Dallas Cowboys: Could Nate Solder Be Ninth Overall Pick?

With the NFL Draft still two months away, draft stocks and perceptions have plenty of time to change, but Nate Solder definitely helped himself today at the Combine. He ran a 5.05 40-yard dash, good for fourth overall among linemen.

His massive 6'9" 315-pound frame makes Solder a monster tackle in the NFL. His height also gives him an extremely wide wingspan, which is very desirable at the tackle position. Long arms make it easier to corral speed rushers.

It's no secret that the Cowboys need offensive line help.

Actually, their line has been a need for the last two or three years, and little has been done to improve it. Every player on the line is on the wrong side of 30, and it shows against aggressive defensive lines.

Enter Nate Solder.

He is a top-rated tackle and would immediately make the Cowboys' line better. His quick feet and long arms would make him a natural at left tackle; the only problem is that the Cowboys already have a capable left tackle in Doug Free.

I think it would be a good idea to plug Solder in at right tackle until he is ready to move to left and face the best pass rushers in the NFL.

In six starts at right tackle in 2009, Free showed that he can play that position at a high level. Eventually, Free could move back to the right and Solder could be the left tackle of the future.

Having two big, fast and young offensive tackles on the outside would immediately make the Cowboys' line better in pass protection and run blocking. Marc Colombo can no longer get to the second run-blocking level, and the Cowboy's rushing attack suffers because of it.

Some people would love to address the secondary with the ninth overall pick, but it's beginning to look like neither Patrick Peterson nor Prince Amukamara will be available by then. In my opinion, anyone at the cornerback position beyond those two would be a reach at No. 9.

So, the way I see it, the Cowboys can either take a great young tackle to get their offensive line back on track, or they can trade down and pick up some secondary help. I think they would be better served by picking up Solder and waiting until the second round to address the secondary.

Of course, given Dallas' recent draft history, we might not see them address any weaknesses and let it bite them later.

Let's hope that isn't the case this year.