Dallas Cowboys Final 7-Round Mock Draft

The NFL draft is almost here and it's time for my final mock draft of the season. We know the players the Dallas Cowboys will likely target in the first round and the positions the team needs to fill. However, the order in which they fill those needs will be fascinating. 

The Cowboys need to address their defensive back situation as they've seen four starters walk out the door via free agency. But they also need to upgrade a mediocre pass rush. While there is depth at both pass-rusher and defensive back in this draft, finding the correct combination of the two will be tricky.

Dallas would love to leave this draft with three starters, specifically on defense. This mock will be based on the selections the Cowboys would make rather than my personal preference.

Here is the final mock selection before the draft begins.

Round 1: Pick 28

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The Pick: DE T.J. Watt, Wisconsin 

While I desperately wanted to put Houston's Tyus Bowser in this spot, I believe he is the second option at the bottom of the first round for the Cowboys.

The 1A option for Dallas will be defensive end T.J. Watt. This position is one of the biggest needs on the entire roster, specifically at right defensive end. Dallas has numerous left defensive ends, but they lack speed from their wide defensive end. 

While Watt is a project and will need some time to develop, his athletic ability, work ethic and bloodlines make him a nice fit in Rod Marinelli's defense. At 6'4", 252 pounds, Watt has the ideal size and length (33 ⅛" arms), and he also the elite bend to beat tackles off the edge. 

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Watt needs to continue to work on his fluidity as an athlete, and his first few years in the NFL will be dedicated to learning the position. There are no real counter moves in his repertoire, as he generally wins with athleticism and effort.

There is a pattern of injuries in Watt's history as he's had three knee surgeries since 2013. While they shouldn't limit him going forward, it's something to keep an eye on. 

However, Watt's upside and character will likely make him the choice for the Cowboys in the first round. He fills a need and they know he will fit into their locker room right away.

Round 2: Pick 60

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The Pick: CB Fabian Moreau, UCLA 

At one point in time, the Cowboys were considering UCLA cornerback Fabian Moreau in the first round. However, a torn pectoral muscle at UCLA's pro day has caused him to slip to pick 60 in the second round to Dallas. 

Moreau may be ready for training camp, but the Cowboys have enough depth at cornerback that he isn't needed right away. He is a little overaged (23) and didn't take the ball away often in college (just three career interceptions), but he's got the speed and the versatility to play in any type of coverage in Dallas. 

While Moreau has his share of flaws, there is a lot to love. He's got the size at 6'0", 206 pounds with 31 ⅜" arms. He also ran a 4.35 40-yard dash at the NFL combine to go along with an 11'04" broad jump. Outside of measurables, Moreau's tape is very good. He's fluid and knows how to use the sideline to his advantage on the outside. 

He may not start right away in year one, but Moreau fits the mold as to what the Cowboys want in their cornerbacks. Because of the injury, they can get a talented player at the bottom of the second round who may be able to make his way into the starting lineup by the end of the season.

Round 3: Pick 92

Michael Noble Jr./Associated Press

The Pick: FS Xavier Woods, Louisiana Tech

Dallas needs to add a safety in the draft and one of the players who makes sense on the second day of the draft is Xavier Woods from Louisiana Tech. He was one of the Cowboys' 30 official visits, so it's clear that they have an interest in the player. 

Xavier Woods doesn't have elite size at just 5'11", 197 pounds, but he was ultra-productive in college. In his past three seasons, he created 20 turnovers, including 14 interceptions and four career sacks. He was a four-year starter in college who racked up 277 tackles.

He's not a great athlete, but he's an instinctive player who can be used all over the field. He's got experience as a nickel corner, mirroring receivers down the field and in the slot.

Woods could step in right away and seize the starting strong safety role. He needs to clean up his overall game in run support and become a stronger athlete, but his skill set would allow him to play immediately, especially on passing downs.

