Early Mock

[jterrell]

--using CBS sports rankings here. won't be perfect but they have been around a while and are easy to use.

r1-Kony Ealy - Missou DE ---Ideal fit for Dallas. Big, monstrously athletic guy. Could rise but only at 24 on CBs Board for now. Love his fit for the team. In mix at SDE. Huge upside.

r2-Lamarcus Joyner - Florida State FS ---Built like a nickel corner obviously but we've seen as many good short safeties as we have tall ones. Great option in cover 0 defenses. Can really man cover or protect over top. Day 1 starter.

r3-Dominique Easley - Florida DT ---Quick lighter weight 3T type DT we covet. Obvious need who could rotate in year 1.

r4-Jeremiah Attaochu - Georgia Tech OLB ---Eerily similar to Wilber with pass rush skill galore but can play SLB as well. Good value and great fit if you run some 3-4 stuff.

r5-Lamin Barrow - lSU MLB/WLB ---Very athletic LB in the Bruce Carter mold but played in SEC. Led team in tackles this year after posting over 100 last year.

r6-Antone Exum - VaTech CB ---Big CB who weighs 220. Realize CB is a position no one wants more of but I like this kids size and extreme Value pick. Special Teamer early on.

r7-Dakota Dozier -Furman OG ---Our David Arkin replacement. Developmental OG, bigger body. Cheap depth if he hits, practice squad guy if not.

 

[Future]

I'd rather go MLB in the 4th round and just get one guy, rather than take two LBs.

Woudln't hate this draft though, love the combination of Easley and Ealy.

 

[LatinMind]

Id Love either Murphy or Ealy but i just dont see Dallas drafting De over DT. On what this team has on the DL DT trumped end all day long.

 

[jterrell]

I'd rather go MLB in the 4th round and just get one guy, rather than take two LBs.

Woudln't hate this draft though, love the combination of Easley and Ealy.

understood completely. in fairness 2nd LB is really a nickel pass rush guy who played 4-3 DE this year and had double digit sacks.

 

[jterrell]

Id Love either Murphy or Ealy but i just dont see Dallas drafting De over DT. On what this team has on the DL DT trumped end all day long.

yea it was just value according to the sites rankings.
only DT in area was bigger, slower guy and unlike what Marinelli wants.
obviously we could have a different DC staff next week and make that point moot.

 

[tm1119]

I admit I have to do a little more research on Ealy, but is a good fit for a true 4-3 if that's what we stick with? He has a good combo of size and athleticism, but from the little I've seen of him he doesn't seem to be the explosive guy that is going to get 10+ sacks every year off of the edge. Seems like a bit of tweener that would be a good fit for a straight 3-4 or a hybrid front.

 

[Future]

understood completely. in fairness 2nd LB is really a nickel pass rush guy who played 4-3 DE this year and had double digit sacks.

I mean I guess if you just plan on moving him to DE...I think the Wilber comparison through me off a bit.

 

[jterrell]

I admit I have to do a little more research on Ealy, but is a good fit for a true 4-3 if that's what we stick with? He has a good combo of size and athleticism, but from the little I've seen of him he doesn't seem to be the explosive guy that is going to get 10+ sacks every year off of the edge. Seems like a bit of tweener that would be a good fit for a straight 3-4 or a hybrid front.

I would project him as a slightly bigger Spencer. SDE guy not a WDE nickel rush type. But an immediate SDE starter.

 

[AmishCowboy]

--using CBS sports rankings here. won't be perfect but they have been around a while and are easy to use.

r1-Kony Ealy - Missou DE ---Ideal fit for Dallas. Big, monstrously athletic guy. Could rise but only at 24 on CBs Board for now. Love his fit for the team. In mix at SDE. Huge upside.

r2-Lamarcus Joyner - Florida State FS ---Built like a nickel corner obviously but we've seen as many good short safeties as we have tall ones. Great option in cover 0 defenses. Can really man cover or protect over top. Day 1 starter.

r3-Dominique Easley - Florida DT ---Quick lighter weight 3T type DT we covet. Obvious need who could rotate in year 1.

r4-Jeremiah Attaochu - Georgia Tech OLB ---Eerily similar to Wilber with pass rush skill galore but can play SLB as well. Good value and great fit if you run some 3-4 stuff.

r5-Lamin Barrow - lSU MLB/WLB ---Very athletic LB in the Bruce Carter mold but played in SEC. Led team in tackles this year after posting over 100 last year.

r6-Antone Exum - VaTech CB ---Big CB who weighs 220. Realize CB is a position no one wants more of but I like this kids size and extreme Value pick. Special Teamer early on.

r7-Dakota Dozier -Furman OG ---Our David Arkin replacement. Developmental OG, bigger body. Cheap depth if he hits, practice squad guy if not.

Not a bad mock

 

[tm1119]

I would project him as a slightly bigger Spencer. SDE guy not a WDE nickel rush type. But an immediate SDE starter.

