7-Round Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft
The 2018 NFL draft is going to be a massive one for the Dallas Cowboys.
For the most part, the team has opted to ignore free agency over the past few seasons (with the exception of Allen Hurns) and instead focus its attention on the draft.
That strategy has fared well for Dallas, as it has been one of the better drafting teams in the past half-decade; it has selected multiple All-Pro players, such as Ezekiel Elliott, Zack Martin and Travis Frederick.
In order for the Cowboys to continue to be successful under their current structure, though, the importance of hitting on draft picks cannot be overstated.
Entering Thursday's draft at their home, AT&T Stadium, Dallas has big needs at receiver, left guard, defensive tackle and linebacker. Luckily, the team has 10 draft picks in 2018 to help address its weaknesses.
The key to this draft for the Cowboys will be where and how they invest their draft capital. The odds are in their favor if they want to select a talented guard high, but what caliber of linebacker might be available to them in Round 2?
The receiver class is deep, but how far down can they wait before grabbing a starting player to replace the recently released Dez Bryant?
Another thing to consider before diving into any mock draft is the future of this Dallas team.
It's no secret the Cowboys want to run the ball early and often in 2018. Could that influence how the team spends its first- or second-round pick in regard to an offensive lineman or receiver? Or does the team believe it is just a few players away on the defensive side of the ball from becoming an elite unit? For all of these reasons, this draft seems as open as it ever has been for the Cowboys.
With all of the potential scenarios in mind, here is a full seven-round mock draft of the Cowboys' 10 selections.
Round 1: Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State
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With the predraft rise of Leighton Vander Esch, there is a solid chance he isn't even available with the 19th overall pick. However, the odds that three off-the-ball linebackers are selected in the top 18 picks seem small.
Nearly every year, linebackers tend to "fall" in the draft, while positions such as quarterbacks, pass-rushers and cornerbacks tend to get overdrafted.
However, let's be clear: The Cowboys would love to see Vander Esch fall to them at pick No. 19.
Despite just one year of solid college production, he has all the tools to be a star in the NFL. In his first full season as a starting linebacker for Boise State, Vander Esch racked up 141 tackles, including 91 solo tackles and five forced fumbles. He is still somewhat raw in terms of the position, but it would appear he is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential.
The question surrounding the pick would be, where does Vander Esch project to play in the Dallas defense? His skill set suggests he should be a weak-side linebacker in the NFL, but the Cowboys already have the best 4-3 outside linebacker in the league in Sean Lee, according to the NFL1000.
Jaylon Smith, a 2016 second-round pick, was drafted to be the team's middle linebacker, but he struggled mightily in the run game in 2017. Would Vander Esch fare better in that role than Smith? It's fair to wonder.
Considering the needs of the Cowboys and which players might be available, Dallas could go in a bunch of directions in the first round.
However, the most likely pick for the Cowboys will continue to be Vander Esch, provided he "falls" to the No. 19 selection.
Round 2: Offensive Guard Austin Corbett, Nevada
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It's no secret the Cowboys have a hole at left guard. With the Chaz Green experiment failing and Jonathan Cooper leaving in free agency, the team is left with no real option at the position.
With the cupboard being so bare, executive vice president Stephen Jones has even mentioned the possibility of moving right tackle La'el Collins back to guard and sliding in Cameron Fleming at right tackle.
The Cowboys have built their team around the presence of a dominant run game. In order for this team to have success, the offensive line has to be one of the best units in the league, which means they need to address the left guard issue early in the draft.
One name that makes sense in the second round for the Cowboys is Austin Corbett of Nevada.
Corbett started all four seasons at Nevada, including 49 games at left tackle. In the NFL, he will likely have to play guard, but he does have the length and enough athleticism to survive at tackle.
However, his best football will come as a guard, where he can use his power and balance to make plays in Dallas' zone-heavy blocking scheme.
Corbett would be an instant starter for the Cowboys and is an ideal selection at pick No. 50. If the Cowboys fail to address their left guard weakness in the first round, expect his name to be on the shortlist of players they target in Round 2.
Round 3: Safety Tarvarius Moore, Southern Mississippi
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In the sixth round of the 2017 draft, the Cowboys selected Xavier Woods. He played all over the field last season, but ideally he needs to be in the box. However, the team is still searching for a dynamic player who can play single-high safety.
