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Friday is mock draft day here on BTB and we have 13 of the freshest and juiciest mocks handpicked for your mock draft pleasure.
In today's mock draft round-up, we look at 13 of the latest mocks published over the last five days, including mocks from SI.com, CBSSports, USA Today, SB Nation and many others. All these mocks are from this week, and the mocks have narrowed down the Cowboys' target down to just four players.
That's something we'll keep a close eye on in our mock draft round-up next week, same time, same place.
For now, all the mock draft goodness is summarized below, and there's a poll at the end as well.
Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
Rotoworld (Norris), Feb 11 As of now, I consider Jack the top prospect in this draft class. Jack can play like a 260 lbs power linebacker or display the agility a 230 lbs coverage specialist. He moves differently than most players at the position. Linebackers tend to play better when working behind a talented defensive line, and expect Dallas to invest in the interior throughout the draft. Jack is on track to participate in the Combine.SI.com (Burke), Feb 10 I’m still having a hard time believing the Cowboys will use this pick on a QB. Doing so almost would close the Tony Romo window - a backup quarterback isn’t getting them over the top. Jack won’t on his own, either, but his rangy, athletic game would make the Dallas defense much more formidable.
SD Union Tribune (Brown), Feb 10 The Cowboys' defense has certainly improved this season in certain areas, but free agency could impact their linebacking corps significantly. According to Pro Football Focus, Jack was the top-graded linebacker in coverage in 2014 while playing the third-most snaps in the country with 1,109. As long as his rehab goes well, he will hear his name called early in prime time, much like Todd Gurley last year.
NFL Draft Zone (Turner), Feb 9 This wouldn’t be my pick here, but I can’t see the Cowboys drafting offense here with how big the investment gap is between their offense and defense. Rolando McClain is an impending free agent, Sean Lee has a serious injury history, and Jack could play with either. He isn’t a playmaker per se, or even particularly instinctive, but he is supremely athletic and his upside is through the roof.
CBSSports (Rang),
Feb 8 The Cowboys face a critical decision with their first-round pick in 2016. This club is clearly more talented than the others selecting in the top five and owner Jerry Jones might be tempted to add an immediate impact defender like Jack rather than select a quarterback to groom behind the 35-year old (and increasingly injury-prone) Tony Romo. Jack suffered a serious knee injury Sept. 23 but if teams are satisfied with his rehabilitation he'll draw top five consideration. Voted the Pac-12's Offensive and Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2013 while moonlighting at running back and starring at outside linebacker, Jack has the playmaking pedigree Jones loves.
CBSSports (Brugler),
Feb 8 The Cowboys have been searching for an athletic and versatile linebacker in the draft the past few years and Jack fits the bill. He is outstanding in coverage with the range and instincts to step in and make an impact from Day One.
Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Sporting News (Galko), Feb 9 For a team near the end of their championship window to draft a top-five quarterback despite having their current quarterback under contract for a few more years seems a bit unnecessary and naïve. Wentz could certainly be the pick, but the Cowboys would be wise to wait on a quarterback until round two or next year, find a Romo backup in free agency (like Robert Griffin III) and give their defense another elite talent. Bosa fits every type of defense, can contribute immediately and could give the Cowboys the best offensive and defensive line in the NFL.USA Today (Davis), Feb 8 He'd fit perfectly on Rod Marinelli's defense, which needs its front four to create pressure, would form a formidable young tandem opposite DeMarcus Lawrence while also allowing the Cowboys to move on from the Greg Hardy circus.
Bleacher Report (Miller), Feb 8 Bosa will be the ideal player to line up opposite Randy Gregory, but he’s also big and strong enough to line up as a 3-technique pass-rusher. That type of versatility allows him to be a fit in any scheme or defensive front, and to stay on the field for Dallas on three downs.
Jalen Ramsey, CB/S, Florida State
DraftKing (Pickney), Feb 11 Perhaps the first big leak of this draft season was the report by Tony Pauline that Dallas has Ramsey at the top of its draft board. Of course, at this time of year you must take all reports and rumors with a grain of salt. I don't know the source of Pauline's leak, but Jerry Jones is notorious for letting the cat out of the bag, and I tend to find rumors from Dallas more credible than most. It doesn't hurt that Ramsey is an elite talent, a natural safety who moved to cornerback last season for Florida State due to the Seminoles' team needs. He was outstanding when I did color commentary for a webcast of his game in Nashville with Brentwood Academy against Father Ryan High School in 2011, but in Tallahassee he has developed into a special player.SB Nation (Kadar), Feb 8 The Cowboys can really do no wrong with the fourth pick if they're choosing between Ramsey and UCLA linebacker Myles Jack. Ramsey can be the lock-down cornerback Dallas needs, while Jack can be the steady playmaker at linebacker that is needed. Both are among the best players in this year's draft.
Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
Football's Future (Davis), Feb 10 I don't know if anyone could've dreamed a player from North Dakota State to land in the top five, but it may just happen. Wentz has all the tools to be a standout in the NFL, he just needs some time to adjust. Backing up Romo is a great situation, and he gives them insurance in case Romo does go down again for an extended period of time.Draftbreakdown (Risdon), Feb 8 The rationale here: Tony Romo is aging and has a left shoulder with the structural integrity of a snack cracker. Jerry Jones won’t expect his beloved toy to be picking this high ever again, so the time is right to take Romo’s eventual successor. Keep in mind they desperately need a viable backup already, and (don’t shoot the messenger here!) Romo is no sure bet to return to his prime self. I had Joey Bosa in mind but they’ve spent their last two second round picks on pass rushing defensive ends and that’s a hefty investment.
And now for a look at some of the prospects that might fall the Cowboys' way later in the draft. The table below summarizes four mock drafts that go at least four rounds deep. Let us know in the attached poll which of these mocks you like the most.
Source 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 6th
Drafttek Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech Luke Rhodes, ILB, William & Mary
Draftsite Myles Jack, LB, UCLA Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State Yannick Ngakoue, OLB, Maryland Eddie Yarborough, DE, Wyoming
Walter Football Myles Jack, LB, UCLA Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas Shawn Oakman DE/DT, Baylor - -
Bleacher Report Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama Brandon Allen, QB, Arkansas Ronald Blair, DL, Appalachian State Demarcus Robinson, WR, Florida
Which mock draft do you like the best?
- Drafttek
- Draftsite
- Walter Football
- Bleacher Report
2829 votes | Results
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