Dallas Cowboys' Mock Draft Roundup: What the Experts Are Saying

The NFL draft is a few days away, and we still have no idea who the Dallas Cowboys are going to select with the No. 4 overall pick. The Cowboys have done a good job of playing their cards close to the vest, and we enter draft week with several players who the Cowboys could select.  

Could it be Ezekiel Elliott? The electric Ohio State running back could be a catalytic presence from the day he steps inside the facility.

Could it be Jalen Ramsey? The dynamic defensive back is a dominating player from multiple positions.

Could it be Joey Bosa? The dominant defensive end would improve one of the worst positions on the defense.

Could it be DeForest Buckner? The tall defensive lineman dominated opposing linemen with his immense strength and could be a Swiss Army knife for Dallas' defensive line.

Could it be Paxton Lynch? Likely the best quarterback left when the Cowboys go on the clock, his arm talent and playmaking ability are unrivaled in this class. 

One way to get an idea as to whom the Cowboys are leaning toward selecting is by taking a look at the mock drafts of various draft analysts. These analysts are the most likely to have inside information on who the Cowboys may pick. 

Mock drafts aren't foolproof, and oftentimes, they are wrong; however, they are usually more accurate for the teams at the top of the draft. 

With that in mind, let's take a look at various mock drafts and see what the experts are saying about the Cowboys' pick. 

Todd McShay, ESPN.com: RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State

In his fifth mock draft, ESPN.com's Todd McShay has the Cowboys selecting Ezekiel Elliott with the No. 4 overall pick. McShay stated, "It'd be tough for the Cowboys to pass on [Joey] Bosa, my No. 1 overall player, but Elliott is a perfect fit to play behind Dallas' elite offensive line. He has the skill set to be an every-down RB from day one."

Whether you like this pick depends on what your overall draft philosophy is. If you think that a team should pick the best player on its draft board regardless of position, you probably like this pick. If you want your team to pick a player from a position that is the best value, you probably don't like this pick. 

Historically, it isn't a good idea to draft a running back in the first round because you can get similar production from running backs later in the draft. The drop-off between first- and third-round running backs isn't as significant as first- and third-round cornerbacks or defensive ends. 

Nevertheless, Elliott could be the exception to the rule, as he is an elite running back prospect. He isn't as incredible as Todd Gurley from a pure running perspective, but he is more well-rounded than the Los Angeles Rams running back and will make an impact on every down in every situation. 

Elliott could step in and give the Cowboys a running game that is on par or better than when they had DeMarco Murray in 2014. He would make life easier on quarterback Tony Romo and take a lot of pressure off the Cowboys defense. 

Usually, it isn't a good idea to draft a running back so high in the draft, but Elliott isn't your usual running back prospect. 

Dane Brugler, NFL Draft Scout: DE Joey Bosa, Ohio State

While McShay has the Cowboys going with Ezekiel Elliott, NFL Draft Scout's Dane Brugler has Dallas going with another Ohio State prospect. In his latest mock draft, Brugler has the Cowboys picking Joey Bosa. In reference to the pick, Brugler said, "The Cowboys will likely go defense with this pick, but do they go with the pass-rusher (Bosa) or defensive back (Ramsey)? I wouldn't be surprised with either here, but Bosa provides a pass rush, which is the bigger need for Dallas."

Many fans likely wouldn't like Bosa in a Cowboys uniform because they believe he isn't a dynamic player on the front line of a defense. 

Nonetheless, that is a narrow-minded view because it ignores all the things Bosa can do on a football field. Is he a double-digit sack guy in his rookie year? No, but only a few are. What he will do during his rookie season is be a dominant force against the run and provide an ample amount of pass rush. 

Bosa has fantastic hand usage, and you rarely see his hands out of place. He uses his length to keep blockers off his pads, which allows him to shed blocks easily. He uses a variety of techniques to defeat blockers, and he is advanced for his age. 

Bosa is likely a left defensive end in the Cowboys scheme, which will allow him to do what he does best: stop the run and rush against right tackles, who are typically slow-footed athletes. Bosa isn't Von Miller or J.J. Watt, but he can put up Chandler Jones-caliber production. 

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: DB Jalen Ramsey, Florida State

NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah, a former NFL scout, is one of the best draft analysts among the big television networks. Jeremiah projects the Cowboys are going to pick Jalen Ramsey out of Florida State. In reference to Dallas picking Ramsey, Jeremiah said, "The Cowboys are building a very talented and versatile secondary."

Out of all the players in the NFL draft, Ramsey has seen the least amount of controversy, and his stock has remained steady throughout the process. He has been a top-five prospect since he declared for the draft. 

It is easy to see why Ramsey is an enticing prospect. He is an electric athlete with incredible speed and amazing leaping ability. He can play anywhere in the Cowboys secondary. He can line up as a free safety in the deep middle or as a strong safety in the box. He can cover tight ends in the slot or wide receivers outside as a cornerback. 

Ramsey is a versatile chess piece in the secondary like Byron Jones already is for Dallas. With two versatile defensive backs, the Cowboys could get creative with their coverages and looks on the back half of the defense. 

Ramsey is a bigger and more athletic version of the Arizona Cardinals' Tyrann Mathieu with his ability to play multiple positions on a defense. 

The Cowboys defense has a lot of problems, but Ramsey would mask a couple of those and improve the unit as a whole.

