McShay Mock 3.0 3/7/23

[XXLMike]

26. Dallas Cowboys​

Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

This is a value pick, but tight end Dalton Schultzis also a free agent and might be gone. With the top receivers all off the board -- I'd love to get another one opposite CeeDee Lamb -- Dallas can look to Kincaid as another pass-catcher for quarterback Dak Prescott. We didn't see Kincaid work out at the combine, but he has enough speed to make plays down the seam and can go up and get 50-50 balls. He is coming off a 70-catch, 890-yard, eight-TD campaign with the Utes and has the versatility to move around the formation.

 

[XXLMike]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2023/...erback-landing-spots-workout-standouts-trades

 

[MAZEREZAM]

Kincaid is a real weapon. Frankly, I’m surprised that more people don’t like the pick.

First off, TE is a position that is important to the offense. Having good TE’s gives some real ability to mismatch the defense. So I have no issue with picking that position if the player is worth it.

Secondly, Kincaid is a killer. He had the best hands in this draft… at any position. He catches everything. He gets open a ton and is a plus athlete for the position. Everybody and their brother knew that Utah was going to throw to Kincaid and they still couldn’t stop it.

As good as Witten was… Dallas hasn’t had a receiving TE like this since Novacek. Kincaid will be a huge problem for defenses. When he gets open - and he will - he catches the ball if you get it anywhere close to him.

Finally, I think Kincaid will be the most talented pass catcher available at pick 26, assuming he makes it there. Unless JSN or maybe Addison is there… Kincaid will be a better player than a WR you can pick there.

Personally, I don’t think Kincaid will still be in the board at 26 though. He is really, really good.

As for this draft… besides me thinking Kincaid will be gone, I don’t see Philly taking a RB at pick 10.

I hate to tell y’all, but Howie is taking Nolan Smith at the 10th pick. It is too perfect for him to resist. Smith is from a big SEC school, blew up the combine (like Davis last year), plays on the DL, and the team is getting old at DE. Everyone will say what a great pick it is.

Howie won’t be able to help himself. Smith at 10 to Philly.

If Washington gets Witherspoon - my favorite player in this whole draft - I’m going to scream.

And Flowers going to the Giants is an ok pick for them. Flowers is a good player but not good enough that it bothers me to see him going to a division rival. It is a solid enough pick though. Dotson to Washington last year is a better player than Flowers.

Kancy to Philly is okay for them. He is no Aaron Donald but he is quick inside on the pass rush. He would add to their rotation but he’ll have to come out on running downs. A designated pass rusher isn’t too bad at the end of round 1. It is a much better pick than last year’s designated run stuffer (Davis) early in the first round.

Oh Howie does love his combine heroes.

I was all over TE being a huge need for us 2 months ago when many resident draft experts here convinced themselves that Ferguson/Hendershot with their mighty 19 total catches for 180-something yards were going to be just fine for next year. I just don’t like the Kincaid pick. I would’ve liked it had he never injured his back. I know it was a compression fracture and those tend to heal without complications, but is just prefer we don’t go after anymore players where injuries are a primary concern.

 

[speedkilz88]

These mocks are pretty much never right especially this early.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Not a fan of TE in the 1st round unless the dude is just phenomenal.

I have not watched any Utah games so I have no idea how good this Kincaid guy is.

Is he really this good?

 

[Carson]

These mocks are pretty much never right especially this early.

Reports from Dallas are this is a very likely scenario

 

[cowboys5xsbs]

Not a fan of TE in the 1st round unless the dude is just phenomenal.

I have not watched any Utah games so I have no idea how good this Kincaid guy is.

Is he really this good?

Yes dude can take over games. Go watch his game against USC where he had over 200 yards and basically won the game for them. He was unstoppable.

 

[MikeT22]

I'm not so sure the Cowboys view TE as much of a need as the national media does. If it does happen I'm expecting this to be the fix for WR as well. Get a Mayer/Kincaid who are good enough receivers to play in the slot and expect to see a ton of 2 and 3 TE sets during the season with Lamb and Gallup on the outside.

I think they want to add a high level receiver in the draft and this years TE class is much better than the WR class. And at least 3 WRs will be probably be gone before we pick. Additionally, I believe we will sign a WR, possibly OBJ.

I’d love to get a high quality TE. They can be a huge weapon like we had with Novacek and Witten. And guys like Gronk and Kelce were NE’s and KC’s main offensive weapons.

But it comes down to whether Kincaid or Musgrave will be that type of playmaker.

 

[Mr_437]

Not a fan of TE in the 1st round unless the dude is just phenomenal.

I have not watched any Utah games so I have no idea how good this Kincaid guy is.

Is he really this good?

He's a Playmaker.

 

[Malhavoc]

The QB has to be better to win a title. That was the difference against the 49ers the last two years. It was what got you eliminated.

If you're expecting that improvement to come from within you're a fool. He has no talent.

