**Sport's 1st mock draft**

[TheSport78]

FA signings:

Logan Mankins, OG

Michael Huff, FS

Tyson Clabo, OT

Offseason releases/UFA's not re-signed:

Marion Barber, Marc Colombo, Keith Brooking, Kyle Kosier, Roy Williams (only if he refuses to re-structure contract)

Draft scenario: Patrick Peterson is off the board, and Amukamara gets picked a couple spots before Dallas. We find a trading partner with a team that needs a QB, and trade down.

1st round: Trade down to the mid-to-late teens, grab an extra 2nd and 4th

Brandon Harris, CB, Miami

The Cowboys reportedly have interest in him. If we lose on the Nhamdi sweepstakes, CB is a bigger need than we think, especially for the near future. This is probably Newman's last year, Jenkins is an unknown at this point and Scandrick is in a contract year.

2nd round (2a):

Cameron Howard, DE, Ohio State

Spears will most likely walk in FA; Bowen is solid but probably isn't anything more than a situational pass-rusher/backup. Hatcher will be seen the door as well. Olshansky is hard to watch at times but we have no one to replace him with. It's time to start grooming some defensive linemen.

2nd round (2b):

Ahmed Black, S, Florida

Black is simply a playmaker. If you add a Michael Huff at FS, who I think "gets it" now, and a young ballhawk like Black, you have certainly upgraded your safety position. Upgrading at both safety spots will all of a sudden make our corners look a lot better as well. Black is my pet cat!

3rd round (3a):

Benjamin Ijalana, OG, Villanova

After going defense heavy in the first two rounds, the Cowboys look to upgrading in the offensive trenches. Leonard Davis may be back, but there's not much depth behind him. Plus, if Davis IS back, this will be his last year in Big D. We need to start grooming a guard to replace him in 2012, if the world still exists.

*TRADE*

Cowboys trade their two 4th round picks to move back into the 3rd round, and select:

3rd round (3b)

DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma

Here's our power back that will replace Barber. The guy does have durability concerns, but if healthy, he's a 1st round talent. This could be a serious steal.

5th round

Casey Matthews, ILB, Oregon

Inside linebacker depth will be key when Brooking most likely leaves. I could see us signing a veteran backup incase Lee can't stay healthy, but Bradie James isn't exactly a spring chicken either. Not as talented as Clay, but still a good football player.

6th round

Cliff Matthews, OLB, South Carolina

Another OLB to compete with Brandon Williams and Victor Butler. The more competition, the better.

7th round

Owen Marecic, FB, Stanford

We need competition with Gronkowski, who I'm not very high on.

That's it for now, guys. All comments are welcomed, please!

 

[TheCount]

Not bad, although I had no desire to spend a 3rd rounder on a RB when we currently have 3 on the roster. Even if we get rid of Barber, that leaves two perfectly good running backs.

Clabo would be a great pickup. My love for Mankins has kind of waned, I feel like we could get someone good at OG without paying the fortune Mankins wants.

 

[TheSport78]

Not bad, although I had no desire to spend a 3rd rounder on a RB when we currently have 3 on the roster. Even if we get rid of Barber, that leaves two perfectly good running backs.

Yeah, I hope Choice is on the team next year, but who knows with all the turnover on the roster? Garrett doesn't seem that high on him and Felix hasn't been able to stay healthy.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

What was your other option for round 3b?

 

[TheSport78]

What was your other option for round 3b?

I was torn between Murray and these two players:

WR Titus Young: reminds me of a poor man's Desean Jackson. We do not have enough true SPEED on offense, and we need that WR to keep defenses honest. I know he isn't the prototypical WR that Dallas looks for, but I don't agree with their philosophy of ONLY looking at players that fit a certain build.

WR Vincent Brown: he has ridiculous hands, and is the typical posession WR. We really struggled with dropped and tipped balls this year, that led to crucial turnovers. If Roy is released, we could be looking for a sure-handed guy like we used to have with Crayton (I know, the Giants game).

 

[respectdatstar]

I would've like Titus Young, personally.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

I was torn between Murray and these two players:

WR Titus Young: reminds me of a poor man's Desean Jackson. We do not have enough true SPEED on offense, and we need that WR to keep defenses honest. I know he isn't the prototypical WR that Dallas looks for, but I don't agree with their philosophy of ONLY looking at players that fit a certain build.

