News: BTB: Cowboys 2019 mock draft: Maximize the draft haul by selecting these six players

[NewsBot]

Wouldn’t it be nice if the new class of Cowboys rookies helped fill any remaining holes the team has?

The 2019 NFL draft is less than three weeks away and before you know it, the Cowboys will have a bunch of new toys to play with for the upcoming season. The team has done a great job filling holes in free agency and it has afforded them the luxury to draft as pure as possible. Despite the plan to just pluck talented players off the board, it would be nice if the Cowboys draft selections just coincidentally addressed any of the remaining needs the team has.

On offense, the team still needs a...

Tight End

Wide Receiver

Backup Running Back

On defense, the team still needs a...

Defensive Tackle

Safety

Backup Linebacker/Special Teams

What would such a draft haul consist of? Here is a full mock draft that addresses all these needs.

SECOND ROUND - Pick 58

The Cowboys haven’t been able to find their answer at safety from the outside so they address it by doing what they do best - build through the draft. Juan Thornhill is exactly the type of player the Cowboys look for. He’s smart, he’s athletic, and has position flex to fill in at corner if needed. The team needs a talented coverage safety to help this defense and they get exactly that with Thornhill.

THIRD ROUND - Pick 90

The Cowboys missed out on the elite crop of defensive tackles, but that doesn’t stop them from rolling the dice on Gerald Willis. He’s got great initial burst and has flashed plenty of ability to get into the gaps. Playing more consistently and with better pad level will be the challenge coaches have to take on to get him to play at a high level, but he has the raw ability to get there. His character is a red-flag, but word on the street is that he’s turned things around. Willis’ production was absolutely fantastic last season and if he’s truly turned things around, he’s going to be a steal for somebody. He’ll be visiting with the team and if everything checks out - this could be a high upside gamble to add some more talent in the interior of the defensive line.

FOURTH ROUND - Pick 128

There were too many good choices at other positions to go after a tight end early, so the Cowboys instead choose to take on a project. With the idiosyncrasies of the tight end position still relatively new to him, Kahale Warring has a lot to work on, but he’s an athletic guy who’s just good at sports. He’s got nifty feet and is surprisingly good at blocking considering how little he’s played the position. Partner him with Jason Witten and he’ll be on the fast track to learning the position. Warring is the only tight end the team can get this late in the draft that offers the upside to be Witten’s eventual successor.

FOURTH ROUND - Pick 136

The Cowboys put an emphasis on receivers who are polished route-runners so it’s a lovely surprise to find one of the top collegiate route-runners still available this late in the draft. Stanley Morgan Jr. was one of my favorite receivers to watch on tape because he was always open and has the elusiveness to get extra yards. Morgan Jr. isn’t a standout athlete, which is why he’ll fall, but he’s really good in a lot of areas. He has the versatility to play all over the place and while he won’t ever be a WR1, he’s a good complementary piece that will be a welcome addition to this offense.

FIFTH ROUND - Pick 165

The last time the Cowboys drafted an Ohio State running back it worked out pretty good as Ezekiel Elliott has averaged more yards per game than anyone else since entering the league in 2016. So why not double-dip with Ohio State’s latest stud ball carrier, Mike Weber. The team needs a fresh set of legs to spell Zeke and the elusive Weber is the perfect candidate. He has excellent vision and does a great job weaving through traffic. He’s an effective pass-catching back that can also be used on third down. He doesn’t have the natural ability to create his own space which is why he’s still available so late, but he can still be dangerous in space when the running lanes are there.

SEVENTH ROUND - Pick 241

The Cowboys already have good linebacker depth, but that shouldn’t prevent them from taking a flyer on a guy with good athleticism. The Tar Heels Cole Holcomb is an explosive player who is relentless. Overall, he’s a step behind when it comes to mentally diagnosing plays and for that reason he can be a little wild, but if the team can harness his energy and turn it into a disciplined linebacker, he could end up being a great pick this late in the draft. Holcomb won’t see much time on defense early on, but could earn snaps on special teams while he’s developing his game. That would come in handy considering the team lost two of the three players who logged the most snaps on special teams last season (Damien Wilson and Rod Smith).

What do you think of this draft haul?

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