Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft and Big Board: Updated Day 2 Predictions

Its work isn't close to being done, but the Dallas Cowboys front office has to be happy with the way the first round of the 2016 NFL draft played out Thursday night. The Cowboys opted for the win-now strategy and selected ex-Ohio State Buckeye Ezekiel Elliott with the fourth overall pick. 

The addition of the 20-year-old running back gives Dallas a potent offense that will put up a ton of points if everyone can remain healthy. The Cowboys offensive line is the best in the NFL, and it can make any running back look good. But imagine how good it can make a player as good as Elliott look. 

With Elliott in the fold, the Cowboys can go back to their 2014 game plan of controlling the clock and playing opportunistic football. This pick doesn't only help the offense, but it also improves the defense. If the offense is able to hold on to the ball for long periods of time, the defense can remain rested throughout games. 

Now, the Cowboys turn their attention to the second and third rounds on Friday as they continue to try to improve their team. 

Without further ado, let's take a look at the top 100 prospects left in the draft and try to predict what the Cowboys might do with their remaining draft picks. 

Top 100 Big Board

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Thirty-one players went off the board in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft, which means there have been significant changes to this iteration of the top 100 big board. There are still a lot of players who would be great value picks for the Cowboys at No. 34.

The Cowboys could go a variety of ways, but the board favors defense in the second round. With players such as Eastern Kentucky product Noah Spence and UCLA's Myles Jack available, Dallas can get a real difference-maker in Round 2. 

Dallas Cowboys Big Board

Rank	Player	Position	School
1	Myles Jack	Off-Ball Linebacker	UCLA
2	Sterling Shepard	Wide Receiver	Oklahoma
3	Noah Spence	Defensive End	Eastern Kentucky
4	Michael Thomas	Wide Receiver	Ohio State
5	Chris Jones	Under Tackle	Mississippi State
6	Andrew Billings	Nose Tackle	Baylor
7	Jarran Reed	Nose Tackle	Alabama
8	Cody Whitehair	Offensive Guard	Kansas State
9	Jonathan Bullard	Under Tackle	Florida
10	Kenneth Dixon	Running Back	Louisiana Tech
11	Derrick Henry	Running Back	Alabama
12	Javon Hargrave	Nose Tackle	South Carolina State
13	Hassan Ridgeway	Under Tackle	Texas
14	Reggie Ragland	Linebacker	Alabama
15	Kentrell Brothers	Linebacker	Missouri
16	Hunter Henry	Tight End	Arkansas
17	Christian Westerman	Offensive Guard	Arizona State
18	Leonte Carroo	Wide Receiver	Rutgers
19	Mackensie Alexander	Cornerback	Clemson
20	Shilique Calhoun	Defensive End	Michigan State
21	Kevin Dodd	Defensive End	Clemson
22	Austin Hooper	Tight End	Stanford
23	Emmanuel Ogbah	Defensive End	Oklahoma State
24	Vonn Bell	Safety	Ohio State
25	Matt Judon	Defensive End	Grand Valley State
26	Xavien Howard	Cornerback	Baylor
27	Kendall Fuller	Cornerback	Notre Dame
28	Joshua Perry	Linebacker	Ohio State
29	Cardale Jones	Quarterback	Ohio State
30	Jason Spriggs	Offensive Tackle	Indiana
31	A'Shawn Robinson	Nose Tackle	Alabama
32	Nick Martin	Center	Notre Dame
33	Paul Perkins	Running Back	UCLA
34	Max Tuerk	Center	USC
35	Darian Thompson	Safety	Boise State
36	Tyrone Holmes	Defensive End	Montana
37	Ronald Blair	Defensive End	Appalachian State
38	Jordan Jenkins	Defensive End/Linebacker	Georgia
39	Devontae Booker	Running Back	Utah
40	Shon Coleman	Offensive Tackle	Auburn
41	Maliek Collins	Under Tackle	Nebraska
42	Rashard Higgins	Wide Receiver	Colorado State
43	David Perkins	Defensive End	Illinois State
44	Alex Collins	Running Back	Arkansas
45	Sean Davis	Cornerback/Safety	Maryland
46	K.J. Dillon	Safety	West Virginia
47	Kenny Lawler	Wide Receiver	California
48	Peyton Barber	Running Back	Auburn
49	James Bradberry	Cornerback	Samford
50	D.J. Reader	Nose Tackle	Clemson
51	Jalen Mills	Defensive Back	LSU
52	Kamalei Correa	Defensive End/Linebacker	Boise State
53	Evan Boehm	Center	Missouri
54	Jonathan Williams	Running Back	Arkansas
55	Jeremy Cash	Safety	Duke
56	Cyrus Jones	Cornerback	Alabama
57	Le'Raven Clark	Offensive Tackle	Texas Tech
58	Tyler Boyd	Wide Receiver	Pittsburgh
59	Isaac Seumalo	Center	Oregon State
60	Willie Henry	Under Tackle	Michigan
61	Bronson Kaufusi	Defensive End/Under Tackle	BYU
62	Kelvin Taylor	Running Back	Florida
63	Malcolm Mitchell	Wide Receiver	Georgia
64	Austin Johnson	Nose Tackle	Penn State
65	Vernon Adams	Quarterback	Oregon
66	C.J. Prosise	Running Back	Notre Dame
67	Daniel Braverman	Wide Receiver	Western Michigan
68	Ryan Smith	Cornerback	N.C. Central
69	Keith Marshall	Running Back	Georgia
70	Jatavis Brown	Linebacker	Akron
71	Su'a Cravens	Linebacker/Safety	USC
72	Braxton Miller	Wide Receiver	Ohio State
73	Charles Tapper	Defensive End	Oklahoma
74	Adolphus Washington	Defensive Tackle	Ohio State
75	Jordan Howard	Running Back	Indiana
76	Connor Cook	Quarterback	Michigan State
77	Joe Schobert	Linebacker	Wisconsin
78	Kyle Friend	Center	Temple
79	Will Redmond	Cornerback	Mississippi State
80	Conor McGovern	Offensive Guard	Missouri
81	Halapoulivaati Vaitai	Offensive Tackle	TCU
82	Sheldon Day	Defensive Tackle	Notre Dame
83	Jordan Payton	Wide Receiver	UCLA
84	Zack Sanchez	Cornerback	Oklahoma
85	Christian Hackenberg	Quarterback	Penn State
86	Jacoby Brissett	Quarterback	N.C. State
87	Victor Ochi	Defensive End	Stony Brook
88	Darius Jackson	Running Back	Eastern Michigan
89	Deion Jones	Linebacker	LSU
90	Kyler Fackrell	Defensive End	Utah State
91	Joe Dahl	Offensive Line	Washington State
92	Kolby Listenbee	Wide Receiver	TCU
93	Pharoh Cooper	Wide Receiver	South Carolina
94	Carl Nassib	Defensive End	Penn State
95	Nick Vannett	Tight End	Ohio State
96	Yannick Ngakoue	Defensive End/Linebacker	Maryland
97	Antonio Morrison	Linebacker	Florida
98	B.J. Goodson	Linebacker	Clemson
99	Mike Thomas	Wide Receiver	Southern Mississippi
100	Keyarris Garrett	Wide Receiver	Tulsa

