Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft: Instant Contributors Dallas Can Find in Every Round
With the owners' meetings coming to a close, all sights are set on the NFL draft, which means it is mock draft season.
The Dallas Cowboys have a real opportunity to substantially improve their team as they try to put together a squad worthy of winning the Super Bowl.
Oftentimes, teams will try to find instant contributors in the first three rounds before they look for reserves and developmental picks for the future. However, this doesn't mean that you can't find instant contributors in every round.
Will every player the Cowboys pick start? No, but it is conceivable that each player selected could make an impact on offense, defense or special teams.
With that in mind, let's take a look at how the Cowboys could get an instant contributor in each round.
1st Round: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
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With the addition of Greg Hardy, the Cowboys' biggest need appears to be in the secondary. The Cowboys could go safety or cornerback here, as Utah's Eric Rowe would definitely be an enticing player for defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli's scheme.
However, it isn't often that you can find a cornerback with Kevin Johnson's size and smooth feet in the late first round. Johnson has the best feet in the draft as he seamlessly mirrors receivers and can break on underneath routes as well as any cornerback in this draft.
Furthermore, Johnson is one of the few cornerbacks who can thrive in a man- or zone-coverage scheme, which makes him even more valuable.
Johnson would be able to immediately slide in opposite of Orlando Scandrick, which would likely lead to Brandon Carr's release. Nevertheless, Johnson would be a huge upgrade as he is a much better fit for what Marinelli wants to do with the defense.
2nd Round: Duke Johnson, RB, Miami
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Outside of Todd Gurley, there is not a running back who fits Dallas' running game better than Miami's Duke Johnson. The Cowboys mostly run a zone-blocking scheme, which requires patience, vision and agility to get the most out of each run.
Johnson has each of those traits in spades, as he understands how to manipulate defenders and follow his blocks with the change-of-direction skills to make a cut and accelerate through a hole.
Johnson's impact wouldn't only be felt in the running game as he would also make a huge impact in the passing game as well. Johnson is a great receiver out of the backfield as he runs precise routes and has soft hands. Johnson would be a huge threat in the screen game and as a hot read when defenses decide to bring pressure.
Despite his size, Johnson is also a willing and able pass protector as he showcases the awareness and mental processing to identify blitzers along with the physical ability to impede the defender's progress.
Johnson could step right in and start for the Cowboys today as he is as well-rounded as any of the backs on the roster. If you put Johnson behind Dallas' offensive line, the Offensive Rookie of the Year award would make its way down to Big D.
3rd Round: Grady Jarrett, DT, Clemson
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The Cowboys love to rotate their defensive line; therefore, even the players who are considered reserves will still make a huge impact on each and every game.
Tyrone Crawford emerged as an incredible under tackle for the Cowboys last season; however, he doesn't have a backup who can be trusted to spell him for multiple series at a time. The Cowboys will no longer have that problem as they select Clemson's Grady Jarrett in this scenario.
Jarrett is similar to last year's Cowboys crush, Aaron Donald, as he is a quick-twitch defensive tackle who likes to get upfield and penetrate his gap.
Jarrett plays with a low center of gravity and extremely active hands as he can beat offensive linemen early with a swim move or late with his relentless motor. Jarrett has the ability to make a significant impact as an interior pass-rusher and a penetrator versus the run.
Jarrett would immediately be Crawford's backup and would likely play in 20-25 snaps per game where he would look to be as disruptive as possible.
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4th Round: Ben Heeney, Kansas, LB
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The Cowboys have shown a propensity to look for players who can make an immediate impact on special teams and develop into starters in the fourth round as evidenced by the Anthony Hitchens selection last year.
With the loss of Justin Durant and Bruce Carter, don't be surprised if Dallas employs a similar strategy to deepen its linebacker corps and improve their special teams units.
Kansas' Ben Heeney would be a great candidate to fill both needs. Much like Hitchens, Heeney can play multiple positions on the second level of the defense. Heeney is an extremely smart and hardworking player who will do anything he can to help the team.
