2012 NFL Mock Draft: Evaluating DraftTek's Latest 7-Round Mock for the Cowboys

If you're addicted to all things NFL draft, then chances are you've read the latest from Bleacher Report's own Matt Miller and Andrew Kulha on the subject, as well as watched the latest from NFLDraft365 from B/R's Youtube Channel. While both of our draft analysts are some of the best in the business, DraftTek.com offers a more algorithmic look into the draft.

DraftTek uses their software to analyze and make informed, logical draft choices based on a team's specific needs. Without becoming an advertisement for the website, let's take a look at the players this dandy little algorithm think will soon be donning a Dallas Cowboys' uniform.

Round 1: Whitney Mercilus, Outside Linebacker, Illinois

While I love Whitney Mercilus' last name and his explosiveness, I just can't see Dallas going with any pick that doesn't address the secondary in the first round. Brandon Carr is a huge upgrade, and Brodney Pool brings experience, but a mix of experience and young talent is a must for Dallas.

If for some reason Dre Kirkpatrick or Janoris Jenkins are already drafted before pick No.14, then I could certainly see Jerry Jones and company select Mercilus. That being said, I would be shocked if both Jenkins and Kirkpatrick were gone before the Cowboys are on the clock.

Round 2: Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback, South Carolina

Obviously if I have the Cowboys taking a corner in the first round, I don't expect them to draft one in the second one.

That being said, Gilmore is a great talent worthy of the first round, some would say. There have been talks that Dallas may go with an offensive lineman or possibly linebacker with their first pick, and if that is what they decide to do, the South Carolina product would be a fantastic second-round pick.

Bottom line is with Frank Walker, Alan Ball and Terence Newman released and Mike Jenkins on the last year of his contract, Dallas needs to add depth to this position in the first two rounds.

Round 3: Philip Blake, Center, Baylor

Center is a position that Dallas needs help at in the worst way, but I'd like to see the position addressed through free agency rather than the draft.

While the Peyton Manning to Denver news along with dwindling funds dim hope of someone like Jeff Saturday coming to Dallas, there are some interesting names still available, like Andre Gurode or Dan Koppen.

I wouldn't be opposed to seeing Blake drafted by the Cowboys here in the third round, but it's a position that I'd prefer to have a certain level of experience at rather than raw, unproven talent.

Round 4: Tank Carder, Inside Linebacker, TCU

Now this pick is something that I can get behind.

TCU has been rising up the college football ranks in recent years, and guys like Tank Carder are one of the main reasons.

He's a two-time Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and has been compared to fellow linebacker Luke Kuechly out of Boston College, who DraftTek had the Cowboys selecting in Round 1 in an earlier mock draft.

He's a high-octane, instinctive kind of linebacker who could flourish in Dallas' 3-4 scheme if given time to develop.

Round 5: Phillip Thomas, Free Safety, Syracuse

Like I mentioned earlier, Dallas is thin when it comes to quality talent in the secondary, and I don't completely hate the computer selecting Syracuse's Phillip Thomas for Big D.

That being said, his day at the NFL Combine was a tad disappointing, as the Florida native failed to reach his goal of finishing the 40-yard-dash in under 4.5 seconds. The free safety posted a time of 4.7, which ranks 18th among all NFL draft prospects at his respective position.

When you get to Round 5, you're no longer dealing with the highly-touted talents—but that doesn't mean mediocre 40 times can be ignored.

Still, the guy had half a dozen interceptions for the Orange last season, and his 5'11", 198-pound frame isn't bad for a player at his position. Like I said, I wouldn't hate seeing Thomas drafted in the fifth all things considered, but I wouldn't be thinking it's the savviest of picks either.

Round 6: Derek Wolfe, Defensive End/Tackle, Cincinnati

In the sixth round, you can do a lot worse than the reigning Big East Defensive Player of the Year.

Derek Wolfe is 6'5 and 300 pounds, which is the frame Dallas has grown to love for their linemen for many years now.

Wolfe posted a 40-time just over five seconds, which is only .4 seconds slower than what Phillip Thomas was able to do at the NFL Combine.

Wolfe is fast for someone his size and knows how to get to the quarterback, posting almost 10 sacks for the Bearcats last season.

I like Wolfe as a great late-round flier for Dallas in the sixth round.

Round 7: George Bryan, Tight End, North Carolina State

With Martellus Bennett now a member of the New York Giants, the Cowboys have made it known their looking for a backup tight end lately.

Dallas tried to address this need by signing Chicago Bears tight end Kellen Davis, but the big man decided to stay in the Windy City, recently agreeing to a new contract with the team.

John Phillips is now the team's sole backup to superstar Jason Witten, and drafting a tight end later in the draft seems like a solid choice for America's Team.