the NFL Draft Almost here, and there are a lot of ironies. But while most of these mock draft picks are trying to guess what the different NFL teams are like the Cowboys will You do, I decided to don my general manager hat and put together a mock draft based on what I thought the team would be He should Do. Using the typical draft machine at Pro Football Focus, here’s what the Cowboys finish with, plus the players who were also available at each draft pick.
First round, 26th pick: Luke Musgrave, TE — Oregon
Fans may not want a tight end in the first round, but it’s the most sensible move, especially given the way the plate went down here. Luke Musgrave (full scouting report here) has great athletics and passing skills. He’s a wide receiver in a tight body, and that’s a recipe for success on Mike McCarthy’s offense.
The previous four choices: Texas RB Bijan Robinson, Alabama S Brian Branch, Clemson iDL Bryan Bresee, Boston College WR Zay Flowers
Other players available: Our Lady Michael Mayer, Iowa Edge Will McDonald IV, Oklahoma OT Anton Harrison, TCU iOL Steve Avila, Florida iOL O’Cyrus Torrence, Michigan iDL Mazi Smith
Second round, Pick 58: Darius Rush, CB – South Carolina
Darius Rush has seen his stock go up a lot since the season ended, largely because he was overshadowed by teammate Cam Smith playing on the other side of the field. Rush stands at 6’2″ with long arms and uncanny speed. He converted from a receiver in college and still has the ball skills to show. Sound familiar? It would be unfair to expect Rush to become the next Trayvon Diggs, but take a player of similar pedigree and let him Learning from Stephon Gilmour for a year is a no-brainer.
The previous four choices: Clemson LB Trenton Simpson, Iowa TE Sam Laporta, Syracuse OT Matthew Bergeron, Washington state LB Diane Henley
Other players available: Houston WR Nathaniel Deal Miami CB Terrick Stephenson University of California RB Zach Charbonnet, Tennessee WR Cedric Tillman, Wisconsin iDL Keeanu Benton, Baylor iDL Siaki Ika
Third round, Pick 90: Moro Ojumo, iDL – Texas
The Cowboys are largely set on the edges, but there is concern on the inside of the defensive line. Outside of Osa Odighizuwa, no young playmaker is truly reliable. Moro Ojomo (full scouting here) is similar to Odighizuwa, as he’s a fundamentally healthy running defender with athleticism and the length who can turn in great passes. Bring him to the lab with Dan Quinn and see what happens.
The previous four choices: Tennessee Edge Byron Young, Wake Forest WRT Perry, Alabama S Jordan Battle, Stanford WR Michael Wilson
Other players available: Syracuse CB Garrett Williams, Missouri Edge Isaiah McGuire, Auburn RB Tank Bigsby, UABRB Dewayne McBride, Michigan TE Luke Schoonmaker, TCUCB Trevius Hodges-Tomlinson
Fourth round, Pick 129: Evan Pace Jr., left linebacker – Cincinnati
Linebacker probably isn’t much of a need right now for Dallas, as Damone Clark should be stepping into a bigger role this year and Gabriel Cox could be in the mix as well. But it’s hard to turn down Evan Pace Jr. at this point in the draft. Pace has been a passing phenom like Cincinnati’s Blitzer, and his coverage skills are better than you’d expect from someone who led all linebackers in pressures and sacks last year. More than anything else, seeing what Dan Quinn can bring Pace to a defense already adept at pressing the middle is exciting.
The previous four choices: Stanford CBQ Blue Kelly, LSU WR Kayshon Boutte, LSU iOL Anthony Bradford, Georgia S. Christopher Smith
Other players available: Wake Forest iDL Kobie Turner, Iowa State S, Anthony Johnson, Syracuse RB Sean Tucker, Kansas State rb duos phone, Texas A&M CB Jaylon Jones, CB Purdue Corey Trace
Fifth round, Pick 169: Antonio Maffei, IOL – UCLA
Atonio Mafi (full poll report here) is one of the favorite sleepers in this draft. He started as a defensive tackle at UCLA, coincidentally playing alongside Osa Odighizuwa, before switching to guard. It’s a massive body that brings to mind the less fit Tyler Smith. This is fine, because Mafi’s best position is at left guard, where he won’t need to be the most athletic player. Furthermore, Smith playing left with Maffei next to him is a tantalizing idea. Mafi is why he’s OK passing the likes of Steve Avila and Chandler Zavala earlier in this draft.
The previous four choices: Be a miss IOL Nick Brooker, Michigan Edge Mike Morris, Notre Dame S Brandon Joseph, Kansas State RB Deuce Vaughn
Other players available: San Jose State Edge Williams Fiocco, Fresno State WR Jalen Moreno Cropper, Maryland WR Rakim Jarrett, East Carolina RB Keaton Mitchell, Coastal Carolina IDL Jerrod Clark
Sixth round, 212th pick: Rakim Jarrett, Maryland
Rakim Jarrett was almost the pick on 169, so having him here on 212 is a no-brainer. Jarrett is a former five-star recruit who was underused at Maryland. He gets stuck in the hole because of his size, but Jarrett is an athlete at his best. He has the raw talent to become something big in the NFL, and learning from Brandin Cooks in Dallas could help Jarrett develop into a similar type of player.
The previous four choices: Florida A&M EDGE Isaiah Land, Maryland WR Dontay Demus, East Carolina RB Keaton Mitchell, Coastal Carolina iDL Jerrod Clark
Other players available: San Diego State iDL Jonah Tavai, Michigan State iDL Jacob Slade, Houston QB Clayton Tune, Kansas EDGE Lonnie Phelps, Minnesota RB Mohamed Ibrahim
Seventh round, pick 244: Muhammad Ibrahim, right back – Minnesota
Having Mo Ibrahim (full poll report here) with the 244th overall pick is proof positive as to why the outstanding draft capital shouldn’t be spent on the quarterback. One of the most productive runners during his time at Minnesota, Abraham displayed a physical short-distance running style that perfectly complemented Tony Pollard. I call it Mini Zeke, because their gameplay is very similar, but Ibrahim costs much less.
The previous four choices: Houston S. Gervarius Owens, Boise State OT John Ojukwu, Nebraska EDGE Ochaun Mathis, Oregon iOL Alex Forsyth
Other players available: UCLA WR Jake Bobo, Oklahoma TE Brayden Willis, Georgia QB Stetson Bennett, TCU QB Max Duggan, Stephen F Austin EDGE BJ Thompson, Jackson St LB Aubrey Miller Jr.