Cowboys' draft targets: backs, receivers and cover men
BY CLARENCE E. HILL JR
IRVING -- Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly, Texas A&M tight end Martellus Bennett and Texas running back Jamaal Charles are among the prospects who have been invited to the Cowboys’ Valley Ranch training complex for pre-draft visits April 17-18.
Charles speaks to the Cowboys' need to get a running back to pair with starter Marion Barber. With two picks in the first round and one in the second, the Cowboys have three picks on the first day of the draft to focus on their needs at running back, cornerback and receiver.
The names of the prospects who have been invited so far for visits -- the Cowboys can invite 30 "national" prospects for in-depth interviews -- show that the team is focused on those areas.
In addition to Charles, Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart and Arkansas running back Felix Jones have also been invited. All three are considered low first-round or high second-round talents.
Despite reports of the Cowboys' looking to trade up to get Darren McFadden, the Arkansas running back has not been invited to Valley Ranch for a visit, according to his agent, Ian Greengross.
The list of cornerbacks is a veritable who’s who of the top prospects at the position, including Kansas’ Aqib Talib, Arizona’s Antoine Cason, Troy’s Leodis McKelvin, Indiana’s Tracy Porter and Tennessee State’s Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie.
Rodgers-Cromartie, McKelvin, Cason and Talib have been picked to go in the first round in several mock drafts.
Joining Kelly at receiver is Indiana’s rising prospect James Hardy. Texas’ Limas Sweed has not yet been invited, his agent, Ben Dogra, said.
Linebackers Keith Rivers of Southern California and Beau Bell of UNLV have also been invited.