Watching him now against OK State and I'm pretty impressed. A lot quicker than I thought.

 

[xwalker]

--using CBS sports rankings here. won't be perfect but they have been around a while and are easy to use.

r1-Kony Ealy - Missou DE ---Ideal fit for Dallas. Big, monstrously athletic guy. Could rise but only at 24 on CBs Board for now. Love his fit for the team. In mix at SDE. Huge upside.
I like this player. I loved him when he was project as a 2nd rounder. He can probably play either side at DE.

r2-Lamarcus Joyner - Florida State FS ---Built like a nickel corner obviously but we've seen as many good short safeties as we have tall ones. Great option in cover 0 defenses. Can really man cover or protect over top. Day 1 starter.
When I review the Cowboy defense I always come away thinking they need to focus on getting bigger DBs. The monster sized WRs and fast athletic TEs are taking over the league.

I would not like to use a 2nd on a very small CB/Safety even if he is a dynamic college player.

r3-Dominique Easley - Florida DT ---Quick lighter weight 3T type DT we covet. Obvious need who could rotate in year 1.
Injury pushed him to this area of the draft. After watching all of the players the Cowboys cycled through on DL this season, I'm skeptical about smallish DTs. They had some guys like Drakes Nevis that were very quick but just seemed to lack enough power to win the battle. They smaller guys are more susceptible to holding by OLinemen. It does not help to hold a player like Dontari Poe because he will just run over you. It don't expect them to get a Poe in the 3rd round, put the concept still applies.

r4-Jeremiah Attaochu - Georgia Tech OLB ---Eerily similar to Wilber with pass rush skill galore but can play SLB as well. Good value and great fit if you run some 3-4 stuff.
He could be a good fit but will likely be valued higher by 3-4 teams and not be available here.

r5-Lamin Barrow - lSU MLB/WLB ---Very athletic LB in the Bruce Carter mold but played in SEC. Led team in tackles this year after posting over 100 last year.
OK, but he is 6-1, 232. They Cowboys need to be careful about getting too small at LB, especially if they are ever going to run some of the Seattle stuff. Bruce Carter had to take on a lot of blocks by OLineman this year.

r6-Antone Exum - VaTech CB ---Big CB who weighs 220. Realize CB is a position no one wants more of but I like this kids size and extreme Value pick. Special Teamer early on.
Injury issues. He has injured his knee twice. Big is what they need at DB; although, he is just 5'11-1/2. He would probably be better off keeping his weight a little lower to improve his speed.

I like Stanley Jean-Baptiste (6-2, 220) better, but he is projected as a 4th rounder.

r7-Dakota Dozier -Furman OG ---Our David Arkin replacement. Developmental OG, bigger body. Cheap depth if he hits, practice squad guy if not
I like Guards that were college LTs. He looks strong despite only being about 300 lbs.

I would really prefer to draft a Guard much earlier. They are 1 injury away from Phil Costa starting. With Romo's age and injury issues, they absolutely can't afford to have minimal depth on the OLine.

Overall:
You drafted 2 players that are injured which is ok if they have no other injury history; however, Broaddus says that they are going to be avoiding injured players this year.

I like Ealy but I don't know if he will be the BPA at #17.

They need to take a Guard or Guard/Tackle earlier if possible. This draft is loaded at OL but thin on DL, IMO. Finding a free agent DL or 2 would really help avoid reaching for need.

Two DBs and two LBs seems like a luxury for this team unless they sign some free agent DLinemen.

Just replace the tiny DB with a Guard or DL and I would like this draft much better.

 

[jterrell]

X appreciate the comments.
I tended to follow what Marinelli likes in DL thus smaller and quicker with pass rush acumen. If I am Dallas I try to sell him on the job by getting him to help pick his guys in this draft.

I did grab guys with Red Cross notes but again that's something Dallas has done frequently. Exum is a gamble but he is a potential long term starter so one I take at that point in the draft.

Ealy strikes me as Frederick. A big school guy with tons of experience who just does his job well pretty much all the time. Not as flashy as Sam but with true NFL size.

I am sure in coming weeks these guys all move around on boards and make this impossible. Just a fun time waster.

 

[AsthmaField]

yea it was just value according to the sites rankings.
only DT in area was bigger, slower guy and unlike what Marinelli wants.
obviously we could have a different DC staff next week and make that point moot.

Nice job JT.

Have you spent much time looking at Aaron Donald, DT Pitt? I know he's rated in the second by CBS, but I think he is going to rise a ton between the Senior Bowl and the Draft, and will go at or before where we pick.

IMO, he is an ideal 3-tech for Marinelli's defensive line, and is such a fantastic football player that he could change the entire front 7 with his penetration.

If you haven't already, check out the video in the Aaron Donald thread and you will see what I'm talking about. He's a monster.