Dallas Cowboys Pre-Combine 7-Round Mock Draft
With the NFL combine set to start in just a few days, it's time for another seven-round mock draft. But this time, we are going to go outside of the box a bit. The Cowboys will likely target a defensive end in the first two rounds as well as a secondary player, but after that, their draft plans are wide open.
The Cowboys could go a number of ways early in the draft. From drafting a receiver to replace Terrance Williams or a future right tackle to replace Doug Free, Dallas has really followed the "best player available" strategy more in the past few years.
However, that can often lead to some curious and interesting selections. With that being said, here is the seven-round, pre-combine mock draft.
Round 1: Pick 28
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The Pick: DE Charles Harris, Missouri
Charles Harris has been a popular pick in mock drafts for the Cowboys as he will likely be one of the last rushers available who will carry a first-round grade for the team. Despite grabbing the fifth- or sixth-best edge-rusher in the draft, he's still an outstanding value at the bottom of the first round.
Harris could fill the Cowboys' need at defensive end, as he's an explosive edge-rusher who knows how to win in multiple ways. His ability to beat an offensive tackle with speed gives them something they haven't had on the outside since DeMarcus Ware left during the 2014 offseason.
His biggest knock comes in the running game. There are too many times he gets fooled by misdirection and is much better as a chase-down defender than someone asked to hold up versus offensive tackles. He's a raw athlete who is at his best when he's allowed to pin his ears back and rush the passer. The less thinking he has to do, the better.
While finding elite edge-rushers outside of the top 10 is difficult, Harris could be a key contributor in his rookie year and eventually develop into an above-average player. In this mock, the Cowboys grab an edge-rusher without having to reach for a player. This would be a big win for the team on Day 1 of the NFL draft.
Round 2: Pick 60
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The Pick: CB/SS Obi Melifonwu, UConn
With Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox scheduled to hit free agency next week, the Cowboys will likely have a pretty significant need at safety. It's also possible that Byron Jones will be seeing more playing time with Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr scheduled to hit free agency. That means the team could use a reliable player in the middle of the field to help provide flexibility in the secondary.
A carryover from the first mock draft of the season, Obi Melifonwu is the pick in the second round. He is an ideal fit in Rod Marinelli's defense because he has the ability to play multiple positions. With his freaky size and athleticism, he is a fantastic option to replace Barry Church as the team's strong safety.
At nearly 6'4" and weighing in at 219 pounds at the Senior Bowl, Melifonwu has the size and speed to develop into a versatile safety or as a Cover 3 cornerback. His feet are surprisingly quick for a player of his size, and he had no problem covering some of the bigger receivers at the Senior Bowl.
If the Cowboys decide to implement more Cover 3 into their scheme in 2017, Melifonwu could develop into a Brandon Browner type of player at corner. He's not afraid to use his size and length to hold receivers, and his long speed would allow him to carry receivers down the sideline with ease.
The NFL is becoming more versatile than ever, and Melifonwu's ability to play multiple positions in the secondary should cause his stock to rise after the combine. An explosive workout and positive interviews will go a long way to cementing his stock as a lock top-75 pick.
Round 3: Pick 92
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The Pick: RB Joe Mixon, Oklahoma
Surprised? You shouldn't be. The Cowboys love to take risks on the second day of the draft. From Sean Lee and Bruce Carter, to Randy Gregory and Jaylon Smith, the team isn't afraid of using a premium pick to take an elite talent with off-field issues.
But what makes this pick even more intriguing is that the Cowboys don't have a need at running back. In the third round, though, this may be the right spot for Joe Mixon. By now, most everyone knows his story. In 2014, Mixon punched a woman, and the video of him doing so was released during the fall.
Any team that drafts Mixon will need to have a strong front office and a strong head coach who are both willing to take on the public relations hit that will surely ensue. It hasn't worked out as of late for the Cowboys, but they have proven they are willing to take that risk.
Mixon's talent is undeniable. He's an every-down back who is a threat to score any time he touches the ball. In 2016, almost 9.1 percent of his attempts went for 20 or more yards, according to Graham Barfield of FantasyGuru.com. At 6'1", 225 pounds, Mixon has the size of Ezekiel Elliott but the explosiveness of a Devonta Freeman.
Assuming he falls past the first two rounds and the Cowboys address their needs on defense, Mixon would make a nice buy-low target for a player who may be the best overall running back in the class. It's a risk, but, at the bottom of the third round, it's worth a shot.
