Bill Jones’ Cowboys Mock Draft 2012

[cowboyjoe]

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/02/23/bill-jones-cowboys-mock-draft-2012/
February 23, 2012 3:38 PM

You heard it here first…on February 23rd.
With the 14th pick of the 2012 National Football League Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select:
Dont’a Hightower – LB – Alabama


Linebacker Dont'a Hightower #30 of the Alabama Crimson Tide (Photo by Greg McWilliams/Getty Images)

Hightower played inside linebacker in Nick Saban’s 3-4 defense at Alabama. He was the unquestioned leader of the defense, calling all the plays, and playing some as a rush defensive end in passing situations. It’s that latter role that I project Hightower, at 6-4 and 260 pounds, playing with the Cowboys – a hybrid OLB/DE/ILB who can be used wherever Rob Ryan wants to in his front seven.

[SDogo]

I'm getting real comfortable with Hightower and that mock would actually not be a bad haul.

[realtick]

I really like Hightower, but not at #14.

[cowboyjoe]

I'm getting real comfortable with Hightower and that mock would actually not be a bad haul.

yep, pretty good draft sdogo, thats why i posted it :)

[acer941]

I would rather us pick Janoris Jenkins at #14 and trade back into the late 1st and pick Hightower.

[Deep_Freeze]

I'm getting real comfortable with Hightower and that mock would actually not be a bad haul.

Yeah its easy to see Hightower moving up in the draft, his versatility and leadership shouldn't be in question. After the combine, Hightower at #14 won't look as crazy as it does right now.

It is a nice haul, although for the first time I would actually want them to take a Razorback. Take Broyles out, and put in Joe Adams in that spot and I'm happy.

[Teague31]

If we franchise/resign spencer, there is no way we take Hightower at 14.

[Aven8]

I am actually thinking Hightower should/could be the pick. I'm falling in love with him everyday.

I like the Broyles pick as well. The kid is a stud. He got injured, but he can ball. Bill Jones Btw is a graduate of Oklahoma so he knows.

Not so sure I'm in love with the TE in the 2nd rd, but we always pick a player in that range that we all go wth? Ie. McGee, Demarco, etc.

[ThreeandOut]

I predict this board will explode if the Cowboys take a TE in the 2nd round.

[Dash28]

Hightower would be nice in a trade down but don't like him at 14 right now.

[JonJon]

1) Dont’a Hightower – LB – Alabama – 6-4, 260

2) Dwayne Allen – TE – Clemson – 6-4, 255

3) Harrison Smith – SS – Notre Dame – 6-2, 212

4a) Kirk Cousins – QB – Michigan State – 6-2, 209

4b) Ryan Broyles – WR – Oklahoma – 5-10, 188

5) Derek Wolfe – DE – Cincinnati – 6-5, 286

6) Ron Brooks – CB – LSU – 5-11, 178

7) Greg McCoy – CB – TCU – 5-10, 182

I'm assuming that we have addressed the CB and G issues in free agency if this were the case. Not a bad mock though. If we can get Dwayne Allen or TE Coby Fleener in round 2, watch out!

[casmith07]

CB class this deep and no CB?

No thanks.

[TheCount]

1) Dont’a Hightower – LB – Alabama – 6-4, 260

2) Dwayne Allen – TE – Clemson – 6-4, 255

3) Harrison Smith – SS – Notre Dame – 6-2, 212

4a) Kirk Cousins – QB – Michigan State – 6-2, 209

4b) Ryan Broyles – WR – Oklahoma – 5-10, 188

5) Derek Wolfe – DE – Cincinnati – 6-5, 286

6) Ron Brooks – CB – LSU – 5-11, 178

7) Greg McCoy – CB – TCU – 5-10, 182

I'm assuming that we have addressed the CB and G issues in free agency if this were the case. Not a bad mock though. If we can get Dwayne Allen or TE Coby Fleener in round 2, watch out!

