2012 NFL Draft: Why Ronnell Lewis Is a Must-Draft for the Dallas Cowboys

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The Dallas Cowboys face an uphill battle in the 2012 NFL Draft. With so many holes to fill on all fronts, how are they going to decide what to draft in each round?

Since defense was a major letdown in 2011, I think the first two rounds should be exclusively devoted to helping out DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff on D. Since cornerback is need, I think the Cowboys will find help there in round one.

In the second round, Oklahoma's Ronnell Lewis is the perfect candidate to flank Ware and add some pressure to a defense that is unsure of Anthony Spencer's return and in need of a more consistent presence not named Ware.

While there are other ways to address areas of need in the draft (OL, DL, LB) here are five reasons why I think Lewis is the ideal choice for the Cowboys on draft night. 

Special Teams Help

Lewis is a hitter. He'll fly down on special teams with the best of them, and bring the hat when making a tackle. Since Keith Davis and to a lesser extent Sam Hurd left the team, Dallas lacked a big playmaker on special teams.

Sean Lee was a consistent presence and made tackles when he was on the coverage units. But do the Cowboys want to put their starting linebacker, who has a bit of an injury history, on special teams full time?

I wouldn't think so, which is why they need to continue to filter in younger players that can make an impact on both special teams and in defensive packages. Lewis can do both. 

Depth at OLB Is Thin

Victor Butler
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Cowboys fans know how important DeMarcus Ware is to the success of the defense. His 99.5 sacks in his first seven seasons put him on pace to end up as one of the most feared pass rushers of all time. 

Ware is not the issue. Spencer is in limbo on his return, and the only other pass-rusher on the roster is the scarcely used Victor Butler. Not that the Cowboys don't like Butler; I've thought they should spell the starters for him more often than they do.

With those three guys as the only true stand-up OLBs on the roster, Dallas will have to address that need at some point. Why not during the draft, when they can get an ideal 3-4 rusher in Lewis. 

Anthony Spencer's Expectations Are Too High

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Speculation about Spencer's future has been high since the Cowboys were knocked out of the playoff race by the eventual champion New York Giants in week 17. 

While proponents of his departure are still out there, it seems the Cowboys are having second thoughts. Sources claim Spencer might get the franchise tag, guaranteeing him a 1-year deal worth $8.8 million.

It's not as if Spencer is a bad player. He's put together three consecutive solid seasons, including 17.0 sacks over that span. But the Cowboys need more out of their 26th overall pick, especially considering Ware sees double-teams and chip blocks while Spencer is mostly in one-on-one situations.

Lewis could ease some of the pressure on Spencer, giving him rest and making a formidable tandem with Butler in the second unit.

Whether Spencer returns or not, OLB needs to be addressed in a major way.  

Proximity

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I've never been a big believer in allowing where an athlete went school determine where he should play, in any sport. For instance, Colt McCoy will/won't succeed because his talent as a football player, not because he plays in a warm/cold climate.

But I do believe that situations can be advantageous for certain guys. Think of it this way—all the pieces just fit together sometimes.

For Lewis, he has a former Sooner teammate already making a splash in DeMarco Murray. He would only be moving about three hours down IH-35, making it possible for family and friends to continue to follow his career any time they want.

Draft History

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Jerry Jones and Co. haven't drafted a pass rusher since Spencer in the 2007 draft. Since then, he's spent early round picks on Felix Jones, Jason and Brandon Williams, Dez Bryant, Sean Lee and Bruce Carter. 

No where in the first two rounds of those drafts has Dallas invested anything in helping DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff get pressure on the QB.

They can reverse that trend by taking Lewis when they get the chance. He was on ESPN analyst Mel Kiper's Big Board until a knee injury forced him out of the lineup in late November and he didn't play in the Insight Bowl against Iowa. 

Like I said, there are many directions the Cowboys can go in the first two rounds. If they take the best talent at each of their first two picks, I don't think they can go wrong, as long as that pick is addressing a need. Lewis fills a need at OLB, and he would be a great pick-up for the front seven.