Since the Dallas Cowboys are selecting 17th overall in the 2018 draft, they will to a large degree be at the mercy of the board when it comes time to make their pick. With many of the top prospects likely already off the board, they may have no choice but to settle for a player that will likely disappoint the majority of Cowboy fans. On the other hand there is always the possibility that a big time prospect that the Cowboys covet, such as DT Javon Kinlaw (South Carolina), will slide down the board and fall into their lap. In order for such a scenario to occur certain players would have to be drafted first that would push some of those target players down the draft board. Cowboy fans are hoping that there is a run on certain positions which would allow for such a scenario. Let’s assume that DE Chase Young (Ohio State), CB Jeffery Okudah (Ohio State), and LB Isaiah Simmons (Clemson) are all unrealistic options as the consensus best players at their respective positions. Here then is a list some candidates at various positions that Cowboy fans hope to have their names called in order to have a successful start to the Dallas Cowboys draft in 2020.
QUARTERBACKS (4)
Joe Burrow (LSU) is likely to be the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft and Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama), and Justin Herbert (Oregon), are also expected to be top 10 picks. I am sure it would please most Cowboys fans (those who are not anti- Dak Prescott) if another quarterback such as Jordan Love (Utah State) were to be targeted by a QB needy team and selected within the first 16 picks of the NFL draft. If 4 quarterbacks are taken before the Dallas Cowboys draft their first player at pick #17, the odds would increase substantially that a great player will be available for them there.
WIDE RECEIVER (3)
Many Cowboys fans would be thrilled to be able to draft one of the top three WR’s in the 2020 NFL draft: CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma), Jerry Jeudy (Alabama), or Henry Ruggs III (Alabama). That being said, wide receiver is one of the deepest position groups in this years draft class and the Dallas Cowboys may be better off investing a pick on day 2 or day 3 while focusing on another position in round 1. If one of these players is still on the board when the Dallas Cowboys pick at #17, it would go against the general principle of selecting the best player available to pass up on one of them. However, if they are all drafted ahead of the Dallas Cowboys, perhaps another player high on their draft board will fall right into their lap instead and Cowboys fans would not feel the need to second guess the pick.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE (5)
The offensive tackle position is very top heavy in the 2020 and several are expected to go in the first round this year. The big 4 names expected be drafted early are Andrew Thomas (Georgia), Mekhi Becton (Louisville), Tristan Wirfs (Iowa), and Jedrick Wills Jr (Alabama). Despite long term health concerns over Dallas Cowboys All-Pro LT Tyron Smith, Cowboys fans probably do not want to invest another early round pick on their offensive line. That said, wouldn’t it be great if all of these players were selected in front of the Cowboys along with another surprise name such as Austin Jackson (USC), Josh Jones (Houston), Ezra Cleveland (Boise State), Isaiah Wilson (Georgia), Prince Tega Wanogho (Auburn), or Matt Peart (UCONN). One never knows how different teams evaluate offensive linemen and it is possible that a surprise name is called in the first half of round 1. Five offensive linemen selected that early would be a dream scenario for the 2020 Dallas Cowboys draft.
LINEBACKER (2)
Isaiah Simmons (Clemson) is expected to be a top 10 or even top 5 draft pick but it is unclear who is considered the next best linebacker in the 2020 draft class. Kenneth Murray (Oklahoma), or Patrick Queen (LSU), are the most popular names and both are rumoured to be possible targets for the Dallas Cowboys. Drafting a linebacker in the first round would be an unpopular move among Cowboy fans but if one of either Murray or Queen is selected ahead of pick #17, Cowboys Nation would breathe a collective sigh of relief. Both look like solid players but I believe the Dallas Cowboys can find better value in the later rounds at the position and if they don’t reach for either of those players it makes me feel better about the health of Leighton Vander Esch.
So, if enough of these players mentioned above are selected ahead of the Dallas Cowboys at pick #17, that would mean the Cowboys would have the following premier options available to them:
- DT JAVON KINLAW (SOUTH CAROLINA)
- DT DERRICK BROWN (AUBURN)
- CB C.J HENDERSON (FLORIDA)
- DE K’LAVON CHAISSON (LSU)
They could also presumably trade back, accumulate more picks, and still be able to draft a quality player such as:
- S Grant Delpit (LSU)
- S Xavier McKinney (Alabama)
- CB Kristian Fulton (LSU)
- CB Trevon Diggs (Alabama)
- CB A.J Terrell (Clemson)
- CB Jeff Gladney (TCU)
- DE A.J Epenesa (Iowa)
- DE Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State)
- DT/DE Marlon Davidson (Auburn)
- LB Zack Baun (Wisconsin)
The NFL Draft is always full of surprises but the 2020 version promises to be especially unpredictable given that it will be a virtual draft amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Hopefully, the board falls in a way that the 2020 Dallas Cowboys draft will be a favorable one among our fanbase.
*Photo by Tammy Anthony Bakerhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode
Prospect rankings and analysis based in part by information provided by…
The Athletic’s 2020 NFL Draft Guideby Dane BruglerThe Athletic.com available for purchaseHERE
NFL.COM2019 Draft Prospects ;https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/prospects
NFLTradeRumors.https://nfltraderumors.co/2020-nfl-draft-prospect-visit-tracker/
WalterFootball.comhttps://walterfootball.com/prospectMeetings/byteam
2020 Dallas Cowboys Draft Visits Tracker: All visits, reports, and rumors for prospects, RJ OchoaandDave HalprinBlogging the Boys, SB Nation UpdatedApr 10, 2020, 3:37pm CDT
Lindy’s Sports 2020 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