We've got serious holes on the OL, OLB and FS. We also need a good PK & need to add a vet ILB familiar with the 3-4 who can start/backup (replaces Dat) depending on Burnett's health/development. FA should be used to pick up players at Center, PK & vet ILB when season opens on March 3. I'm not wild about FA RT options, although Ashworth of NE did a good job for them at RT before he was moved to LT due to Pat's OL injuries. Signing him might be would be good idea & he's young. Don't want either the Eagles or Lions RT.
Been looking at a variety of mock drafts which are all over the board, but that will change after the combines. Based on Senior Bowl performances some of the top OTs have dropped into the 2nd round; these & 1-2 other highly regarded OTs will be there with our 2nd round 17th pick. So,
1) First round - grab either Carpenter/Lawson or Huff/Simpson (if by some miracle Huff & maybe even Lawson fall to us); also still try trade down to pick up another 3rd or 4th but only if we can do so w/o losing the player we want.
2) Second - Since several good OTs available, I'd draft OT with 2nd choice at FS but in any case no overreaching--take one of the BPA guys. Wouldn't object to drafting WR either here or in 3nd round--particularly Chad Jackson.
3) Third - Will still be good place for FS or DE (can be converted to OLB) or WR (Chad Jackson).
If we can pick up another 3rd rounder or a 4th somehow, might be good place for a DT (John McCargo, Kyle Williams), who along with Pepper Johnson can be long-term answer here.
5) Fifth - BPA at ILB/OL/TE/FB/WR/CB; same goes for 6th & 7th rounds.
We should be able to add at least 3 starters in first 3 rounds, and combined with at least 3 FA acquisitions (hopefully C, PK & vet ILB), should vastly improve Cowboys performance. And I'm settling for nothing less then winning NFC East (12-4) or Wild Card (12-4 or 11-5), and in either case, winning at least 1-2 playoff games.
