Early Look At Mock Drafts Predicting Cowboys' 18th Pick

[Doomsday101]

IRVING, Texas - While the NFL Draft is still more than two months away, it's not exactly the first priority for the Cowboys here as the end of February is upon us.
Well, it may be the top priority, just not the next in line.
The Cowboys will have some tough decisions to make, maybe as early as this week, in regard to high-priced players such as Larry Allen and La'Roi Glover. They will also be evaluating the free-agent market, which opens for business on March 3.

But it never seems to be too early to talk about the draft. Many Cowboys fans begin their draft talk before the regular season is even completed.
Now that was premature, and it may even be now, but we won't be alone in starting to dissect the draft field.
In fact, media outlets and Web sites all over the country have already gone mock-draft crazy, trying to predict and project at least the first round of the draft.

So with the Cowboys currently owning the No. 18 pick, just who are these prognosticators giving to the Cowboys just past the halfway point of the first round?

Ever heard of Ko Simpson? What about Marcus McNeill?
If not, you certainly will. Not just in the next few months, but right here as well. Those two names dominated our search when we went out looking to see just what everyone else has pegged for the Cowboys.
So during the week NFL teams head to Indianapolis for the annual scouting combine, here's a quick look how these so-called experts have sized up the Cowboys with their 18th overall pick.

Football Futures
No. 18 - Marcus McNeill, OT, Auburn
Comment: Massive lineman is the perfect right tackle.

Great Blue North Report
Winston Justice, OT, Southern Cal
Comment: n/a

NFL Draft Countdown
Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State
Comment: Most assume that Dallas will use this pick to upgrade at right tackle or free safety and while that is very possible it might be hard to pass on the consensus top wide receiver in the draft if he fell into their laps. Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn are still solid and relatively productive but provide little in the way of a big play threat, which is where Santonio Holmes comes in. While he isn't the type of physically impressive receiver prospect we have seen in recent years like Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, Holmes is very fast and explosive while also a good route runner and blocker.

Mel Kiper Jr.
Marcus McNeill, OT, Auburn
Comment: n/a
Ourlads Scouting Service
Marcus McNeill, OT, Auburn
Comment: Wide body, athletic left tackle with long arms and big hands. Not always pretty, but gets the job done. Combine physical will determine draft status.

The Sporting News
No. 18 - Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State
Comment: Holmes, a playmaking deep threat who also can return kicks, would add another dimension to the Cowboys' offense.

NFL Gurus
No. 18 - Eric Winston, OT, Miami
Comment: n/a

Huddle Geeks
Marcus McNeill, OT, Auburn
Comment: n/a

DraftShowcase.com
Jonathan Scott, OT, Texas
Comment: Big, athletic tackle who protected Vince Young's blind side all season.

The Draft Studio
No. 18 - DeMeco Ryans, OLB, Alabama
Comment: n/a

The Draft Ace
No. 18 - Ko Simpson, S, South Carolina
Comment: The consensus pick for the Cowboys right now is an offensive tackle, but Rob Petitti did a fairly good job on the right side this year. Dallas finished in the middle of the pack with just 15 interceptions this year, and could use a ball hawking safety like Simpson, who had 7 interceptions in two years at South Carolina.

Consensus Draft Services
Ko Simpson, S, South Carolina
Comment: Dallas could look to add a young WR or help along the offensive line with this pick. Santonio Holmes is a strong possibility here. However, with a need at free safety, Ko Simpson, a draft-eligible sophomore, would be an ideal fit. A playmaker, the athletically gifted Simpson has produced solid interception and tackle numbers for South Carolina, including six interceptions as a freshman.

SportsIllustrated.com
Ko Simpson, S, South Carolina
Comment: Among the Cowboys' needs is a free safety with a nose for the football. Otherwise Washington's Santana Moss is just going to keep beating them deep. If Winston Justice is still on the board, he'd be another name to know. As would receiver Santonio Holmes, because Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn aren't kids any more.

Ask The Commish
No. 18 - Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State
Comment: The Cowboys have an aging WR corps and could use a shot of youthful exuberance at the position. Holmes would be a nice replacement plan for the aging Johnson and Glenn.

About.com (James Alder)
No. 18 - Winston Justice, OT, Southern Cal
Comment: The Cowboys could look to free agency to fill their needs on the offensive line, but if they don't, they could address the position early in the draft.

Draft Board Insider
Jimmy Williams, CB/S, Virginia Tech
Comment: Quite a tumble for a kid many think will go top ten. Dallas got great return on their investment from their rookies last year on defense, and adding Williams, to play FS with the "other" Williams on the strong side, would be a great move. Yeah, their wide outs are old, and their OL needs work, but I don't think Parcells is ready to give any of those spots to a rookie.

Draft King
No. 18 - Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State
Comment: n/a

Fantasy Football Toolbox
No. 18 - Marcus McNeill, OT, Auburn
Comment: McNeill is a massive sized player that has the potential to play the left tackle position. With the recent injury to veteran left tackle Flozell Adams you could understand the concern for drafting McNeill. To acquire a player of McNeill's talent at this point of the draft is amazing. He has the tools and the upside to be a multiple All-Pro at the NFL level. With the uncertainty of LT Adams' injury status for the upcoming year, not only could McNeill potentially step in at LT but he has the skill to play at OG as well. So his versatility will add to the value of himself and aid the team that selects him.

Fox Sports
No. 18 - Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State
Comment: In a horrible draft for receivers, Holmes will stand out. Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn are getting old.

 

[austintodallas]

Doesn't the combine start today? Hopefully we'll start getting some reports on some of these players.

 

[Doomsday101]

Doesn't the combine start today? Hopefully we'll start getting some reports on some of these players.