This class is deep at the safety position, but it lacks players who can operate as true free safeties. However, one name that could be had inside the top 100 and who may have that ability is Tarvarius Moore from Southern Mississippi.
Moore started just 13 games in his collegiate career, but his elite athleticism and coverage ability will get him selected high in this draft.
He showed the ability to cover slot receivers in college, as well as single-high duties when asked. He is raw and could use a few years to learn the position and adjust to the speed of the NFL, but the potential is there.
Moore could play behind Jeff Heath in 2018 and potentially challenge him for snaps by year two. He is one of the fastest-rising prospects in this class, and the Cowboys would need to pull the trigger at No. 81 if they want to get him.
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Round 4: Defensive Tackle P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State
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Make no mistake about it: The Cowboys have a massive need at defensive tackle.
If it weren't for bigger needs at left guard and linebacker, they would likely select one of Vita Vea or Da'Ron Payne in the first round to shore up their 1-technique weakness.
While that's not out of the question, what is more likely is Dallas waits until the third or fourth rounds to dive into a deep defensive tackle class. One name that makes sense on Day 3 is P.J. Hall from Sam Houston State.
For most of the draft process, Hall has been a relatively unknown name. But his pro day numbers have likely jumped him multiple rounds.
At 308 pounds, he ran a 40-yard dash of 4.71 seconds and had a 38" vertical jump, according to NFL.com's Gil Brandt. In college, Hall was one of the most productive defensive linemen you will see. He racked up 86.5 tackles for a loss and 42 sacks in his 56-game career at Sam Houston State.
The term "dominant" is often overused during the draft process, but there is no other way to describe Hall's game at the FBS level.
Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli usually doesn't draft big, heavy defensive tackles to play the 1-technique position. Instead, he tends to prefer athletes at that position who can get upfield and make plays.
Hall could fit in right away because of his athleticism and explosiveness. He needs a lot of seasoning and the transition might be too great for him, but under the teaching of Marinelli, there would be no better spot for him to learn.
In the fourth round, this is an ideal spot for the Cowboys to take a gamble on Hall. However, there is a good chance he doesn't fall to the middle of the fourth round, but his upside might be worth moving up for.
Round 4: Wide Receiver Daurice Fountain, Northern Iowa
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With the release of Bryant, most people would assume Dallas will take a wide receiver in the first two rounds. However, the Cowboys have other significant needs on the roster and may decide to wait and use the depth of this receiver class to their advantage.
One player the Cowboys may have their eye on during the third day of the draft is Daurice Fountain of Northern Iowa.
Fountain has ideal size for an X-receiver (6'1", 210 pounds), but it's his explosiveness that makes him an intriguing option in the fourth round.
He wasn't invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, but his pro day numbers were impressive. He posted a 42.5" vertical and an 11'2" broad jump. Both numbers are in the 98th percentile for all receivers since 2000, according to MockDraftable.
Fountain is extremely raw and needs a year on a practice squad or at the bottom of the roster to learn the NFL route tree and adjust to play speed.
However, he has shown the traits to potentially develop into a starting receiver in the NFL. At the very least, he could contribute early as a red-zone weapon with his size and leaping ability.
Round 5: Cornerback Christian Campbell, Penn State
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Cornerback isn't a need for the Dallas Cowboys, especially if and when Byron Jones officially makes the move back to the outside.
With second-year cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis expecting to start and Jones factoring in somewhere, the cornerback room is crowded, to say the least.
However, new passing game coordinator Kris Richard might want to add a player of his own to the secondary. And with Jones scheduled to hit free agency after the 2018 season, it wouldn't be a shock to see the team grab a developmental corner to stash on the end of the roster.
Knowing how much Seattle (and Richard) valued length and athleticism, don't be surprised if Dallas brings that same approach to their secondary. That's why Penn State's Christian Campbell is an intriguing option in the middle of Day 3.
Campbell improved in each of his four seasons while in Happy Valley. He lacks elite speed (4.51 40-yard dash), but he is an explosive athlete who has no problem playing the ball when it's in the air.
Campbell needs time to develop and probably needs to play in a scheme that uses a lot of zone coverage to help mask his long speed. In the right scheme, though, he has starting-caliber upside and is worth the gamble.
