The majority of the 30 Visits to Dallas have been announced and this is extremely relevant in terms of projecting who the Cowboys will be drafting come April 26. The start of free agency has begun and the Dallas Cowboys have made some moves yet they still have 10 picks in the 2018 draft. That number is certain to change but this mock will be based on the assumption all 10 picks will be made. Here is the CowboysCoffeeTalk.com 7 round mock draft 2.0, the post free agency addition.
Round 1: Pick #19 … The Dallas Cowboys select…Da’Ron Payne, Defensive Tackle, Alabama
(Previous pick: Da’Ron Payne, Defensive Tackle, Alabama) In this mock Tremaine Edmunds, Roquan Smith, Derwin James, Vita Vea, Mike McGlinchey and Calvin Ridley have already been selected. The available options for the Cowboys at pick 19 are Isaiah Wynn and Will Hernandez at guard; Connor Williams or Kolton Miller at tackle; wide receivers Courtland Sutton, D.J Moore or Christian Kirk; linebackers Leighton Vander Esch and Rashaan Evans; Edge rushers Harold Landry and Arden Key, and DT’s Taven Bryan, Maurice Hurst and Da’Ron Payne. I am sticking with Da’Ron Payne with this selection. The Cowboys have refused to draft a pure one technique in the early rounds in past years but Stephen Jones did say that they would consider taking one if they showed some 3 Technique traits. I am beginning to believe that is his way of saying that the Cowboys are altering their philosophy but without publicly admitting they may have been wrong in their previous approach. Da’Ron Payne is not a pure 3 technique like Taven Bryan but he is a dominant and athletic DT who showed that he can play big in big games. The combination of a healthy Maleik Collins and Da’Ron Payne in the interior D-Line would help the entire defense and with the possibility David Irving may not be a part of the Dallas Cowboys future plans it would be prudent to address this position.
Round 2: Pick #50… The Dallas Cowboys select… Malik Jefferson, Linebacker, Texas
(Previous pick: Anthony Miller, Wide Receiver, Memphis) In the last mock draft I had the Cowboys picking a WR at this spot. They have been doing their due diligence at the wide receiver position and I had anticipated that they may draft one early even with their recent signings. However, if they do not get their first choice in round 1, they may be open to drafting one a little later. That is how it played out in 2016 when they took Dak Prescott in the 4th round after doing their homework on several quarterbacks. I am imagining a scenario where the Cowboys are not in love with the receivers available at 50 and therefore I could see them reaching for a LB. Linebacker has become their greatest need following the departure of Anthony Hitchens and Kyle Wilbur along with the health concerns of Jaylon Smith and Sean Lee. The choice could come down to either Malik Jefferson or Josey Jewell of Iowa and I believe that since Jefferson is younger and more athletic he may be valued higher than the more polished Jewell.
Round 3: Pick #81… The Dallas Cowboys select…Austin Corbett, Guard, Nevada
(Previous pick: Josey Jewell, Linebacker, Iowa) The Cowboys have brought in Marcus Martin and Cameron Fleming via free agency to address the offensive line but the list of 30 visits make it clear that they will also add some help through the draft. Corbett played tackle in college but is projected as a guard in the NFL. The Cowboys will value his position flexibility, high character and intelligence.
Round 4: Pick #116… The Dallas Cowboys select… Deshon Elliott, Safety, Texas
(Previous pick: Marcel Frazier, Defensive End, Missouri) Deshon Elliott could be a solid in the box safety but he also has a penchant for creating turnovers which the Cowboys defense has been lacking for years. He could be in the mix with some of the other young safeties along with another potential low key free agent signing for playing time and he could contribute on special teams as well.
Round 4: Pick # 137… The Dallas Cowboys select… Akrum Wadley, Running Back, Iowa
(Previous pick: Toby Weathersby, Offensive Tackle, LSU) Wadley is an undersized back but he is a dual threat as a runner and receiver. The Cowboys cut ties with Darren McFadden and may also lose Alfred Morris to free agency so it is highly probable that they address the running back position in the draft at some point.
Round 5: Pick #171 …The Cowboys select Daurice Fountain, Wide Receiver, Northern Iowa
(Previous pick; Deshon Elliott, Safety, Texas) In picking a WR here in the 5th round I am still clinging to the idea that Dez Bryant will be a Dallas Cowboy in 2018. That is a big question mark at this point but what is very clear is that the Cowboys will draft a WR either way. This may be too low for Fountain as it appears other teams are showing interest in him as well and his stock may be rising. The Cowboys want to create competition among their wide receiver group and adding an athletic guy like Fountain would certainly accomplish that.
Round 6: Pick 192 …The Cowboys select Macklin Weaver, Defensive End, Eastern Illinois
(Previous pick Rd 5 #173: Akrum Wadley, running back, Iowa) There is not much information out there on this converted TE from Tony Romo’s alma mater. What is known is that Edge rushers are hot commodities and Weaver has generated interest from several teams including the Cowboys.
Eastern Illinois OLB-DE Macklin Weaver (6-5, 260, 4.87), met with Cowboys and Steelers, lots of interest from 3-4 teams
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 28, 2018
Round 6: Pick #193… The Dallas Cowboys select JT Barrett, Quarterback, Ohio State
(Previous pick: unchanged) Jerry Jones has hinted that the Cowboys may look to draft another developmental QB to work behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush. Barrett has limitations as a passer but in the past the Cowboys have shown a willingness to take a chance on a potential playmaker like they did with undrafted free agent Jameill Showers.
Round 6: Pick #208… The Dallas Cowboys select Chris Jones, Cornerback, Nebraska)
(Previous pick: Tanner Carew, Long Snapper, Oregan) Jones missed most of 2017 after suffering a torn meniscus but showed a lot of promise in 2016. He could be a real steal as a late round pick if he is able to fully recover from his injury.
Round 7: Pick #236… The Dallas Cowboys select David Wells, Tight End, San Diego State
(Previous pick: Marques Valdes-Scantling, Wide Receiver, South Florida) A Tight End with the ability to block like Wells is something that the Cowboys value with their power run game.
*Photo by Marianne O’Leary https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode
Prospect rankings and analysis based in part by information provided in by…
Dane Brugler’s 2018 NFL Draft Guide Powered by NFLDraftScout.com and The Sports Xchange http://myfootballnews.com/product/2018-Guide
NFL.COM 2018 Draft Prospect webpage http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/tracker#dt-tabs:dt-by-name
Lindy’s Sports 2018 NFL Draft Guide annual magazine, published by J. Lindy Davis. Jr and printed by D.M.D Publications Inc. 2100 Centennial Drive, Suite 100, Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35216
WalterFootball.Com 2018 NFL Draft Prospect Visit Tracker http://walterfootball.com/prospectMeetings/byteam
CowboysWire.USAToday.com https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2018/04/05/dallas-cowboys-2018-nfl-draft-predraft-visits-30-national-visits-dallas-day-pro-day-private-visitors/
BloggingTheBoys.com https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2018/4/5/17201618/ot-mike-mcglinchey-de-arden-key-others-added-to-dallas-cowboys-pre-draft-visitor-list-2018-rumors