Chris Burke, 'Sports Illustrated': RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State

Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke has the Cowboys selecting Ezekiel Elliott of Ohio State. In regard to the pick, Burke said:

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Two quarterbacks and either Buckner or Tunsil landing at 1-2-3 is the ideal scenario for the Cowboys, who then could choose between Elliott, Ramsey, Myles Jack, Joey Bosa or a trade down. Nabbing Elliott would give their offense a shot to reach another level, with the likely Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite.

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If the Cowboys select Elliott, they will have to make some serious decisions at running back during training camp. At the moment, they have Darren McFadden, Alfred Morris, Lance Dunbar and Rod Smith to go along with Elliott if they pick him. Elliott would likely be the lead horse at running back with his diverse skill set. 

One of the most endearing qualities about Elliott is he doesn't have to ever come off the field. He has the ability to contribute in any situation. He is a fantastic blocker in pass protection, he has the power to be effective in short-yardage situations and he is a great receiver out of the backfield. 

Elliott is the type of player who can change the way an offense works. Last year, the Cowboys offense sputtered to get going, but with Elliott, Dallas would establish a more effective and streamlined offense even if Tony Romo is hurt. 

Even though Elliott is a running back, he could be the best pick to improve the defense. If the Cowboys can establish the run, they can hold the ball longer, which keeps the defense off the field, and a defense that is rested will operate at a higher level more consistently throughout a game. 

Walter Cherepinsky, Walter Football: DE Joey Bosa, Ohio State

Walter Football's Walter Cherepinsky projects the Cowboys will try to improve their defensive line with Joey Bosa. In regard to the pick, Cherepinsky stated:

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I could see Joey Bosa slide to the Dolphins or Buccaneers because of his character concerns (sorry, Mike and Mike, but the teams we've spoken to do, in fact, have concerns), but Dallas is a strong possibility as well. Jerry Jones has shown that he's not afraid to take a chance on a talented player with some off-the-field questions. With Greg Hardy on his way out, and Randy Gregory now one strike away from a year-long suspension, Bosa makes a ton of sense for the Cowboys.

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If the Cowboys want to improve their production and effectiveness at defensive end, Joey Bosa would be the obvious pick. He's not your typical speed and bendy pass-rusher off the edge. He utilizes a plethora of pass-rush moves and power to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. 

The reason you didn't see Bosa have the same amount of production is that he was double- and triple-teamed on many occasions, which limited his ability to get to the quarterback. The raw numbers don't illustrate how dominant Bosa was for the Buckeyes throughout the 2015 season. The fact that teams had to give him so much attention allowed his teammates to make more plays than they normally would. 

The fact of the matter is that there aren't many defensive ends, especially at the top of the draft, who can effectively step in and make an impact in their rookie seasons, but Bosa is one. Therefore, if the Cowboys want to win now but still improve their defensive line, Bosa is the one to take. 

People are overthinking Bosa because he doesn't play with a lot of flash, but that doesn't discount his ability to make a big impact for a defense. Under defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, Bosa would reach his ceiling and become a fantastic player for the Cowboys. Bosa could get between eight and 14 sacks per year as a left defensive end. Marinelli loves versatility, and Bosa can bring that to a defensive line. 

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: DB Jalen Ramsey, Florida State

CBS Sports' Pete Prisco has the Cowboys selecting defensive back Jalen Ramsey with the fourth overall pick. Prisco stated, "They need help at both corner and safety. This is a player who can step in and play either spot." 

Last year, the Cowboys selected a versatile defensive back in Byron Jones, who was able to mask some holes in an injury-depleted secondary. This year, they have the opportunity to select another one in Ramsey. The Cowboys have had problems in their secondary for nearly a decade, and Ramsey would take them one step closer to finally having an above-average pass defense. 

Ramsey is at his best when he can read the quarterback's eyes and utilize his instincts to make a play. On top of that, Ramsey is a force in the box against the run, and he can erase tight ends in the pass game. He utilizes his athleticism to stay stride-for-stride with receivers, and his strength allows him to take on blockers in the run game. 

Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli is one of the most creative defensive minds in the league, and he could utilize a lot of different looks with Jones and Ramsey in the secondary. On one play, Jones could be playing the deep middle while Ramsey plays in the box in a Cover 3. On another, they can both play deep in Cover 2 to keep quarterbacks guessing. 

There is a reason why Ramsey is a near-consensus top-five pick, and it is because he is one of the most talented players in this draft. 

Chad Reuter, NFL.com: DE Joey Bosa, Ohio State

NFL.com's Chad Reuter projects the Cowboys will select Joey Bosa with the fourth overall pick. Reuter said, "The Cowboys need a pass-rusher in the worst way. They can't make the pick solely based on the suspensions facing Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory, but even with those guys back on the field the team needs a difference-maker up front."

Like Reuter said, the suspensions of Lawrence and Gregory shouldn't influence the way the Cowboys draft, but it's hard to ignore their two best defensive ends missing the first four games of the season. Bosa's best fit is at left defensive end, but he could make an impact on the right side as well. 

At just 20 years old, Bosa still has a lot of room to grow athletically, which is gravy on top of the fact that he is as technically sound of a player as there is in this draft. 

On top of Bosa's ability to make an impact off the edge, the Cowboys can kick him inside in an attempt to get their best pass-rushers on the field. Bosa's quickness and fluid hips would allow him to be effective when rushing at the outside shoulder of offensive guards.  

With Bosa, the Cowboys would have a good defensive end group once Lawrence and Gregory come off suspension. They would have the ability to deploy their rushers in waves, which would keep them all fresh and allow them to be effective late in games.  

Overall, Bosa may be the most likely defensive player to make an impact immediately in this draft class.