mock draft played out, even though the value of the trade down favored the Jets more.
Ummm, yeah–would not have accepted that trade but liked the draft—-thing is, being drafted in the first round does not make one a first-round talent…there are only 10-18 first round graded players every year (obv varies) but very unlikely to get one of the graded players past mid-round.
Now obv there exists first-round talent in every round it’s just not apparent to anyone at the time of the draft–but trading from actual graded talent to a ‘pick your flavor’ pool of talent that exists between picks 16-40 (ish) ain’t going to turn out well on average–
I think McNeil and Cox will rise up boards sadly. As will St Juste (even moAr sadly lol..)
Cheers
I wouldn’t mind if our draft turned out this way, but I don’t think it will!! I don’t believe we’ll draft a safety that high!! I understand they are high on Trevon Moehrig, but I think we all know that we won’t draft a safety that high in the draft!! I think we should draft a corner in the 1st round and then pick a safety in the 2nd round, but the 2nd round may even be too high to draft one!! But who knows, maybe they’ll change their ways!! But even if they do, I doubt they’ll trade down that far for just a 3rd and 4th rounder… I don’t see us trading down that far for no less than a 2nd and a 3rd!!
Your 1st Rd trade is absolutely horrendous. It’s a difference in 200 points, and not in our favor. You left the value of an early to mid 3rd Rd pick on the table. Why would anyone trade back 13 spots in the 1st Rd when you had a top 10 pick for just a 3rd and a 4th? sorry for not commenting on the players you chose, but that just blew my mind.
I know the value of the trade down doesn’t add up, but I really think it’s going to be difficult to find someone to trade down with this year. I think this is reminiscent to what the Cowboys did in 2013 to land Travis Frederick.
You don’t make a bad trade just because it’s hard to find a trade partner. It’s going to depend on what position there is a run on through picks (1-9). If there’s still 1 of the 4 main name QBs still on the board due to a run on WR’s early on, that could open us up to multiple trade partners. NE sitting at #15 is what I will be watching. They need a QB and everyone knows it. They may try to jump in front of SF @ #12 that could be looking to grab another QB. Just have to wait and see how the board plays. Personally i think it would be crazy to trade back in the 1st RD this year. Take your top 10 talent with pick #10, god knows we need the help in the secondary. Then try to maneuver your way to get an additional 2nd or 3rd on day 2 if you have the urge to trade.
Love the mock but hate the trade down
Love the first 5 picks .If you go from 10 to 23 I want a 2 round pick . Otherwise a fine job . I would have double dipped at DT though . Gallimore and Hill who could bust this year is all you got . McNeil can play 1 tech but we need another big guy at DT as well .