WR Vincent Brown: he has ridiculous hands, and is the typical posession WR. We really struggled with dropped and tipped balls this year, that led to crucial turnovers. If Roy is released, we could be looking for a sure-handed guy like we used to have with Crayton (I know, the Giants game).

I dont know about Brown but thats a nice call on Titus Young. I can see him going pretty high though. Mid 2nd if he blazes his 40. Same for Jernigan


And Matt Szczczczur opted to play baseball.....sissy.


I know some people arent down w/ cutting Roy, then having to draft an unknown replacement when Roy is somewhat of a known. But IMO the offense needs an under 6 foot weapon who has moves and speed. Our WR's are all huge.

 

[respectdatstar]

I really like the Casey Matthews and Owen Marecic picks. Owen played both FB and LB at Stanford. He could be a very good special teams player and possibly be utilitized like he was in college, on either side of the ball.

 

[TheSport78]

Updated Mock

1st round: DE Cameron Jordan

2nd round: S Rahim Moore

3rd round: OT/OG Benjamin Ijalana

4th round: CB Brandon Hogan

5th round: ILB Casey Matthews

6th round: OLB Cliff Matthews

7th round: FB Owen Marecic

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Don't like taking a CB in the first, or a RB in the 3rd.

I think Matthews and Marecic will be long gone by the time you have us selecting them but either would be steals at that point.

 

[TheSport78]

Don't like taking a CB in the first, or a RB in the 3rd.

I think Matthews and Marecic will be long gone by the time you have us selecting them but either would be steals at that point.

What do you think about the updated one I just posted?

 

[Gaede]

Good mock, I like it.

We might as well go ahead and pencil Matthews into every single mock, though

 

[TheSport78]

Good mock, I like it.

We might as well go ahead and pencil Matthews into every single mock, though

Thanks for the comment, man. What do you think of the updated version I posted above?

 

[RoyTheHammer]

What do you think about the updated one I just posted?

Eh.. its not really bad, i just think we almost have to go after OL early in this draft. I can't see us not grabbing one of the first round tackles (Carimi, Solder) or a second round OG (Wisniewski, Pouncey, Cannon).

I still think you have Matthews and Marecic rated way too low. I can see Matthews gone by the end of the 3rd round, and Marecic gone by the middle of the 5th.

I'd be happy with a trade down in the first or Carimi, and then Heyward or Jordan in the early 2nd at DE, and then Rahim Moore or Ahmad Black with our extra second. Maybe Moffit or Ijalana with our 3rd rounder.. that'd be pretty sweet.

 

[TheSport78]

Eh.. its not really bad, i just think we almost have to go after OL early in this draft. I can't see us not grabbing one of the first round tackles (Carimi, Solder) or a second round OG (Wisniewski, Pouncey, Cannon).

I still think you have Matthews and Marecic rated way too low. I can see Matthews gone by the end of the 3rd round, and Marecic gone by the middle of the 5th.

I'd be happy with a trade down in the first or Carimi, and then Heyward or Jordan in the early 2nd at DE, and then Rahim Moore or Ahmad Black with our extra second. Maybe Moffit or Ijalana with our 3rd rounder.. that'd be pretty sweet.

One advantage of having the draft before free agency, is that it allows you to go after those "special" players, like a Patrick Peterson. And if we don't go DL or OL heavy in the draft, we could sign a FA like Cullen Jenkins or even Richard Seymour for the DL, or a Logan Mankins or Tyson Clabo in FA.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

One advantage of having the draft before free agency, is that it allows you to go after those "special" players, like a Patrick Peterson. And if we don't go DL or OL heavy in the draft, we could sign a FA like Cullen Jenkins or even Richard Seymour for the DL, or a Logan Mankins or Tyson Clabo in FA.

Mankins or Clabo wouldn't be bad.. i still think we'd go OL or DL in the draft though. We need major help in the trenches. Also if you go after big name FA's you have to break the bank too.

 

[Marktui]

One thing though, JJ and JG both said that corners we have are currently good. That could be some poker faces, but we may not be targeting CB's in the draft.

Never say never, but I bet we target DE,LB or OL in the first before CB. Cam Heyward is nice player, but similar to Spears in regard, big-strong good at point of attack. But not a natural pass rusher. The league is in a passing frenzy right now. We need to put pressure on the qb.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Casey Matthews will probably be a late 3rd rounder/4th rounder

 

[YosemiteSam]

Casey Matthews will probably be a late 3rd rounder/4th rounder

With some steroids he will be a Pro Bowler.