2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cornerback or Pass Rush for Dallas Cowboys?

The Dallas Cowboys are facing a conundrum that many teams face as we approach the 2012 NFL Draft.

Do you fix your pass defense by increasing the pressure you put on quarterbacks or by increasing the level of talent in your secondary?

Dallas could use help in both areas.

Outside of DeMarcus Ware, who registered 19.5 sacks, the Cowboys generated very little pass rush in 2011-12. Anthony Spencer had six sacks, but he has yet to develop into the dominating opposite rusher that many thought he could be early on. Spencer is also a free agent this offseason and could be moving on.

Jay Ratliff and Jason Hatcher each had their moments providing pressure, but that's about it for the Cowboys' pass rush in 2011. Depth is an issue. 

At some point, either in the draft or free agency, the Cowboys will have to make some kind of addition. Names like Courtney Upshaw, Melvin Ingram and Nick Perry could be available in the first round, and each would represent a certain degree of value both in need and on the draft board.  

The other half of the Cowboys' 23rd-ranked passing defense comes in the secondary, and there are problems abound here, too. Terence Newman was absolutely terrible in 2011, as Pro Football Focus ranked him near the very bottom of their cornerback grades. Newman is likely to be released to save money on the cap sometime this offseason.

If the Cowboys do let Newman go, they'd be left on the cornerback depth chart with Mike Jenkins, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, Orlando Scandrick, Mario Butler and C.J. Wilson.

It's a group that almost certainly will see some new faces in 2011. We just don't know how many will come via the draft, and we don't know if the first round is a time when GM Jerry Jones would pull the trigger on one.

At No. 14, the Cowboys could have their pick of Dre Kirkpatrick, Janoris Jenkins, Stephon Gilmore and Alfonzo Dennard. There are perceived character issues in that group, but the Cowboys have been known to turn their shoulder to such red flags if the talent is overwhelming. 

In our mock draft, we have the Cowboys taking Kirkpatrick at No. 14.

Despite a drug arrest last month, Kirkpatrick is a long, physical cornerback who can matchup with some of the NFC's big and talented receivers. He'd be a plug-and-play starter at cornerback very early in his NFL career.

2012 NFL Mock Draft 

1.  Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2.  St. Louis Rams – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

3.  Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT, USC  

4.  Cleveland Browns – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

5.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU 

6.  Washington Redskins – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars – Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina  

8.  Carolina Panthers – Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

9.  Miami Dolphins – Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

10.  Buffalo Bills – Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

11.  Kansas City Chiefs – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama 

12.  Seattle Seahawks – Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

13.  Arizona Cardinals – Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

14.  Dallas Cowboys – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

15.  Philadelphia Eagles – Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

16.  New York Jets – Nick Perry, LB, USC 

17.  Cincinnati Bengals – Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

18.  San Diego Chargers – David DeCastro, OG, Stanford 

19.  Chicago Bears – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

20.  Tennessee Titans – Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

21.  Cincinnati Bengals – Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

22.  Cleveland Browns – Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor  

23.  Detroit Lions – Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers – Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia 

25.  Denver Broncos – Devon Still, DL, Penn State

26.  Houston Texans – Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

27.  New England Patriots – Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin 

28.  Green Bay Packers – Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois   

29.  Baltimore Ravens – Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

30.  San Francisco 49ers – Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

31.  New York Giants – Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama    

32.  New England Patriots – Mark Barron, S, Alabama