NFL Draft 2012: Predicting Full 7-Round Draft for the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have a plethora of needs that will be vital though the 2012 NFL Draft and a majority of those needs will be addressed on the defensive side of the ball.

Dallas ranked 23rd against the pass last season and gave up 24 touchdowns compared to just 15 interceptions. They also gave up 30 or more points four times.

Meanwhile, on the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Tony Romo was sacked 36 times, the most in his career, and the offense was plagued by injuries at wide receiver and running back.

Now, the horrendous record did do one favor for the Cowboys as they will start the 2012 NFL Draft with No. 14 pick in the first round.

With the No. 14 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select...

First Round Pick: No. 14 Mark Barron

...safety Mark Barron from the University of Alabama. 

I chose Mark Barron here because Dallas did sign a solid cornerback via free-agency with former Kansas City Chief Brandon Carr and Barron is the best safety off the board according to NFL ESPN Draft guru Mel Kiper.

NFL scouts rave about Barron's size and physicality at 6'2'' and 218 pounds. He is a solid pass defender and can also play the run just as well. He can hit hard and tackle even better, something Dallas was horrid at last year.

More importantly, Barron was an integral part of two National Championship teams at Alabama and played all four years so he has an abundance of experience.

Second Round Pick: No. 45 Kevin Zeitler

Dallas needs to address the offensive line badly and they will do that with the second round pick at No. 45, taking offensive guard Kevin Zeitler from Wisconsin. Zeitler is great value pick here and is a strong run-blocker and solid pass protector. 

The Dallas offensive line is in complete rebuilding mode right now and needs help all over.

Dallas did address some much needed depth issues on the offensive line in free-agency signing two guards, Nate Livings from Cincinnati and Mackenzy Bernadeau from Carolina, but Dallas needs a starter that can step in right away and they will find it in Zeitler. 

Third Round Pick: No. 81 Alameda Ta'amu

Although Dallas is loaded on the defensive line, they are only getting older as the starting trio of Jay Ratliff (30 years old), Jason Hatcher (29 years old), and Kenyon Coleman (32 years old) are past their prime. It makes sense to grab defensive tackle Alameda Ta'amu from Washington in the third round at pick No. 81. 

Ta'amu is a big body at 6'3'' and 337 pounds, has elite strength and moves very well for his size. He is a perfect mold for the 3-4 defense that Dallas uses. He reminds scouts of Baltimore Ravens DT, Haloti Ngata, when they see him play.

Fourth Round Picks: No. 113 Devon Wylie and No. 135 Jonathan Massaquoi

Dallas was depleted by injuries to their receiving crew last season; therefore, owner Jerry Jones selects wide receiver Devon Wylie from Fresno State in the fourth at No. 113. 

The reason for this selection is Dallas also lost Laurent Robinson to free-agency and needs a reliable slot receiver that will also provide a lift at punt-returner. He has a small frame at 5'9'' 187 pounds, but is similar to Desean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles, someone the Cowboys are all too familiar with. 

Dallas will use their other fourth round pick at No. 135 on the defensive side of the ball and choose linebacker Jonathan Massaquoi from Troy. Massaquoi also fits well in the 3-4 defensive scheme as his 6'2'' 270 pound frame and can just overpower blockers at the line. 

Fifth Round Pick: No. 152 DeQuan Menzie

Dallas will need more depth at the cornerback position and will select DeQuan Menzie from Alabama with their fifth round pick, No. 152. 

Dallas has Brandon Carr and Michael Jenkins at the other cornerback spot, but the depth behind them is very thin and DeQuan is bigger for a cornerback at 5'11'' and 198 pounds. DeQuan jams receivers at the line of scrimmage and can defend the run just as well.

He does not have elite speed and can get beat down the field, but will be third on the depth chart. 

Sixth Round Pick: No. 186 Brian Linthicum

Dallas still has Pro-Bowl tight end Jason Witten, but lost his backup Martellus Bennett, who signed with the NFC East rival New York Giants via free-agency. As a result, with their sixth round pick at No. 186, the Cowboys will select tight end Brian Linthicum from Michigan State.

Linthicum has great hands, can locate the ball and catch the ball well away from his body. He will definitely battle with John Philips for second on the depth chart and Dallas will operate in a lot of two tight end sets so Linthicum will likely assume the role of the blocking tight end.

He does need to improve his blocking ability, but that will develop in time.

Seventh Round Pick: No. 222 Chris Owusu

Dallas will need another wide receiver to compete as Kevin Ogletree is the only backup right now after Dez Bryant and Miles Austin. With the injuries at this position Dallas suffered last year, why not get another receiver?

Furthermore, with the Cowboys last pick in the NFL Draft at No. 222 they will select wide receiver Chris Owusu from Stanford who will provide size at 6'2'' and 202 pounds and be a nice complement to the smaller sized Devon Wylie. 

Dallas has addressed their defensive concerns with solid additions on the line, the middle and the secondary to provide much needed depth and size. In contrast, the offensive side of the ball was all about protecting Tony Romo and providing him more weapons down the field.