Heeney has plus instincts and athleticism as he plays sideline-to-sideline to make tackles by the bunches. He is a bit undersized, but he makes up for it with grit and toughness.
Heeney would be able to step in right away and make a huge impact on special teams, while giving them a player who could step in and contribute if a starter was injured.
5th Round: Ty Montgomery, Stanford, WR
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Once you get to the fifth round and beyond, it is difficult to find a player who will contribute a ton on offense or defense. Instead, these players have to find their niche on special teams if they hope to make a significant contribution.
However, the Cowboys have an opportunity to buck that trend with Stanford's Ty Montgomery in the fifth round. The Cowboys have a huge hole in the return game as Dwayne Harris jettisoned Dallas for the New York Giants.
Luckily for Dallas, Montgomery is a player who can aptly replace Harris as a returner and give a much bigger impact on offense if offensive coordinator Scott Linehan wants to get creative.
Football Outsiders columnist and author of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio Matt Waldman said it best when discussing the type of impact Montgomery could have:
"Montgomery has average speed and initial burst for a receiver, at best. He also has difficulty tracking the ball overhead on targets leading him downfield with his back to the quarterback. He's a liability in the vertical game.
However, Montgomery is the best runner of this receiving class. You're still wondering how this 6-foot, 221-pound "receiver" with a gait like DeMarco Murray isn't being switched to the backfield to see how good of a Murray imitation he might be able to do.
Montgomery is the pencil for a team that already has a knife. And the bad-ass, expecting the knife, doesn't see that pencil coming. Sure, he spots Montgomery motioning towards the backfield or aligned tight to the formation on the wing or split wide, but he's occupied with the presence of the knife.
Two seconds later, there's an sharp pain tearing at his neck. Just before the room goes fuzzy, he sees out of the corner of his eye a painted yellow stick protruding from his carotid artery. That was Montgomery taking a jet sweep after a pump fake to a receiver and weaving through traffic for a 40-yard touchdown. Or it was Montgomery on a tunnel screen or slant getting first down after first down until there's no choice but to stop the pencil, which of course, makes the knife that much more effective.
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Montgomery would step right in as the Cowboys' kick and punt returner, while likely being used sparingly as an offensive weapon, which is about as much as you can ask out of a fifth-round pick.
7th Round: Kyshoen Jarrett, Virginia Tech, SS
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As the Cowboys' quest for more special teams impact players continues in the seventh round, Virginia Tech's Kyshoen Jarrett has the potential to be one of the best NFL special teamers and a potential chest piece for Marinelli to use on defense.
Jarrett is a physical safety who isn't afraid to lay the wood to opposing ball-carriers. On special teams, Jarrett could be a better Jeff Heath with more potential on defense.
Jarrett would likely be one of the top tacklers for the Cowboys on special teams as he has an incredible motor and the mindset to be a demon on kicks and punts.
Also, Jarrett could be a great contributor when the Cowboys go to their big nickel package, a package where Dallas employs three safeties, three cornerbacks and one linebacker to better combat opposing passing attacks.
Jarrett is a great tackler in open spaces, and he isn't afraid to stick his nose in against much bigger running backs.
All in all, Jarrett brings the type of mindset and physicality that Dallas could use on its team, whether he is doing it on special teams or defense.
Marcus Rush, Michigan State, DE/OLB
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Overshadowed by his highly touted teammate, Marcus Rush was quietly an extremely effective defensive end for Michigan State throughout his career.
At 6'3" and 251 pounds, Rush is a little bit undersized, but he could be a very good situational pass-rusher who plays mainly on special teams for Dallas.
Rush garnered a great deal of attention recently because of the freakish athleticism he displayed at Michigan State's pro day, per Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via WalterFootball.com).
Rush isn't just an athlete playing defensive end as he displays a wide array of pass-rush moves with a great motor to get in on a ton of plays that most players wouldn't.
Rush could be situational pass-rusher who spells DeMarcus Lawrence, Jeremy Mincey or Greg Hardy as he continues to wear on opposing offensive linemen as one of three aforementioned players gets a rest.
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