2012 NFL Mock Draft: Dallas Cowboys Have Options at No. 14 After FA Signings

If you thought the Dallas Cowboys were going to walk through free agency without making some noise, you were strongly mistaken.

Jerry Jones and the Cowboys have been amongst the most active players on the open market, especially at need positions.

Players signed by Dallas so far: cornerback Brandon Carr, safety Brodney Pool, guard Nate Livings, guard Mackenzy Bernadeau and fullback Lawrence Vickers. The Cowboys also released cornerback Terence Newman and guard Kyle Kosier.

Carr fills a huge hole at No. 1 cornerback, Pool may be a starter at safety in 2011, Livings and Bernadeau will battle for starting spots at guard, and Vickers should be the Cowboys' new fullback next season.  

The natural question now is just how these moves affect the Cowboys' draft plans in April. Despite adding a player at nearly every need position, Dallas should still have eyes on several names at No. 14 overall. I'd hesitate to count out any top player just because the Cowboys signed a player at that position. 

Here's a few of those names:

G David DeCastro, Stanford

The top guard in the class would likely team with Livings inside for the Cowboys. He'd be a major upgrade over what Dallas has at guard, even after signing Bernadeau and releasing Kosier. Is No. 14 too high for a guard, though?

LB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

The Cowboys haven't added anything to their pass rush, so it might more sense for Dallas to target a top pass-rusher with its first pick. Upshaw could be a long shot to get to No. 14, but he'd give the Cowboys a good trio of pass-rushers (Upshaw, DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer) on paper. In the end, there's simply no quicker fix to a defense than adding quality rushers.

CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina

Gilmore's a tough, physical cornerback who isn't afraid to get his nose dirty in the run game. His tape shows some flashes of Charles Woodson, but without the kind of man-to-man lockdown skills. If taken at No. 14, Gilmore could team with Brandon Carr to make a solid combination of press-coverage cornerbacks for Rob Ryan's defense.

CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

Kirkpatrick is a technically sound player who could also be the kind of press-cover guy Rex Ryan's defense is looking for. Kirkpatrick is a touch overrated, but quality coverage people are becoming more and more valuable.  

LB Whitney Mercilus, Illinois

Mercilus led the nation is sacks in 2011 but was a complete unknown before last season. That kind of "flash in the pan" emergence will be scary for NFL decision-makers to sift through. If the Cowboys think his skill set transfers to the next level, Mercilus could give the defense a situational pass-rusher in the mold of Aldon Smith. 

S Mark Barron, Alabama

Probably a reach at No. 14, but safety is still one of the bigger needs on the roster. Barron has an NFL-ready game and should be a player you can start in year one without much hesitation. As the No. 1 safety in the class, his stock may rise.

DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina

Coples would have to fall a couple of slots below where many have him going, but he'd be a nice addition as a five-technique in Dallas. Guys that can provide pass rush from that position are rare, so you have to think the Cowboys will at least consider stopping his fall down the draft board at No. 14. 

2012 NFL Mock Draft 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (via trade with St. Louis Rams)

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4. Cleveland Browns: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU  

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State (via trade with Washington Redskins)  

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

8. Miami Dolphins:  Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M 

9. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

10. Buffalo Bills: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Dontari Poe, NT Memphis

12. Seattle Seahawks: Nick Perry, DE, USC  

13. Arizona Cardinals: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

14. Dallas Cowboys: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

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

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama  

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

19. Chicago Bears: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

20. Tennessee Titans: Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

22. Cleveland Browns: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame 

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

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State 

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

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

28. Green Bay Packers: Fletcher Cox, DL, Mississippi State

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

30. San Francisco 49ers: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

31. New England Patriots: Rueben Randle, WR, LSU

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