What you can do though is upgrade a very mediocre group of skill position players around him. That's where the value at TE is. Prescott has never had a TE capable of making plays down the field. Someone who can out run LBs and out jump DBs.

I mean, if you just don't like Kincaid that's one thing but this notion that TE isn't a big enough need in the first round is lost on me. If we don't improve the skill positions significantly this offseason that QB stands no chance next season.

I would say to folks watch his videos available online. Yes, they are highlight videos. But I don‘t know that there are any better pass catchers in this draft. He also attacks you at all levels of the field. And what is not talked about enough is his toughness and how difficult he is to tackle after the catch. Re-watched the USC. Kid was unstoppable. I would have zero issues taking him at 26. He’s going to be a difference maker.

 

[Malhavoc]

Yes dude can take over games. Go watch his game against USC where he had over 200 yards and basically won the game for them. He was unstoppable.

Watched the Trojan game again. Ferguson is not remotely on this kid’s level. I was surprised by his RAC ability. Kid is a handful to bring down for a dude that’s not that big. He wins everywhere on the field. No problem taking him at 26.

 

[Mr_437]

Watched the Trojan game again. Ferguson is not remotely on this kid’s level. I was surprised by his RAC ability. Kid is a handful to bring down for a dude that’s not that big. He wins everywhere on the field. No problem taking him at 26.

yessir Kincaid is different.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Reports from Dallas are this is a very likely scenario

Maybe they see an elite TE as an alternative weapon for the Dak/offense if they can't add another elite WR.

 

[beware_d-ware]

Not a fan of TE in the 1st round unless the dude is just phenomenal.

I have not watched any Utah games so I have no idea how good this Kincaid guy is.

Is he really this good?

Tape-wise, he is the real deal. Truly a WR in a TE's body.

He was Utah's #1 receiver by a mile... like @cowboysx5s , there were times when everyone in the stadium knew he was getting the ball, and he'd catch it anyway. I think he had something like 2 drops on 100 targets this year. If playing receiver is getting open and catching the ball, he's got both down pat, no question.

Measurables wise, it's a little more open to interpretation. He's 6'3" 249 and looks like a good but not elite athlete. I am guessing about 4.70 speed. He's quick, but he isn't a twiched-up explosion lord like say Musgrave. He's also not very strong by any account, and isn't a guy you really want blocking. More of a slot receiver.

NFL.com's comp for him is Zach Ertz, and I love that one. Ertz wasn't an elite athlete, but he was a great underneath receiver and caught a lot of balls for a lot of years.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Better TE than Schultz and on a rookie deal. What's not to like?

Plenty of places to spend Schultz's money on.

 

[btcutter]

IMO opinion the RB position does not warrant a first rd talent, it is a middle round position in the scheme of winning games. Defenses that stop the pass and Olines that protect the passers are premium, along with the catchers of the ball. You build up this team talent pool early. my two cents

I have to disagree. When was the last 1st round TE that took a franchise deep into playoffs or SB? Definitely more 1st round RBs making immediate impact on the team than 1st round TEs.

JMO, Darrnell Washington is a physical freak much like Martellus Bennett but it take much more than measurables to play TE. If we just go by measurable then Witten and Ditka would never make HOF. No way I take him in the 1st round. Mike Mammula reminders.

 

[Killerinstinct]

Losing our MLB and Safety who just happen to be our leading tacklers on a team thats best chance to win lies with it's defense and all we hear about is TE's RB's and WR's.

Not to mention we don't even have a CB2.
Plus we have been so weak at DT for so long that a C+ effort from Hankins stands out.

1. Mazi Smith DT
2. Jack Campbell LB
3. Jordan Battle S
4. Darius Rush CB

 

[stilltheguru]

March 9th last year he had us taking Karlaftis. Also had overrated Kyle Hamilton number 2 even after his weak combine performance.

He doesn't know what we're doing now.

 

[LonnieElam]

Say hello....to your little friend.

He looks like a guy girls shouldn't leave a drink around.

 

[AsthmaField]

I was all over TE being a huge need for us 2 months ago when many resident draft experts here convinced themselves that Ferguson/Hendershot with their mighty 19 total catches for 180-something yards were going to be just fine for next year. I just don’t like the Kincaid pick. I would’ve liked it had he never injured his back. I know it was a compression fracture and those tend to heal without complications, but is just prefer we don’t go after anymore players where injuries are a primary concern.

Yeah, that is something to consider… but I do trust the Cowboys doctors to advise them what to do. And like you said, there typically aren’t any problems coming back for that.

But I understand why it would worry you, and I know first round picks are so important that people might not want to have even that slight risk there.

But Kincaid is such a good player that if the doctors told me he’d be fine… I’d probably do it. Every team knew that Kincaid was all Utah had on offense and they still couldn’t stop him. And his hands might be the best that I’ve ever seen. He catches everything. I think Kincaid will be the best receiver left on the board at 26… but we won’t know that until the day of the draft.

And I feel like you: A good TE could do a lot to help the team.