2012 NFL Mock Draft: Stanford G David DeCastro a Fit for Dallas Cowboys?

The wide majority of mock drafts have seen the Dallas Cowboys fill their need in the secondary with a player such as cornerbacks Dre Kirkpatrick or Janoris Jenkins or safety Mark Barron. 

But if the Cowboys address the secondary in free agency—with either soon-to-be free agent cornerbacks Brandon Carr or Cortland Finnegan—the Cowboys can look to other areas with their No. 14 overall pick.

According to Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram, the Cowboys could certainly look at Stanford guard David DeCastro with its first pick in April, especially after the strong play from 2011 first-round right tackle Tyron Smith.

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[Cowboys owner Jerry] Jones said the selection of Smith won't preclude the Cowboys from using a first-round pick on another lineman this year. In fact, Smith's play might encourage Jones to continue the rebuilding with DeCastro.

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NFL Network's draft analyst Mike Mayock told Williams that he likes the fit of DeCastro in Dallas

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I think with DeCastro, when you get him, you're going to plug him in Day 1, and he's going to be your starting guard.... He could be your starter for the next 10 years. That's what the Cowboys need. They need to get younger and more athletic in that offensive line. They started it last year with Tyron Smith. The [Bill] Nagy kid is not bad. They need to continue that.

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The Cowboys could also take a run at New Orleans Saints guard Carl Nicks, who is scheduled to be a free agent on March 13 and has yet to come close to a new deal with the Saints. It is also possible that New Orleans could franchise tag Nicks if they agree with free agent quarterback Drew Brees.

If Dallas did take DeCastro, however, the need for an impact pass-rusher would remain. At No. 14, the Cowboys should get a look at one of the first-round quality pass-rushers, potentially including Melvin Ingram (South Carolina), Nick Perry (USC) and Whitney Mercilus (Illinois).

Free agent outside linebacker Anthony Spencer could also leave Dallas this offseason.

By the time April rolls around, we'll have a clearer picture of which way the Cowboys might go. Cornerback and guard might not seem like a huge need once free agency has run its course.

A best case scenario for the Cowboys might be to secure Carr/Cortland at cornerback, Nicks at guard and a pass-rusher in the first round. Of course, that scenario might not be anything more than a pipe-dream. 

In the end, DeCastro represents everything what you want in a first-round player. He'd be an instant starter and could likely hold that position down for a decade. He's also low risk and—as it stands right now—plays at a position of need for the Cowboys. 

2012 NFL Mock Draft 

1.  Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2.  Cleveland Browns – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (via trade with St. Louis Rams)

3.  Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4.  St. Louis Rams – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State (via trade with Cleveland Browns)

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

6. Washington Redskins – Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

8.  Miami Dolphins – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

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

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, OLB, USC

17.  Cincinnati Bengals – David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

18.  San Diego Chargers – Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

19.  Chicago Bears – Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

20.  Tennessee Titans – Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia 

21.  Cincinnati Bengals – Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

22.  St. Louis Rams – Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama 

23.  Detroit Lions – Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers – Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

25.  Denver Broncos – Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

26.  Houston Texans – Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

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

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

29.  Baltimore Ravens – Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

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

31.  New England Patriots – Devon Still, DT, Penn State

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