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Round 4: Pick 133
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The Pick: WR Noah Brown, Ohio State
Despite playing at one of the biggest schools in college football, wide receiver Noah Brown has a relative unknown throughout his college career and the draft process so far. He's a former Scout 4-star recruit who never quite lived up to expectations in Columbus.
But there was one night in Oklahoma where he showed his NFL potential. In an impressive win against the Sooners, Brown scored four times, including one spectacular catch, where he pinned the ball against the back of a defender for a score, that may be the best play of the entire year.
Brown never accumulated over 75 receiving yards in a game in his career and only had a total of 33 catches in his entire three-year career at Ohio State. However, the stats don't tell the whole story here. At 6'2", 222 pounds, he has the size to dominate in the middle of the field and the physicality to be a force in the run game.
He wasn't used much in the Ohio State passing attack, but the NFL should suit his game much better. With a strong showing at the combine and his pro day, Brown could become one of the more intriguing options on Day 3. He hits all the physical thresholds the Cowboys look for in their outside receivers, and the fact that he came from a high profile school only helps his case.
Round 6: Pick 211
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The Pick: DE Al-Quadin Muhammad, Miami
There are two ways to treat late-round picks; you can either look for role players who may be able to catch on to the roster as special teams contributors, or you can swing for the fences and try to hit a home run.
The Cowboys' philosophy in the sixth and seventh rounds is pretty clear; draft for upside. Take a look at some of their selections in the late rounds in the past two drafts:
2015: Linebacker Mark Nzeocha (SPARQ star)
2015: Offensive tackle Laurence Gibson (SPARQ star)
2016: Tight end Rico Gathers (basketball conversion)
2016: Running back Darius Jackson (SPARQ star)
2016: Cornerback Anthony Brown (4.34 40 yard dash)
Dallas knows it thrives after the draft with undrafted free agents, so it takes risks in the later rounds on players who have a chance to be stars in the NFL. It hasn't always worked out for the team, but every now and then it hits on a player like Anthony Brown.
One of the risks the Cowboys could take in 2017 could be former Miami Hurricanes defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad. He missed all of 2014 for a suspension and didn't enroll back in school after his 2015 season. He's inexperienced, and there are question marks galore, but there is talent here.
At 6'3", 236 pounds, he's an explosive pass-rusher with a wide variety of moves. His ability to set up offensive tackles with speed and then convert to power to drive them back is impressive. He's going to need time to develop, but there are tools that he can use right away to be successful in the NFL.
Much like Rico Gathers in 2016, Muhammad would be a fantastic player to draft and then stash on the practice squad for a year, hoping for the best. At this point in the draft, he's worth the selection despite the character concerns.
Round 7: Pick 231
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The Pick: CB Des Lawrence, North Carolina
With the Cowboys likely to only sign one of their free-agent cornerbacks Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr, the team will need to add depth behind Orlando Scandrick and Anthony Brown. One player who fits their scheme in the later rounds is North Carolina's Des Lawrence.
At 6'1", 185 pounds, Lawrence is an ideal fit in a zone-heavy scheme where he can use his length at the line of scrimmage to force receivers to the middle of the field to his help. He's not the most athletic player, so putting him in a scheme where he doesn't have to play a lot of man coverage will benefit him.
Lawrence is one of the more physical corners in the draft. He is a tackling machine (73 tackles in 2016) and one of the tougher players you will see. He's a player who could contribute on special teams in Year 1 and eventually could find himself in nickel and dime packages. A solid role player in the deep parts of the drafts.
Round 7: Pick 248
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The Pick: QB Josh Dobbs, TEN
At this point in the last round of the draft, the chances of hitting on any player are very slim. The chances of hitting on a franchise quarterback are the same as winning the lottery. But at pick 248, it's worth the shot.
Much like Dak Prescott, Josh Dobbs is a former SEC quarterback who went to the Senior Bowl and had a nice week in Mobile. His greatest strength is his legs, but he was an impressive deep passer for the Volunteers. But his accuracy is something that needs to improve drastically.
As a ball-handler, he's one of the best in this class. His ability to fool defenders on play-action throws and roll outs will remind some of Prescott at Mississippi State. He needs to get stronger and his footwork is a mess, but there is a confidence about him that allowed him to find success in the SEC.
Dobbs could eventually become Prescott's backup, but he would need a few years of seasoning before that could happen. The smart play here would be to draft Dobbs, play him a bunch in pre-season and try to stash him on the practice squad.
Having a backup quarterback who can somewhat mimic the starter allows the team to keep their current playbook in place if the starter ever went down. Dobbs' ability to make plays down the field and with his legs could allow the Cowboys that luxury.
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