It starts up tomorrow 23rd through the 28th

 

[ravidubey]

I love the thought of a monster like McNeill on the right side. The great Dallas teams always had dominant offensive linemen, and just one really good one can make a huge difference to the entire line.

 

[SDogo]

It starts up tomorrow 23rd through the 28th

It actually starts today but it's just the medical part of it

 

[Woods]

I wonder if the issue with McNeil's back is serious or just hyped up stuff . . . .

If it's just hype and pure fiction, I suppose he would be good value at 18 as well as several other players.

But one thing is for certain, no way can we afford to draft another OT with known injuries (or history) at this juncture (esp. in the 1st).

 

[Doomsday101]

I wonder if the issue with McNeil's back is serious or just hyped up stuff . . . .

If it's just hype and pure fiction, I suppose he would be good value at 18 as well as several other players.

But one thing is for certain, no way can we afford to draft another OT with known injuries (or history) at this juncture (esp. in the 1st).

I agree. I like McNeil and would not mind seeing Dallas draft him as long as he checks out during his physical, if there are any question marks at that time with his health then I think we have to pass.

 

[Hostile]

Well, I like 5 of those Mocks and hate the rest. None have us taking Carpenter though. Sad.

 

[austintodallas]

Well, I like 5 of those Mocks and hate the rest. None have us taking Carpenter though. Sad.

Which is probably just the way Bill and Jerry like it.

 

[Hostile]

Which is probably just the way Bill and Jerry like it.

I hope you are right.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

looks like KO is the pick......we shall see

 

[superpunk]

I still can't understand why so many people have us taking a safety. Does noone realize that half of our LB corps (supposedly the strength of the 3-4) is manned by scrubs and bit players? And do they not realize that 3/4 of our secondary is manned by top-level players? And do they also not realize, that improving our team upfront, will continue to make things easier on our secondary?

I'm completely baffled by this. If our first pick is anything but an OL, or a LB, I'm not gonna be very happy.

 

[Alexander]

I still can't understand why so many people have us taking a safety. Does noone realize that half of our LB corps (supposedly the strength of the 3-4) is manned by scrubs and bit players? And do they not realize that 3/4 of our secondary is manned by top-level players? And do they also not realize, that improving our team upfront, will continue to make things easier on our secondary?

I'm completely baffled by this. If our first pick is anything but an OL, or a LB, I'm not gonna be very happy.

Half our safety corps is manned by a scrub and bit player.

I agree with what you say, but I don't see LBer as more of a priority in the general sense.

But if we take a safety in the first round, we probably are not going to get the best player available.

 

[MrPhil]

At this point, I think I would be happy with any of these guys at #18:

Ko Simpson
Jimmy Williams
Santonio Holmes
Marcus McNeil
Winston Justice

I really like what I have about Carpenter and mabye he can sneak into the top 20 after the Combine. I think right now he is listed as a 25-32 range guy who I would love to get in a trade down.

 

[MrPhil]

Half our safety corps is manned by a scrub and bit player.

I agree with what you say, but I don't see LBer as more of a priority in the general sense.

But if we take a safety in the first round, we probably are not going to get the best player available.

I dont' know, I think Jimmy Williams could be considered a BPA at #18 if he were to fall that far. He seems to be a top 15 prospect on most draft sites I frequent (average of #14 between Kiper, NFL Draft Countdown, NFL Draft Blitz, Huddle Report, Scouts Inc.).

 

[Doomsday101]

I still can't understand why so many people have us taking a safety. Does noone realize that half of our LB corps (supposedly the strength of the 3-4) is manned by scrubs and bit players? And do they not realize that 3/4 of our secondary is manned by top-level players? And do they also not realize, that improving our team upfront, will continue to make things easier on our secondary?

I'm completely baffled by this. If our first pick is anything but an OL, or a LB, I'm not gonna be very happy.

At least playing the 3-4 allows Dallas to look at both LB and DE who may be considered to small to play on the line, I think there is a lot more to choose from for the LB position. As for taking safety I think guys like Huff and Simpson are differance makers I know Huff clearly was for Texas and would have no problem should he be our pick

 

[Alexander]

At this point, I think I would be happy with any of these guys at #18:

Ko Simpson

I just am getting a peculiar feeling he could end up being much like Brandon Browner last year, an underclassmen who gets a great deal of hype early then falls like a rock late in the process.

 

[austintodallas]

I still can't understand why so many people have us taking a safety. Does noone realize that half of our LB corps (supposedly the strength of the 3-4) is manned by scrubs and bit players? And do they not realize that 3/4 of our secondary is manned by top-level players? And do they also not realize, that improving our team upfront, will continue to make things easier on our secondary?

I'm completely baffled by this. If our first pick is anything but an OL, or a LB, I'm not gonna be very happy.

Well put and spot on! :bravo: We should be able to find a very servicable free safety in FA.

What this team needs is big, fast, mean linebackers and this draft has plenty of 'em.

 

[Doomsday101]

Well put and spot on! :bravo: We should be able to find a very servicable free safety in FA.

What this team needs is big, fast, mean linebackers and this draft has plenty of 'em.

Your right this draft has plenty of LB to choose from but there are not a lot of top FS to choose from. I'm not avdocating getting a FS only that it is a legit option for the Cowboys.

 

[superpunk]

Half our safety corps is manned by a scrub and bit player.

I agree with what you say, but I don't see LBer as more of a priority in the general sense.

But if we take a safety in the first round, we probably are not going to get the best player available.

For the sake of argument, it was a scrub and bit player, in his first year, playing out of position. Like you said, there are going to be better LBs available at 18, than there will be safeties.

I don't think the effect that having a better front seven, can have on your secondary, can be overstated.