Round 2

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Round 2, No. 34 Pick: Noah Spence, Defensive End, Eastern Kentucky

The Cowboys need players who can rush the passer in the worst way. Noah Spence may be the best pure pass-rusher in this draft class, which makes this pick a match made in heaven. 

The Ohio State transfer is the best speed rusher in this draft class. His ability to use his speed (4.80 40-yard dash) and flexibility to capture the corner and bend to the quarterback is excellent. He does a great job of keeping himself clean from contact, which allows him to continue his path to the quarterback. 

Nevertheless, that propensity to keep himself clean hurts him in the running game, as he tends to shy away from contact, which causes him to get forced out of his gap. Also, Spence doesn't do a good job of unlocking his hips and exploding into blocker so that he can create separation. This makes it hard for him to hold up at the point of attack against bigger offensive linemen.

Nevertheless, the 6'2", 251-pounder is an ideal fit with Dallas in the second round. Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli will get the most out of Spence, and he will help ease the pain from the suspensions to Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence. 

Round 3

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Round 3, No. 67 Pick: Hassan Ridgeway, Under Tackle, Texas

The Cowboys continue to bolster their defense with Hassan Ridgeway in this scenario. With Ridgeway and Spence in the fold, Dallas has solidified its defensive line for the immediate future. 

Ridgeway is a perfect fit as an under tackle in Marinelli's defense. Put him on the outside shoulder of the guard, and watch him go to work. He fires out of his stance with a great first step and pad level, which allows him to routinely play with leverage and on the offense's side of the line of scrimmage. He utilizes quick hands to get by offensive linemen and into the backfield. 

Furthermore, Ridgeway has the ability to anchor against the run as well. His pad level and his strong lower body give him the ability to hold his ground against double-teams on a consistent basis. 

