As mentioned on Thursday, most mock drafts have the Dallas Cowboys going after an offensive lineman with their first pick in the NFL draft in two weeks.
A few have them taking lineman in the first two rounds. And I stand by the statement that they do not need to do so.
The Cowboys more urgent needs are at running back, wide receiver, and either a middle linebacker or defensive tackle to shore up their run defense.
In Thursday’s post, I had the Cowboys taking a running back with their first pick – either at No. 24 or in a trade back into the early second round.
Which leaves their original second round pick – in the latter part of the round. This is where they need to address the wide receiver need.
Who Should Dallas target?
In addition to at least six quarterbacks going off the board in the first round, I fully expect the top six wide receivers to also be taken by the middle of round two.
Which still leaves two very promising targets for Dallas to possibly select.
Texas’ Xavier Worthy is my pick here, provided another NFL GM doesn’t snipe him first. Worthy is a speedster with solid hands.
For you that are the same age as myself, think Bob Hayes.
Worthy has speed to burn and would be the Cowboys’ version of Tyreek Hill.
At WR2 across from CeeDee Lamb, the opposing defenses are going to have to pick their poison. Something they didn’t have to do with Michael Gallup on the field.
If Worthy isn’t there, then the Cowboys need to look again to Florida State.
Keon Coleman isn’t the speed burner that Worthy is. But he has a strength that Dallas can also easily exploit.
Coleman is three or four inches above six feet in height depending on which scouting report you read. So while he isn’t going to stretch defenses downfield, he is going to outmuscle them.
Let Lamb draw the double teams deep downfield and both Coleman and Cooks can feast on the open spaces in the short and medium routes.
The Top Six Prospects This Year
Marvin Harrison Jr. is the coveted receiver this year.
Only one team is going to get him. Barring a trade – one that the Cowboys just don’t have the assets for – Dallas is not going to be that team.
Harrison has the pedigree of being the son of one of the NFL’s greatest receivers.
He’s also managed to make a name for himself on his talents alone.
The Arizona Cardinals sit at No. 4 in the draft. The three teams ahead of them – Chicago, Washington, and New England – need a quarterback.
Unless Arizona makes a trade, Harrison seems destined for the desert. If not, I can’t see the Chargers passing him up.
Either way, Harrison will be the first receiver off the board in two weeks.
LSU has two receivers who will also likely go in the first round. Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. will likely end up with the Chargers and Broncos.
Washington’s Rome Odunze, Texas’ Adonai Mitchell and Oregon’s Troy Franklin will round out the top six receivers to be taken.
A Longshot Cowboys Pick
Lets says I’m reading the Cowboys’ draft room all wrong. We are talking Jones Inc. and seldom do they do things that make sense.
Let’s say they decide to follow the mock drafts and take OL in both of the first two rounds too.
Aside from me committing seppuku on the spot, how can the Cowboys address a clear need in the draft with a later pick?
Enter Luke McCaffrey from Rice University.
McCaffrey started out as a quarterback and then moved to receiver. Every game I’ve watched him play he has been making great plays.
He’s 6-2 and about 200 pounds. He’s neither a speedster like Worthy, but he’s not nearly as slow as Coleman is.
Plus he thinks like a quarterback, which means he’ll be more likely to be on the same page for any route adjustments.