10 Players Dallas Cowboys Should Avoid in 2017 NFL Draft
After a successful season in which the Dallas Cowboys went 13-3, their roster drastically changed at the start of the new league year. Numerous key defenders left via free agency, and the team has done little to replenish the roster.
The Cowboys have instead opted to build their roster through the draft, rather than free agency. With a deep and talented draft class, the Cowboys should be able to add two to three immediate starters with their selections. However, there are players in the first few rounds the team should avoid at all costs.
Here are the top 10 players the Dallas Cowboys need to shy away from during the NFL draft.
WR John Ross
1 of 10
Washington's John Ross is the most explosive player in the 2017 draft class. His record-breaking 4.22 40-yard dash and his elite production in college should make him a target for any team drafting outside of the top five in the draft. He was the best receiver in college football last year and is a lock to go in the first round.
However, it's not unrealistic to think that John Ross would fall to the Cowboys at the bottom of Round 1. Ross has a scary injury history, which includes two meniscus tears and a torn ACL in his left knee. The injuries and his lack of size (5'11", 188 pounds) may prevent teams from taking him high.
As for Dallas, he just doesn't seem to have a home in its offense. On the outside, the Cowboys prefer their receivers to be at least 6'2" or taller, and the team already has one of the best slot receivers in the league in Cole Beasley.
The Cowboys are dedicated to their rushing attack, so it's vital they have receivers on the outside that can block. Ross just wouldn't have a big enough role in the Cowboys' offense to warrant a first-round selection, even if he's on the board at pick 28.
DE/OLB Tim Williams
2 of 10
As desperate as the Cowboys are for pass rushers, Alabama's Tim Williams isn't someone who should be on the team's radar, especially not in the first round.
Williams has significant flaws that limit what type of player he could be in the NFL. In his four years in Alabama, Williams only started two games for the Crimson Tide and only averaged 28.2 snaps per game (340 total) as a senior, per Pro Football Focus.
Williams' struggles against the run led to him being a part-time player for Nick Saban. He's only 244 pounds, and that may be too light to play defensive end in Rod Marinelli's scheme.
On top of being a part-time pass rusher, Williams did not perform well at the combine. His 7.36 three-cone drill put him in the 29th percentile for edge rushers, and he only finished in the 50th percentile in SPARQ, according to 3sigmaathlete.com.
Aside from his troubles on the field, Williams has his own set of problems off the field. He was suspended multiple times at Alabama for team violations, one of which included a marijuana incident. He was also arrested in 2016 for carrying a pistol without a permit.
All of these issues combined with his questionable fit in the Cowboys' defense likely means he won't be on the team's draft board.
TE Evan Engram
3 of 10
It's not a secret that the Cowboys love drafting tight ends. Dallas has selected a tight end in the second round three times in the past decade to play alongside Jason Witten. In one of the most talented tight end classes in recent memory, expect the team to grab one at some point in the draft.
One of the best tight ends of the group is Mississippi's Evan Engram. He's built more like a receiver at 6'3" 234 pounds, but he possesses 4.42 speed. His spot is as a Y-receiver who can win with quickness out of the slot.
Engram made major strides in 2016, catching 65 balls for 926 yards and eight touchdowns in 11 games. With players such as Jordan Reed and Zach Ertz paving the way for undersized slot tight ends, Engram could quickly find a role in an NFL offense and produce right away.
But the reason the Cowboys will likely avoid the Ole Miss product is that Engram just doesn't provide enough in the run game to be an inline blocker. He's decent as a move blocker, but he's just not someone who can hold up on the line of scrimmage every down. His effort isn't bad, but he can get overwhelmed by linebackers at the point of attack.
Dallas uses Cole Beasley primarily in the slot, and it prefers its tight ends to be able to block first and foremost. Engram is going to be a nice weapon in the NFL and could end up in the first round, but it won't be with the Dallas Cowboys.
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DL Malik McDowell
4 of 10
Like Tim Williams, Malik McDowell is another talented pass rusher who will likely be selected in the first round that doesn't fit in Dallas. He's also an enigma on and off the field, and that's the reason the Cowboys will allow some other team to select the talented defensive lineman from Michigan State.
McDowell is a spectacular talent, and he's got the body and the athleticism to play anywhere across the defensive line. He's flexible and explosive, but questions about his effort and commitment might scare teams from drafting him in the first round. According to SportingNews' Eric Galko, McDowell had serious attitude and motivational problems during his time at Michigan State.
Outside of those issues, McDowell doesn't fit the Cowboys because the team is searching for true right defensive ends instead of interior players. McDowell's best football in the NFL will likely come as a three technique, and that is a spot the team has depth in.
It won't be a shock if McDowell falls to Dallas at the bottom of the first round, but it would be surprising if he was even considered by the Cowboys.
SS Budda Baker
5 of 10
While it's clear that the Cowboys have a need at safety, Washington's Budda Baker is not a player that will be considered by the team in the first round. The team did not invite Baker to Dallas for an official visit, partially due to the fact that Baker doesn't hit the size or athleticism threshold the team is looking for in its safeties.