Round 4: Pick 133

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The Pick: WR KD Cannon, Baylor 

Initially, the pick here was KD Cannon's teammate, wide receiver Ishmael Zamora. However, there are too many concerns off the field for the team to select him despite his massive talent. Instead, the pick is Cannon who could immediately challenge Brice Butler for snaps as the team's fourth receiver.

Cannon is a lean receiver who excels when he's targeted down the field. He's an explosive athlete who caught 27 touchdowns in his three years at Baylor. He doesn't have elite speed like Will Fuller (Cannon ran a 4.41 at the combine), but he possesses the same kind of skill set. 

Like Fuller, he has a small catch radius and his hands can be inconsistent at times. However, Cannon is tougher to bring down after the catch as he has the lower-body strength to break tackles.

He's going to need some time to get used to running a full route tree as he wasn't asked to do that at Baylor, but he's a player who can find a role on the Cowboys offense right away as the team's deep threat.

Round 6: Pick 11

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The Pick: Jayon Brown, UCLA

UCLA's Jayon Brown is an another undersized linebacker the Cowboys could select late on day three to add to their unit. Dallas lacks speed in their linebacking corps, but Brown could change that.  

Brown's ability to fly to the football and anticipate throws could make him a steal late on Day 3 as a nickel or dime linebacker. At 6'0", 231 pounds, he's built more like a secondary player rather than an off-the-ball linebacker. 

Brown has experience playing special teams, and that's likely where he would play in his first few years. But with NFL defenses primarily using their nickel defense as their base personnel grouping, he could find a home as a coverage linebacker down the road. 

However, like Deion Jones in Atlanta, Brown's game fits today's NFL, and that could mean he starts early in his career. He's got the speed to be one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL.  

With the Cowboys trying to become more athletic and faster on defense, Brown could find his way on to the field quickly, as Sean Lee is the team's only reliable linebacker.

Anthony Hitchens and Damien Wilson are solid players, but neither excels on passing downs; Brown could immediately provide an upgrade at the position.

Round 7: Pick 228

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The Pick: RB Aaron Jones, UTEP

While the Cowboys are fairly set at the running back position, they have shown they aren't afraid to add more competition to the group. After selecting Ezekiel Elliott with their fourth pick in 2016, the team also spent a sixth-round pick on Darius Jackson. 

Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris will compete for the No. 2 job behind Elliott in 2017, but there's also a possibility that Dallas will look to try to replace Lance Dunbar in the draft. A name that makes sense in the sixth or seventh round is Aaron Jones from Texas-El Paso. 

Jones is an athletic runner who has started 32 games in college. He rushed for over 4,000 yards and caught 71 passes out of the backfield. His explosiveness (10'6" broad jump) and soft hands make him a nice fit as a third-down back in the NFL.

Jones isn't a powerful runner nor a great pass-protector, but he's twitchy. He's one of the toughest running backs to defend in the passing game. 

On April 13 on Sirius XM NFL Radio, Jones mentioned that he worked out for the Cowboys and they were the team to show the most interest so far in the draft process. He could be a target with one of their two seventh-round picks or a player they try to scoop after the draft.

Round 7: Pick 246

Brody Schmidt/Associated Press

The Pick: CB Ashton Lampkin, Oklahoma State

Ashton Lampkin is a player who the Cowboys have shown interest in as they invited him to workout for the team.

He's from Fort Worth, Texas, and went to school at Dunbar. He played in 55 career games at Oklahoma State, starting a total of 25 games. He was a two-year starter and is one of the few cornerbacks in this class who has experience playing in press man coverage. 

As a senior, Lampkin racked up 34 tackles in 13 starts. He's a tough, fiery player who wants to match up against a team's best receiver.

He'll need to make a name for himself on special teams, but that's something he excels at. As a sophomore, he was the MVP on special teams for the Oklahoma State Cowboys as a gunner. His physical nature and passion for the game show up frequently on special teams.

Dallas' cornerback room could be crowded if they select one early, but Lampkin can make the team and contribute in multiple ways as a rookie. He has the chance to develop into the fourth cornerback for the team.