Round 6: Running Back Ito Smith, Southern Mississippi
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The Cowboys have only one running back who will be under contract after the 2018 season: Ezekiel Elliott.
With Alfred Morris not returning, Darren McFadden's retirement and Rod Smith entering the final year of his deal, they need to add bodies to their running back room. One name that makes sense for Dallas on the third day of the draft is Ito Smith.
In four seasons at Southern Mississippi, Smith rushed for over 4,500 yards and added another 1,446 yards in the air. He was just the 10th player in FBS history to accumulate 4,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a collegiate career. He has been one of the most productive backs to enter the NFL draft in the past several seasons.
Smith doesn't have elite size at just 5'9", 201 pounds, but his production should speak for itself.
If the Cowboys are looking for a player to fill the Lance Dunbar role in the offense, Smith should be able to do that right away.
He needs to drastically improve as a pass-blocker and increase his overall power, but he should make an impact as the team's No. 3 back right away.
Round 6: Linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama
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Despite picking a linebacker with the 19th overall selection, don't be surprised if the Cowboys double-dip at the position.
If they do select Vander Esch in Round 1, he's likely slotted inside as the middle linebacker. But ideally, the Cowboys would like to grab a player who may be able to replace Sean Lee in the next few seasons. In the sixth round, selecting a player such as Alabama's Shaun Dion Hamilton would be perfect.
Before injuring his right knee in 2017, Hamilton had the potential to be a top-100 selection. He is an undersized linebacker at just under 6'0", but his instincts and ability to take on blocks are what make him an intriguing prospect.
During his time in Alabama, Hamilton was used as an inside linebacker in Nick Saban's 3-4 defense; in the NFL, though, he would have the ability to be a weak-side linebacker who might be able to play inside on passing downs.
The biggest problem with Hamilton is his health. He wasn't able to participate in the NFL combine or at his pro day, and it's fair to wonder if he will be ready by the time the NFL season begins.
However, with the Cowboys having limited roster spots open, it might not be a bad idea to stash him on the physically unable to perform list until 2019.
Hamilton has a lot of talent and could easily be worth the sixth-round investment in this part of the draft.
Round 6: Offensive Tackle Desmond Harrison, West Georgia
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While the Cowboys may have two men competing for the swing tackle position in 2018 in Chaz Green and Cameron Fleming, both are scheduled to hit free agency in 2019.
Dallas is expected to dish out big contracts next spring to players such as Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence and potentially Dak Prescott. There likely won't be many extra dollars available to pay a swing tackle.
Instead, the Cowboys could turn to the draft to find their tackle of the future. One player with a massive ceiling is Desmond Harrison of West Georgia.
He made a name for himself at the NFL combine when he ran a 4.90 40-yard dash. During the drills, his athleticism jumped off the screen, as he was one of the best athletes among all the offensive linemen. Just on the field alone, he has the ability to be a high-end starter at either tackle position.
However, Harrison has quite a few flaws. The biggest being multiple off-the-field issues that forced him out of football for two seasons. He started his career at Contra Costa Community College in 2011 and eventually transferred to Texas, where he failed to start a game in two seasons. He finished his career at West Georgia, starting nine games at left tackle.
There is a good chance Harrison doesn't get drafted because of all the issues that come off the field, but his overall athleticism and ceiling might be worth the late-round flier.
If the Cowboys were to take Harrison, he could easily flame out early in camp. But there is a chance he beats out Green and Fleming in his rookie year for the swing tackle position.
Harrison is one of the biggest risk/reward prospects in this entire class.
Round 7: Quarterback Kurt Benkert, Virginia
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The Cowboys don't have a need at quarterback, but the team has just two QBs on its roster: Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush.
While the team is excited about what Rush might be able to develop into as a backup, it needs someone else to develop, either as the third quarterback or on the practice squad.
However, because the need is so far down on the list, Dallas shouldn't consider a quarterback until late on Day 3. Of the names the Cowboys could consider is Kurt Benkert of Virginia.
He was a two-year starter at Virginia and had some mild success. He has an above-average arm and has shown the ability to make "NFL throws." However, his consistency needs to improve in order for him to develop into an adequate backup in the NFL.
Overall, it's worth a swing here this late in the draft.
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