At the combine, Baker measured in at 5'10", weighing only 195 pounds. He tested poorly, as he was only in the 38th percentile for safeties, according to 3sigmaathlete.com. Many want to compare him stylistically to former Indianapolis Colts' safety Bob Sanders, but he's nowhere near the athlete Sanders was coming out of school.
Baker didn't create a ton of plays while in school. While he started 39 games in college, he only created eight career turnovers (five interceptions and three forced fumbles).
It's unlikely the Cowboys will consider a safety in the first round who has this many flaws. I just can't see them tying themselves to a safety who is this small and only an average athlete.
DB Desmond King
6 of 10
Like Budda Baker, Desmond King's lack of size and athleticism may prohibit the Cowboys from selecting the talented defensive back from Iowa.
King played cornerback the past four years for the Hawkeyes, starting in 51 career games. But King measured in at 5'10" at the combine with only 31" arms. His lack of length and below average speed (ran a 4.55 40-yard dash at his pro day) will likely force him to move to safety in the NFL.
The Cowboys love to have long, highly athletic safeties in their secondary. Byron Jones and Jeff Heath are the team's projected starters at safety and both are two of the top athletes at the position.
While King could find a spot in the slot for the Cowboys, it's just not realistic to spend a top-75 pick on a player to play the position. Dallas already has two players in Anthony Brown and Orlando Scandrick who can feature at slot at a high level in the NFL. King just doesn't make sense for the Dallas Cowboys.
TE Jake Butt
7 of 10
While Evan Engram doesn't fit schematically with what the Cowboys want to do on offense, Michigan's Jake Butt makes much sense at tight end.
He's an inline player who can hold his own in the run game, but he's also a fantastic receiver in the short-to-intermediate part of the field. He's got the speed and athleticism to be a true No. 1 tight end in the NFL.
Butt was a four-year starter at Michigan, playing in 43 career games. However, he wasn't used in the passing game as much as you would like to see from a top tight end. Butt only caught 11 touchdowns in his career and only accumulated 1,646 receiving yards on 138 catches. He was a senior captain for the Wolverines and was the most reliable option in the Michigan passing attack over the past few seasons.
What makes Butt a player to avoid is that he tore his ACL during the team's bowl game that will cause him to miss most, if not all of his rookie season. Stashing Butt behind Jason Witten, Geoff Swaim and James Hanna makes sense, but the cost of a top-100 selection will be too pricey for the Cowboys.
Dallas has too many needs on defense to select an offensive player, let alone one that wouldn't contribute in 2017.
CB Sidney Jones
8 of 10
Before Washington's Pro Day, Sidney Jones was in consideration for the Cowboys at No. 28. Jones is quick-footed, smooth athlete who specialized in taking the ball away in college.
In his 39 starts, Jones racked up nine interceptions to go along with 21 passes defended, per Sports Reference. He can play in press man coverage and in off coverage; perfect for the Cowboys' multiple defense.
But Jones tore his left Achilles at his pro day that required surgery, and it will likely cause him to miss his entire rookie season. With the Cowboys in desperate need to find cornerbacks who can come in and play right away, they don't have the luxury of selecting Jones with a top-100 pick.
As talented as Jones is, he may never get back to 100 percent, and it's just not realistic for Dallas to take another injured player in this draft.
RB Joe Mixon
9 of 10
This one is obvious; Joe Mixon won't be on the Cowboys' draft board. Dallas has one of the deepest running back units in the entire league, and with Ezekiel Elliott's ongoing investigation, Mixon isn't a risk the team can afford.
Mixon's talent is obvious and on the field, he may be the best running back in this entire draft class. But with the Cowboys desperately needing help on defense and Mixon's past, the pairing just doesn't make sense.
Jerry Jones is a known risk-taker, and if Mixon falls to day three, he could consider making the move. But with the way the Cowboys' roster is currently constructed, this move doesn't seem at all likely no matter how far he drops in the draft.
CB Fabian Moreau
10 of 10
The final player the Cowboys should avoid is one who the team has shown significant interest in. UCLA's Fabian Moreau was an official visit with the Cowboys, and he's one of the top five or six cornerbacks in this draft. However, he tore his left pectoral muscle at his pro day, which could cause him to miss some time in 2017.
Before the injury, Moreau was still a player the Cowboys should have avoided. Moreau is too old (23) for a rookie, and his injury history is concerning. Outside of the pectoral injury, he played in only three games in 2015 after he suffered a Lisfranc injury. Moreau went to the Shrine game and wasn't able to participate in the Senior Bowl after being too banged up after the week of practices.
Moreau also has problems on the field as a player. In 51 career games, he only created four turnovers (three interceptions and one forced fumble). The Cowboys' defense is predicated on creating turnovers at a high rate, and Moreau just hasn't shown the ability to do so throughout his career.
He's got athleticism and speed (4.35 40-yard dash at the combine), but his lack of turnover production and his injury history make him a risky pick in the second round, let alone in the first round.
With such a deep cornerback class, the Cowboys would be wise to let someone else select Fabian Moreau.
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