2012 NFL Mock Draft: Ideal 7-Round Dallas Cowboys Predictions

The Cowboys have already started to make changes for 2012. Today, they announced that newly-hired offensive line coach Bill Callahan will also serve as the team’s offensive coordinator. It is not believed that Callahan will call plays but for the first time during his tenure in Dallas, head coach Jason Garrett will not have the title of offensive coordinator.

The Cowboys also named Jerome Henderson as the new defensive back coach, replacing recently-departed Dave Campo.

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is shaping the Cowboys defense as he sees fit. He worked with Henderson in Cleveland, and we are starting to see his vision come into sight.

But how will Dallas draft moving forward? Now that two new faces are on the staff, which direction will the Cowboys move defensively? Will there be a focus on speed over strength? Athleticism over skill?

As the new coaching staff figures that part of the draft out, I would like to take a look at seven players the Cowboys would love to have in the 2012 National Football League draft. They may not get them, but it would be nothing short of ideal.

1st Round: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Claiborne is a top-five prospect and will be off the board by maybe the second pick. He's the top cornerback in the draft and is one of the fastest defensive backs in the nation.

He's six feet, 173 pounds and runs a 4.45 in the 40. He's also a pretty decent special teams player and could be just as good as Patrick Peterson in his rookie season.

The Cowboys probably won’t grab Claiborne, but he would be a nice upgrade in the defensive backfield.

2nd Round: Jared Crick, NT, Nebraska

Crick is one of those guys who you may have issues with getting a little too amped before games. He's goes 100 miles an hour and has the size to back up his motor. He's 6'6" and can play in the 3-4.

Crick had almost 20 sacks combined in 2009 and 2010 and may move up as far as the very late first round if he has a good combine. The Cowboys could use his drive, skill and ability.

3rd Round: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The former Florida Gator will have his character assessed before, during and after the draft. He was arrested twice while at Florida, and that led to his dismissal from the team.

He is small, but his speed and quickness will allow him to make up for some of the mistakes he'll make on the field.

Dallas needs youth, skill and potential in their defensive backfield, and adding a player like Jenkins would be a nice upgrade to their secondary.

This is a little blue sky, as Jenkins may very well go in the second round.

4th Round: LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

Last season, when the Cowboys drafted DeMarco Murray, I was more than skeptical. I thought that their focus should have been on fixing the offensive line and secondary, and I didn't enjoy the pick.

But as we know now, Dallas made the right decision, as Murray rushed for close to 1,000 yards before fracturing his ankle.

Dallas is a little light on depth at running back, and adding a diverse player like James may serve them well in the long run.

Besides, those cool uniforms at Oregon make spending a high pick on him worth it.

5th Round: Jaye Howard, DE, Florida

My only concern with Howard is that I keep hearing that he's a slacker and has issues with staying motivated. He has all the physical tools needed to become a good NFL player, but he may need extra motivation to do so.

The Cowboys are in need of a player of that caliber as bad as they need another hole in their helmets. But I may be wrong about Howard, and if he pans out, he could become a key cog to the Cowboys defensive line for years to come.

6th Round: Case Keenum, QB, Houston

Quarterback Jon Kitna is retiring, and the Cowboys aren’t sold on Stephen McGee. Dallas will have to either draft another quarterback or sign a veteran for back-up.

Keenum was a monster of a quarterback in college, but that doesn’t mean that his skillset will transfer to the NFL. But I have faith in Keenum, and with such a low-round pick, the Cowboys can work him out in training camp and preseason to see how high of a ceiling Keenum truly has ahead of him.

7th Round: Antoine McClain, OG, Clemson

He's projected as a low-round pick and started a healthy amount of games at Clemson. He's a 320-pound massive man who has no issue with durability.

I keep going back to depth, but it is one key component that the Cowboys are missing. Adding McClain will go a long way in fixing that, as he's good enough to spot start and become a quality back-up.