2011 NFL Mock Draft: Dallas Cowboys' 7-Round Predictions

Boys and girls, we are only a few weeks away from the National Football League’s draft of college football players. Your local Dallas Cowboys are slated to pick ninth in the first round of this year’s selection ceremony and they also hold two seventh-round picks. So what’s changed since my last mock you ask? Wait, you didn’t ask? Well I’m telling you anyway.

Not much will differ in the first few rounds as I think the ‘Boys are slated to go heavy on offensive lineman and maybe try late round picks and free agency to, ahem, adjust the secondary.

There is still talk of Jerry’s kids maybe going after Mike Pouncey in the first round and for all you defensive heads Prince Amukamara still has an outside shot of becoming a Cowboy.

Let's mock it up to see if your favorite college football player ends up at Valley Ranch.

1st Round, 9th Pick, Tyron Smith, OT, USC

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: Joe McKnight #4 of the USC Trojans celebrates his touchdown with Tyron Smith #70 and David Ausberry #9 during the second quarter against the San Jose State Spartans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 5, 2009 in

I think you better cccaaalll Tyronnnnn. Ok, that was a little wack, but you get the picture. As the days go by it’s looking as if Mr. Smith is coming to Dallas. He's raw, athletic and big with a ton of upside and potential. I think the Cowboys could stand a little line competition as head coach Jason Garrett prepares to lead the Cowboys on a title run.

2nd Round, 8th Pick, Cam Heyward, DE, OSU

Heyward vs. Carimi

Ok, so this one may be a little bit of a long shot, but it's not off terribly. Heyward is projected by some to go as low as 30th to the Jets, but if he falls past that point then I think the ‘Boys have a shot. Listen, I like Heyward’s size and his motor. The way he handled himself against Gabe Carimi was great, which shows that he can handle himself against some of the NFL’s biggest offensive lineman.

The downside on Heyward is his weight. If he were to play in Rob Ryan’s 3-4 then he would need to add at least 20 pounds of muscle. But with his talent I don’t think that it would be wise for Jerry to pass on this kid in the second round.

3rd Round, 7th Pick, Quinton Carter, FS, Oklahoma

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

DALLAS - OCTOBER 17: Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin #84 of the Texas Longhorns runs for a touchdown against Quinton Carter #20 of the Oklahoma Sooners at Cotton Bowl on October 17, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

He’s not as speedy as I thought, but he’s fast enough to play free safety. He can be a big hitter and takes a few risks at times. Carter plays the zone well and will be a better fit than Alan Ball.

The downside on Carter, and there is always a downside, is that he has a lot of Roy Williams in him. He’s always searching for the next big hit, and while that may get the crowd going in the team’s favor if he lays the wood, just ask Roy how it feels when you are constantly beat in coverage and the fans turn on you.

4th Round, 13th Pick, Will Rackley, OT, Lehigh

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Center Nick Mangold #74 of the New York Jets readies the ball for the snap against Dan Muir #90 of the Indianapolis Colts during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 8, 2011 in Indianapolis,

Well, this is a little bit of a reach and it's not due to lack of talent. I’m just not sure if Rackley will be available in the fourth round because he’s drawing interest from so many teams.

Homie gave up only three sacks in 40 career college games. That’s right, I said three sacks in 40 career college games. That, my friends, is just insane. He’ll probably transition over to guard at the next level and the Cowboys are in desperate need one of those.

Oh, and I couldn't find a picture of him so enjoy this grudge match between the Jets and Colts.

5th Round, 12th Pick, Kevlin Sheppard, ILB, LSU

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 04: Kelvin Sheppard #11 of the LSU Tigers against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Georgia Dome on September 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Sheppard’s career down on the bayou and it’s simply because I like the way LSU plays football. He was first team All-SEC, led the team with a combined tackle count of 116, and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.70 seconds flat.

His head coach at LSU, Les Miles, eats grass before every game and I just hope that Sheppard has some of that love of football in him, which I think he does.

6th Round, 11th Pick, Brandon Hogan, CB, WVU:

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

MORGANTOWN, WV - DECEMBER 1: Jarrett Brown #16 of the West Virginia Mountaineers carries the ball during the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Milan Puskar Stadium on December 1, 2007 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The ‘Boys may be able to select Hogan with one of their two seventh-round picks to be honest with you, but it really depends on how far he falls. I’ve seen projects as high as the fourth round and as low as the seventh, so who knows with this guy.

He’s had some character issues in the past. The last WVU cornerback with character issues that Dallas chose to pick up ended up being released for, well, character issues. Hogan has speed and may be asked to play a little special teams because of it. But I really think character may get him on this one but if it doesn’t, he may be a Cowboy.

7th Round, 17th Pick, Roy Helu, RB, Nebraska

Eric Francis/Getty Images

LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 13: Roy Helu Jr. #10 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers runs for the endzone the Kansas Jayhawks during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska Defeated Kansas 20-3. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty I

Helu played second fiddle in Lincoln for awhile and still ended up fourth on the school’s career rushing list. He scored 11 touchdowns last season and he had 307 yards rushing against Missouri in one game. He’s a patient runner and has great acceleration off the ball.

However, one of Helu’s biggest downfalls is his inability to recognize and pick up the blitz. If you can’t do that, well, then you won’t be around very long. Of course, this pick hinges on the future of Marion Barber, but I still believe that Helu would be a great fit in Cowboy blue.

7th Round, 49th Compensatory Pick, Dane Sanzenbacher, WR, OSU

David Purdy/Getty Images

IOWA CITY, IA - NOVEMBER 20: Defenisve back Micah Hyde #18 of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes trips up wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher #12 of the Ohio State Buckeyes as he drove the ball down field during the first half of play at Kinnick Stadium on Nove

Don’t ask me to pronounce his name because you won’t learn anything if I do. Dane is actually projected to be signed as a free agent by some but I’ve seen nothing higher than the sixth round on this guy.

This is more of a special teams type of pick for the Cowboys as they are pretty set at wide receiver but with Jerry just waiting for Roy Williams and his contract to end Dane should be sharpening his skills, if he’s drafted, to possibly insert himself in the lineup.