One thing Ridgeway will need to improve is his gas tank. All too often, he gets tired toward the end of games, which causes him to get pushed around more than you'd like. 

Overall, Ridgeway is a great scheme fit and value in the third round for the Cowboys.

Round 4

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Round 4, No. 101 Pick: Jacoby Brissett, Quarterback, N.C. State

With Tony Romo now 36 years old, the Cowboys need to figure out who their quarterback of the future is, and the fourth round on Saturday seems like a great time to fill that void. Jacoby Brissett is a high-upside pick who could turn out to be a huge steal for the Cowboys. 

He is a big-armed quarterback who isn't afraid to make throws under pressure. Brissett isn't fazed with bodies around him, and he can use his legs to buy more time to throw the ball. The former N.C. State quarterback can make all the throws, but he thrives in the intermediate zones. 

Brissett needs to work on his ability to process information and make full-field reads. If the Cowboys can get Brissett to keep his mechanics finely tuned as he makes his progressions, he can develop into a solid starter. 

Round 4, No. 135 Pick: Tyrone Holmes, Defensive End, Montana

The Cowboys already got defensive end help with Noah Spence at No. 34 in this scenario, but Tyrone Holmes is too good of a scheme fit and value to pass up at No. 135.

Holmes is one of the few players in this draft with the ability to rush with power and speed off the edge. His freaky athleticism makes him a great ball of clay for the Cowboys to mold. Holmes fires off the ball from a sprinter-like stance, which allows him to stress an offensive tackle's pass set with his first step, and he gives all his effort on every play.

Initially, Holmes would likely be a special teams player the Cowboys would bring in as a pass-rusher in sub-packages, but he could develop into a full-time defensive end in a year or two. 

Holmes would be able to play the left or right side for the Cowboys, and he would be an excellent pass-rusher if he reaches his ceiling. 

Round 6

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Round 6, No. 189 Pick (from Oakland Raiders): Kyle Friend, Center, Temple

The Cowboys still need to find a legitimate backup at the center position, and Kyle Friend fills that hole. The former Temple offensive lineman is a solid center prospect who would be able to fill in well if Travis Frederick got hurt. 

Friend (6'2", 305 lbs) is a stout center with big-time power behind his legs and his hands. He easily moves defenders off their spot with great hip snap and leg drive. He is a smart player who can handle protection calls and process information quickly. Furthermore, he has the athletic ability to get out and make blocks in space. 

The problem with Friend is that his short arms (30 ⅞", per ESPN.com) cause him to not initiate contact with defensive linemen; however, his ability to reset his hands and use his strength creates consistently.

Round 6, No. 212 Pick (Compensatory): Rodney Coe, Defensive Tackle, Akron

The Cowboys continue to try to bolster their defensive line with Rodney Coe in this scenario. Coe is a former running back who is athletic for an interior defender. Oftentimes, you can see him make plays near the sideline because of his freakish athletic ability.

While Hassan Ridgeway will likely be an under tackle with Dallas, Coe will likely find his home at nose tackle. He's going to need a lot of refinement with the ways he uses his hands and positions his body, but he is an intriguing developmental pick in the late rounds.

Coe seems like an ideal player to put on the practice squad for a year as he develops. Then Dallas can let him compete for a position on the 53-man roster in 2017.   

Round 6, No. 216 Pick (Compensatory): Antonio Morrison, Linebacker, Florida

If you look at Antonio Morrison from a size (6'1", 232 lbs) and athletic-ability standpoint, there is no way you would ever draft him. Nevertheless, if you watch him play, you see a great football player who does all the little things necessary to make it in the NFL. 

Morrison has a checkered injury history (torn knee ligaments), which, coupled with his poor size and athletic ability, has pushed him all the way to the sixth round. 

If the Cowboys draft Morrison, they are getting a tough, gritty and intelligent football player who will be a special teams monster for years to come. Furthermore, Morrison's instincts and tackling ability make him a great candidate to fill in if Rolando McClain gets hurt. 

Round 6, No. 217 Pick (Compensatory): Cory James, Defensive End/Linebacker, Colorado State

With the Cowboys' last pick in the draft, they get a versatile defender who will contribute immediately on special teams. 

Cory James has experience as an edge-rusher and a middle linebacker at Colorado State. The Cowboys need players with versatility on their defense, and James has it in spades. His athletic ability makes him an enticing "Sam" linebacker who reduces to a defensive end in passing situations. 

James likely won't ever make an impact as a defender for the Cowboys; instead, he is best suited to find his niche on special teams.