2015 Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft: Early Offseason 7-Round Predictions

With the Dallas Cowboys' season over, the attention as now turned to the offseason, and you know what that means: It's mock draft season. 

With the Cowboys coaching staff set, the focus turns to Dallas' personnel. Between free agency and the NFL draft, the Cowboys hope to improve their team enough to make a Super Bowl run. 

The Cowboys have a couple of needs entering the offseason. They need a defensive end who can improve their pass rush. It would also be great to get a running back to replace the likely departing DeMarco Murray. Getting some help in the secondary would be a bonus as well. 

Without further ado, let's look at an extremely early prediction of who the Cowboys will pick when the draft rolls around. 

Round 1

USA TODAY Sports

Pick: Eli Harold, Defensive End, Virginia

The Cowboys have the 27th selection in the first round; therefore, most of the "finished' prospects will be gone. However, that doesn't mean they can't select a really good player. 

Eli Harold is a little raw, but he is everything you want athletically in a defensive player. He is a little on the small side at 6'4" and 250 pounds, but he is extremely quick with violent hands. The unique flexibility in his lower body to bend and corner around the edge is something the Cowboys sorely missed this season.

Harold isn't a perfect prospect by any means, as he struggles to disengage off blocks and gets sloppy when tackling at times. But he has the upside you want in a player, and he gives the Cowboys an added dimension they have lacked. 

He could step in right away and make an impact as a nickel or rotational pass-rusher as he adds more bulk to his frame. 

Round 2

USA TODAY Sports

Pick: Senquez Golson, Cornerback, Ole Miss

Every year, there is a player with great ability and talent who falls in the draft because of size. This year that player will likely be cornerback Senquez Golson. 

At 5'9" and 176 pounds, Golson doesn't have the size to compete with the taller receivers in the NFL. However, he has nearly everything else you want in a cornerback. 

On the field, Golson has incredible footwork with great hips, speed and quickness. He sticks to opposing receivers and doesn't give much space. His best traits are his instincts and ball skills. Golson knows how to bait quarterbacks into throwing his way and making a play on the ball, as evidenced by his 10 interceptions this year. 

In this scenario, the Cowboys get a player who will significantly upgrade their secondary and allow them to keep Orlando Scandrick on the outside during games. They also add a player who is a playmaker, something they don't currently have. 

The purpose of the draft is to upgrade your team, and Golson would be a great way to do just that. 

Round 3

USA TODAY Sports

Pick: Jay Ajayi, Running Back, Boise State

With DeMarco Murray likely gone, the Cowboys will have to bring someone in to help fill that considerable void. 

Boise State's Jay Ajayi would be a great candidate to fill that void. Ajayi is an elusive back who can make cuts at acute angles. He doesn't play with a great deal of power, but he is explosive with great balance to break tackles. 

He needs work in pass protection, as he catches defenders instead of attacking them, which causes him to get tossed out of the way fairly easily. 

He fits in with the Cowboys' zone-running system, as he has the vision to see the holes, the change of direction to make a cut to get to the hole and the acceleration to get through the hole and to the second level. 

Coupled with Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar, the addition of Ajayi would give the Cowboys a formidable backfield that produces at an extremely high level for years to come. 

Round 4

Matthew Holst/Getty Images

Pick: Xavier Williams, DT, Northern Iowa

The 1-technique defensive tackle or nose tackle has been a position of weakness for the Cowboys for quite some time. Even with Nick Hayden performing much better this year than last, the Cowboys still didn't get the type of play you would ideally want at the nose tackle position. 

That would all change if the Cowboys were able to snag Xavier Williams in the fourth round. Williams is a small-school player who wasn't on many people's radars. However, that all changed after he had a stellar week of practice in St. Petersburg, Florida, in preparation for the East-West Shrine Game. 

Williams was nearly unblockable all week, and his deceptive quickness and great length dominated opposing linemen. 

He was extremely productive in college, and he has the size (6'2", 309 lbs), length and athletic ability you want in a 1-technique defensive tackle.

The fact that the Cowboys could find a potential starter in the fourth round is fantastic and is a reason why they should jump all over Williams if he is available when it's their turn. 

Round 5

Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Pick: Ryan Delaire, Defensive End, Towson

It's uncommon that you will see a team double-dip at a particular position, but the Cowboys are in desperate need of pass-rushers. With their selection of Eli Harold in the first round, the Cowboys got a player who can contribute immediately. 

Therefore, the Cowboys have the luxury to take a pass-rusher late who they can develop into someone who can make a significant impact in a couple of years. And Towson's Ryan Delaire is exactly that. 

Delaire is an electric pass-rusher who uses his great burst, flexibility and closing speed to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. 

He is still very raw, as he plays too high and doesn't know how to use his hands properly in a multitude of situations, but he has a lot of intriguing traits an NFL team will want to develop. 

Delaire would be mostly a special teams player early on, but with some development, he could become productive player for the Cowboys in a few years. 

Round 7

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Pick: Kaelin Clay, Wide Receiver/Punt Returner, Utah

Pick: Terrance Plummer, Linebacker, UCF

In the seventh round, teams are looking for players who can make an impact on special teams. With that in mind, Utah's premier return man, Kaelin Clay, would be a great pick. 

Clay is a prolific returner who has the ability to take it to the house on every attempt. He is not the most intelligent player, as he has made numerous mental mistakes throughout college, but he can make an immediate impact as a returner as he develops as a wide receiver.

With Dwayne Harris entering free agency, Clay could be a great pickup if Harris goes elsewhere. 

With the Cowboys' second selection in the seventh round, they get another potential special teams ace in Terrance Plummer. 

He is an undersized linebacker who has a nose for the ball. He is a good tackler with solid instincts. He isn't very athletic because he gives great effort on every play. 

He would give the Cowboys another special teams contributor who can step in and play in a pinch.