That's the mock? I hate it.

[Idgit]

I'm getting real comfortable with Hightower and that mock would actually not be a bad haul.

Me, too, re Hightower. Give me a CB in the second, though, please.

[natedoug]

Dont'a Hightower Highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXsxoisEmxQ

[tm1119]

Id be pretty upset with this draft. Our defense would not be improved what so ever. I'm not buying that Smith is going to start at day 1 and he's more of a SS than the cover FS we need. Not to mention 0 o-line help. No thanks.

[Dash28]

Id be pretty upset with this draft. Our defense would not be improved what so ever. I'm not buying that Smith is going to start at day 1 and he's more of a SS than the cover FS we need. Not to mention 0 o-line help. No thanks.
Have to remember FA will shape the direction some too.

[28 Joker]

I really like Hightower, but not at #14.

I agree. I really like him, too.

However, he did have an ACL injury at Alabama, and I have read about some questions in regards to his motor. Hightower seemed to play to the level of his competition according to one National Football Post analysis.

In the NFL, everyone is good. I like him, but I'm not sold on him at 14.

If the Cowboys don't come out of a quality OG and CB draft without at least 1 top notch OG and CB, I'd be pretty disappointed.

[Future]

Hightower has Bradie James written all over him imo.

And I don't mean that as a compliment.

[VACowboy]

If we're wedded to Hightower in the 1st and we're ignoring the OL in the draft and taking a TE fairly high and a slot receiver and QB in the middle rounds and a coupla DBs late and Spencer is being retained, I trade down and pick up another #2 or #3 and proceed thusly....

1) Dont’a Hightower – LB – Alabama – 6-4, 260

2) Chase Minnifield – CB – Virginia – 6-0, 285

3) Joe Adams - WR - Arkansas - 5-11, 174

3) Ladarius Green - TE - Lafayette - 6-6, 237

4) Kirk Cousins – QB – Michigan State – 6-2, 209

4) Akiem Nicks - DT - Regina - 6-5, 324

5) Derek Wolfe – DE – Cincinnati – 6-5, 286

6) Matt Daniels – S – Dook – 6-0, 215

7) Greg McCoy – CB – TCU – 5-10, 182

But that's just me...

[realtick]

Id be pretty upset with this draft. Our defense would not be improved what so ever. I'm not buying that Smith is going to start at day 1 and he's more of a SS than the cover FS we need. Not to mention 0 o-line help. No thanks.

Your signature ain't half bad...[thumbs up]

[silverbear]

That's the mock? I hate it.

I like the first and last picks, and that's about it...

I don't see the Boys going TE in the 2nd round, but if they do, I surely hope it's Fleener from Stanford... to me, he's kind of a Jason Witten lite... Jason's a little bigger, a little faster, and a little better blocker, but Fleener has a nice array of skills that are reminiscent of Witten...

Again, I'm not saying that Fleener is as good as Witten is... where Jason has 90-100 catch potential in any given season, Fleener's peak might be 60-75 catches (of course, he won't reach that potential while Jason is still active and healthy)...

One thing Fleener does really, really well is run crisp patterns... it wouldn't be long before Romo started looking for him on pass patterns, I think...

[silverbear]

Hightower has Bradie James written all over him imo.

I hope the tattoo artist gave him a discount...

[silverbear]

If we're wedded to Hightower in the 1st and we're ignoring the OL in the draft and taking a TE fairly high and a slot receiver and QB in the middle rounds and a coupla DBs late and Spencer is being retained, I trade down and pick up another #2 or #3 and proceed thusly....

1) Dont’a Hightower – LB – Alabama – 6-4, 260

2) Chase Minnifield – CB – Virginia – 6-0, 285

3) Joe Adams - WR - Arkansas - 5-11, 174

3) Ladarius Green - TE - Lafayette - 6-6, 237

4) Kirk Cousins – QB – Michigan State – 6-2, 209

4) Akiem Nicks - DT - Regina - 6-5, 324

5) Derek Wolfe – DE – Cincinnati – 6-5, 286

6) Matt Daniels – S – Dook – 6-0, 215

7) Greg McCoy – CB – TCU – 5-10, 182

But that's just me...

