Last week, I mocked the first three rounds of next week’s NFL Draft, as did Mark Heaney.
I stopped after three rounds for two reasons. The first being, for the second-straight year, Dallas doesn’t have a fourth rounder due to a poor trade.
The second being that, after three rounds, the reaching begins in earnest.
Trying to figure out the mindset of Jerry Jones going into a draft is exhausting enough.
Trying to figure out what 32 NFL general managers are going to do over the course of four rounds on the draft’s final day? That’ll drive you to drink.
Barring a trade, the Cowboys’ War Room can sleep in a little on Saturday morning since they probably won’t be making any picks for the first couple of hours.
Fortunately, though, I found a few full seven-round mocks by sportswriters with stronger, or at least more pickled, livers than I.
So, for the next few days, we’ll take a look at four of them, one for each round. And I’ll make a comment based on that pick.
We’ll start with this mock from the Sporting News. You can check out their picks for the other six rounds at the link too.
A Cowboys-Free Round 4
- Tennessee Titans
Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon (6-5, 247 pounds)
Should make for a nice target for their brand-new quarterback, Cam Ward.
- Cleveland Browns
Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, OT, Florida (6-7, 316 pounds)
Assuming Cleveland sorts out its quarterback situation, and finally gets it right, this Gators’ alum will help keep that player on his feet.
- New York Giants
Devin Neal, RB, Kansas (5-11, 213 pounds)
Will the Giants land a slightly smaller version of Saquon Barkley with this pick? They just might.
Neal should be on the Cowboys’ radar in the third round if they are still shopping for a running back at 76.
- New England Patriots
Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State (6-1, 210 pounds)
A solid pick sure to please new head coach Mike Vrabel.
- Jacksonville Jaguars
Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Oregon (6-1, 232 pounds)
The Jags finally turn to improving their defense here.
- Las Vegas Raiders
Will Howard, QB, Ohio State (6-4, 236 pounds)
Geno Smith is not the long-term answer at quarterback for Vegas. Howard just might be.
- Buffalo Bills (from Bears)
Savion Williams, WR, TCU (6-4, 222 pounds)
Great. Just what Josh Allen needed, another threat to open the field for him.
- New York Jets
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama (6-2, 217 pounds)
I don’t like former Alabama quarterbacks. Especially with the first name Jalen who play for NFL teams wearing green jerseys.
- Carolina Panthers
Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State (5-10, 191 pounds)
He should help the Panthers pass defense immediately.
- New Orleans Saints
Jalen Rivers, OT, Miami (6-6, 319 pounds)
What’s with all of the NFL players named Jalen all of a sudden.
What the heck was going on back in the early 1990s anyway? Was there some boy band with a lead singer named Jalen or something?
- San Francisco 49ers
Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame (6-4, 216 pounds)
Is the Brock Purdy experience fading in San Francisco?
The Pick Dallas Could Have Made
- Carolina Panthers (from Cowboys)
Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU (6-5, 315 pounds)
This would have been a great replacement for Terence Steele. Alas, we’ll never know.
- Arizona Cardinals
Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State (6-2, 196 pounds)
He could catch a lot of passes from Kyler Murray as teams will focus on Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Miami Dolphins
Billy Bowman, S, Oklahoma (5-10, 192 pounds)
The Dolphins get much-needed help in their secondary here.
- Indianapolis Colts
Nohl Williams, CB, California (6-1, 199 pounds)
This is another player that could have been on the Cowboys’ radar at 114.
- Atlanta Falcons
Jared Wilson, C, Georgia (6-3, 310 pounds)
Bijan Robinson is a very happy running back if this pick materializes.
- Cincinnati Bengals
Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Syracuse (6-5, 243 pounds)
This one has me scratching my head. Do the Bengals really need another TE over more help on defense?
- Tennessee Titans (from Seahawks)
Smael Mondon Jr., LB, Georgia (6-2, 224 pounds)
The Titans land a solid linebacker here.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jake Briningstool, TE, Clemson (6-6, 241 pounds)
It’s a tight end stampede! But to tell the truth, this makes sense for Tampa Bay in both the passing and running attacks.
- Denver Broncos
Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois (6-2, 204 pounds)
Bo Nix gets a new shiny target to throw touchdown passes to.
- Pittsburgh Steelers
David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas (6-1, 263 pounds)
T.J. Watt will be playing in his ninth season. Is Walker the heir-apparent?
- Green Bay Packers
Bradyn Swinson, EDGE, LSU (6-4, 255 pounds)
Swinson would be an instant upgrade for the Packers as they try to keep pace with the Lions.
- Los Angeles Chargers
Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech (6-1, 185 pounds)
A solid addition to the Chargers’ defensive backfield.
The Brothers Etienne
- Jacksonville Jaguars (from Vikings)
Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia (5-9, 198 pounds)
Have brothers ever played running back on the same NFL team before? Ryan Kalil, center, and Matt Kalil, tackle, played on the same offensive line in Carolina but not at the same position.
Jacksonville makes a little history here.
- Los Angeles Rams
Que Robinson, LB/EDGE, Alabama (6-4, 243 pounds)
The Rams defensive line was a liability last season. They are attending to that here.
- Washington Commanders (from Texans)
Tommi Hill, CB, Nebraska (6-0, 213 pounds)
Dan Quinn loves defensive players. He gets a good one here.
- Baltimore Ravens
Ollie Gordon, RB, Oklahoma State (6-1, 226 pounds)
The Ravens must think Derrick Henry is only got another year or two left in the tank if this is their pick.
Gordon should be on the Cowboys’ radar in the third round.
- Detroit Lions
Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma (6-3, 233 pounds)
The Lions appear set on offensive and this pick might be one of their moves to finally get to a Super Bowl.
- New Orleans Saints (from Commanders)
Mello Dotson, CB, Kansas (6-1, 192 pounds)
A solid pick as the Saints begin the Keelen Moore era.
- Buffalo Bills
Jonas Sanker, S, Virginia (6-0, 206 pounds)
The Bills are loaded on offense. A defense that can get off the field without surrendering points is why this pick is made.
- Kansas City Chiefs
Elijah Roberts, EDGE, SMU (6-4, 285 pounds)
The Chiefs defense needs more pressure on the quarterback. Do you understand the assignment, Mr. Roberts?
- Philadelphia Eagles (from Eagles through Lions)
Aeneas Peebles, DT, Virginia Tech (6-0, 282 pounds)
This pick gives me a headache and no not because of who the pick is. It’s a solid pick by the Eagles.
But they originally traded this pick away to the Lions and then traded to get it back?
Wrapping Up The Round
- Miami Dolphins (compensatory)
Damien Martinez, RB, Miami (6-0, 217 pounds)
The good news is he probably won’t need to look for a new pad.
- Baltimore Ravens (from Ravens, compensatory)
Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon (6-3, 332 pounds)
Baltimore is looking to stop the run and they clearly mean to do it.
- Seattle Seahawks (compensatory)
Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech (5-9, 206 pounds)
It’s a bold strategy, Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for them.
- San Francisco 49ers (compensatory)
D.J. Giddens, RB, Kansas State (6-0, 212 pounds)
This seems more of an insurance policy against Christian McCaffrey’s string of injury woes.