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The Dallas Cowboys have to find success in the later rounds of the draft. The "Hidden Late-Round Gems Series" continues today with five more NFL prospects.
How can we find a starting cornerback in the middle rounds? Could we find our running back of the future in Round 7? Will there be enough depth in the later rounds to pass on selecting a defensive tackle until later in the draft? When do we pull the trigger on a quarterback? These are a few questions the Dallas Cowboys will have to answer in the coming weeks. Jason Garrett, Jerry Jones, and Will McClay will undoubtedly have their hands full with the process. With a top-five pick and picks atop each round, the Cowboys will be in amazing position to move up and down in the draft and do whatever they please.
However, for the Cowboys to truly 'win' the draft, they will need to win in the later portion of the draft. Continuing the article series on finding "Hidden Late-Round Gems", I will name another five players who could potentially make immediate impacts of some sorts to the Cowboys. Without further adieu, let's get into it.
Charles Tapper, Defensive End, Oklahoma
The Cowboys will be in the market for some defensive end help at some point in the draft and Charles Tapper is a guy that provides some intrigue. He's an absolute freak in terms of his athleticism. Oklahoma's awkward scheme sometimes hurts the value of guys. Because of that, Tapper is a bit of an unknown player, but the tools are there for the Cowboys to mold him into an above-average starter. Dallas looks for a specific type of athleticism in their defensive ends and Tapper fits that mold, for his speed off the ball and explosiveness in terms of broad and vertical jump testing.
2 guys who really helped themselves today:
Charles Tapper: 4.59 40, 34 vert, 9-11 broad
Alex McCallister: 4.8 40, 34.5 vert, 10-8 broad — Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) February 28, 2016
Currently being mocked as a third-round pick by DraftTek.
Rashard Robinson, Cornerback, LSU
Cornerback is obviously a position the Cowboys will address in the coming weeks, whether that being through free agency or the draft. Top defensive back Jalen Ramsey has been mocked to the Cowboys for awhile now, but if the Cowboys decide that there is a more pressing need in the first round, Rashard Robinson out of LSU is a guy they could possibly look at in the middle rounds. LSU is known for producing top-tier talent at cornerback and safety and while Robinson is young and his weight is scary at 170 pounds, Robinson is a guy that could still be drafted in the middle rounds for his potential alone.
Currently being mocked as a third-round pick by DraftTek.
Kenyan Drake, Running Back, Alabama
Running back is definitely a need for the Cowboys this offseason and whether that upgrade is Ezekiel Elliott, Kenneth Dixon, or even Brandon Wilds, any rookie would make an impact and fill a hole for this team. However, one player that provides some intrigue in the middle rounds is Kenyan Drake. Derrick Henry is getting all of the spotlight from the Alabama backfield, but Drake makes sense for his ability to make plays out of the backfield. Similar to T.J. Weldon, Drake is a bigger back at 6'1, 210 pounds. I'd like to see him run lower to the ground and get his power behind him, but if he can be used in the right role, the Cowboys would potentially have a real nice player on their roster come Summer.
Not surprised at the 40 times for Kenyan Drake (4.45) & Tyler Ervin (4.41). Both RBs played fast at Senior Bowl workouts. They can move. — Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) February 26, 2016
Currently being mocked as a fourth-round pick by DraftTek.
Bronson Kaufusi, Defensive End, BYU
BYU's Bronson Kaufusi doesn't necessarily fit the mold the Cowboys look for in a defensive end, but he's a guy that could play inside or outside, depending on the down and the situation. At 6'6, 285 pounds, Kaufusi is one of the bigger defensive ends in this year's draft. He isn't the fastest guy in the world, but when you combine his strength and his 341/2-inch arms, it's easy to get excited about him. Kaufusi could be an interesting player in the role of a Jack Crawford or even a Nick Hayden.
Bronson Kaufusi prob have best day no one is talking about? 6-6, 285, 34 1/2 arms, 25 reps, 4.87 40, 7.03 3-cone, 4.25 shuttle.Jumps bad tho
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) February 28, 2016
Currently being mocked as a fourth-round pick by DraftTek.
Aaron Burbridge, Wide Receiver, Michigan State
In terms of cleverness and pin-point route-running, Aaron Burbridge may just be the most talented receiver in this draft. Admittedly, I didn't know much about Burbridge. But after watching Connor Cook's tape, Burbridge stood out. Burbridge might not be a full-time receiver in the NFL, that is unless he can add weight and improve his get-off at the line of scrimmage. However, Burbridge is a dynamic player that could provide for some intriguing route packages next to Cole Beasley and Dez Bryant.
Currently being mocked as a sixth-round pick by DraftTek.
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