That's a much better draft, pal...

When it comes to Hicks, though, don't be surprised if he winds up playing 3-4 DE in the NFL, not NT... I see him as being similar to Red Bryant and Cullen Jenkins in that regard...

And don't misunderstand me, I like him a lot in that role...

[Deep_Freeze]

That's a much better draft, pal...

When it comes to Hicks, though, don't be surprised if he winds up playing 3-4 DE in the NFL, not NT... I see him as being similar to Red Bryant and Cullen Jenkins in that regard...

And don't misunderstand me, I like him a lot in that role...

Yeah I like this draft too, especially if we are able to get some FAs on the OL. More offense than I would expect, but like I said earlier, love the addition of Adams to that draft. Adams is just plain electric in the return game.

[VACowboy]

When it comes to Hicks, though, don't be surprised if he winds up playing 3-4 DE in the NFL, not NT... I see him as being similar to Red Bryant and Cullen Jenkins in that regard...

Me too, Bear. Physically he reminds me of a svelte Haloti Ngata, really too tall to play two-gap NT in a 3-4 set. Wolfe is being WAY underrated, IMHO. These two guys would make a great pair of big, pocket-pushing DE's to add to the mix.

Optimally, I would probably take the Lafayette CB Bentley in the fourth and Aaron Corp in the 7th. I'm telling y'all, Corp can play.

Adams is just plain electric in the return game.

Yes he is. He led the the nation in PRA, I think, and that was running from the fastest athletes in college football on a weekly basis. But I think he's gonna be a whole lot more than just a punt returner. I really think he will tear up the League from the slot.

Five players I love in this draft: Shea McClellin, Joe Adams, Wolfe, Daniels and Corp.

[Marktui]

If we franchise/resign spencer, there is no way we take Hightower at 14.

He could be used as a hybrid his first couple of seasons. He has experience at both Jack and Mike backer spots. He could play defensive end in the nickel package.

Nickel d line could be RE-Hightower DT-Ratliff DT-Hatcher LE-Spencer with Ware coming as an extra pass rusher on an overload. Or if we play straight up 4 man rush RE-Ware DT Hightower DT Ratliff DE Spencer. Hightower has the strength to play inside and tangle with guards at 6'4'' and 260lbs.

Ryan could concoct various packages to use his skill set. Similar to Aldon Smith with the Niners, he never started but was on the field often.

3-4 is all about linebackers so we could never have enough that can cause pressure.

[JackWagon]

im perfectly happy with that pick ... front 7 defensive guy with a National Championship under his belt.

[jterrell]

He notes that he expects Dallas to add a starting CB and starting OG in free agency.

If that were to happen, not a bad mock draft.

[CowboyHawg2012]

I mentioned it before. I really really want Hightower for 2 reasons. He would be a phenomenal fit for us, and im terrified that the giants would trade up 5-6 spots and pull the trigger. i would be sick to my stomach if i saw him in "****-after-drinkingtoomuchgatorade" blue. That being said. If DeCastro is there at 14, im taking him and not thinking twice about it and then i wouldnt be opposed to trading back into the 1st to get Dont'a, but not at the price the saints paid the pats last year.....

[DFWJC]

I don't see us taking Hightower at 14. Maybe in a trade down.

[Hoofbite]

That's the mock? I hate it.

Yep, count me out.

2nd round TE?

Not a single OL?

CB ignored until the 6th round?

I'm not sure you could find a combination of 3 worse things for this specific team right now.

Two biggest holes go almost completely ignored (must be praying for FA to come through) and they waste yet another pick on a second string TE.

Color me unimpressed and disgusted.