Dallas Cowboys: Why the Cowboys Should Draft Janoris Jenkins

Just in case you missed, oh, all of last season, the Dallas Cowboys' secondary was the Achilles heel of the defense all year long, as the Cowboys ranked 23rd in the NFL in pass defense and were torched by New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning for 346 passing yards and three scores in the regular-season finale that knocked Dallas from playoff contention.

With the Cowboys reportedly set to release starter Terence Newman in a salary-cutting move, acquiring help at cornerback has become an offseason priority for Dallas. While the Cowboys might be able to bolster their secondary through free agency, their best route for upgrading at the position likely lies in the draft.

Reports circulated Sunday that the Cowboys may be interested in taking a run at Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Brandon Carr should he hit free agency on March 13, but the Chiefs may choose to franchise tag the 25-year-old, four-year veteran. Even should he hit the open market, there's no guarantee that Dallas would win a bidding war for Carr's services.

That leaves the draft as the most likely avenue by which Dallas could upgrade the defensive backfield, and there's a player who should be available to the Cowboys in the first round that would fill the Cowboys need quite nicely.

North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins had a tumultuous collegiate career, including being dismissed from the University of Florida for multiple arrests involving marijuana, but Jenkins recently told USA Today that he's ready to put his troubled past behind him.

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I have to eliminate myself from some of those guys I used to hang with. I think about my mom all the time and my kids. For them to have a great life, I have to put that stuff behind me. My last time smoking was before I got kicked out of Florida.

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Jenkins' off-the-field struggles aside, the 5'10", 193-pound senior is one of the more talented prospects available at his position. The second-team Division II All-American has excellent speed and size, outstanding coverage instincts and agility, and isn't bashful about getting his helmet scratched up while helping out in run support.

Jenkins came into the NFL scouting combine off a strong performance in January's Senior Bowl, and ESPN's Todd McShay told the Dallas Morning News after the game in Mobile that the Cowboys were already showing interest in the mercurial defensive back.

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Corner is a top need area, and Jenkins proved at the Senior Bowl that he's still an elite cover corner after spending a year at the Division II level. Dallas will need to get comfortable with his character issues, though, including legal issues that led to his dismissal from the Florida program.

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However, some NFL clubs will likely shy away from Jenkins due to his off-the-field issues and personal life (Jenkins has already fathered four children with three different women), and as one NFC executive told Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports, some teams likely won't see Jenkins' skills being worth the potential for headaches.

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Most of these guys don’t know what to do with the first dollar they make. If this kid could follow a plan, he wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place...I know this movie. It usually doesn’t end well.

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Should owner Jerry Jones and the Cowboys decide to take their chances with Jenkins, it certainly wouldn't be the first time that Jones has gambled on a talented player with a checkered past. Given his considerable talents, if he can keep his head on straight Janoris Jenkins could be a bet that pays off big for Dallas.