It is always a challenge to know what a team will do in the wake of a head coaching change; but it is a little easier when you realize owner Jerry Jones is still in control of who the Cowboys will select in April. With the combine all wrapped up after this weekend, I thought it would be fun to speculate who Dallas might choose from the plethora of talent in this year’s draft.
Round 1: CJ Henderson (CB, Florida)
The six-foot-one, 204 pound cornerback out of the sunshine state proved that he is one of the most athletic players on the draft board with fantastic scores in his drills at the combine. Henderson finished in the top-ten in the forty-yard dash, posting a blazing 4.39. He looked fluid in the rest of his on-the-field drills as well, cementing himself as the number two cornerback in the draft behind Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah, who is expected to be a top-ten pick.
With Byron Jones likely to test free agency this year, there is a need for a player like Henderson, who could make an impact the second he arrives at training camp.
Round 2: Justin Madubuike (DT, Texas A&M)
After a stellar combine, Madubuike moved up to potentially first-round status for some analysts, but if he falls to the Cowboys in the second round, expect them to snatch up the athletic junior out of Texas A&M. Madubuike had a great combine, drawing comparisons to eight-time Pro Bowler Geno Atkins. Both are a bit undersized for defensive tackles (293 pounds), but they are exceptionally athletic with high motors.
A team can never have too much help on the defensive line, and with Dallas’s offense being as potent as ever last season, I see no need for them to draft an offensive player with a stud like Madubuike still on the board.
Round 3: Denzel Mims (WR, Baylor)
Mims, the six-foot-three 207 pound speedster out of Baylor, would provide yet another weapon for an offense that is already loaded. Mims posted the fifth fastest 40-yard-dash score with a 4.38. His outstanding catch radius would provide Dak Prescott with another reliable target. This would allow Dallas to spread the field a lot more and give Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup more room to terrorize opposing defenses.
With Cooper, Gallup, and Mims on the field at the same time, Dallas would have the most dangerous receiving corps in the league for years to come.
Round 4: J.R. Reed (S, Georgia)
Reed is unremarkable athletically, but has a great nose for the ball and an above-average football IQ, making him an intriguing prospect in the fourth round. He can be burned by faster or shiftier wide receivers, but usually makes up for that by being one step ahead of the play. One anonymous scout is quoted as saying, “He does more with less because he’s a smart player and he’s well coached.” With an NFL training training program, Reed could develop the frame of a true NFL safety and become a force to be reckoned with in the league.
Round 5: Tyler Huntley (QB, Utah), Reggie Robinson II (CB/S, Tulsa)
Even though he has started every game in his four year career, Dak Prescott is not invincible. Injuries do happen and it is always good to at least have a back up plan in place. Also, it is not exactly a given that Dak will be on the team next year with a franchise tag looming for the 2020-21 season.
Huntley, like Prescott, is a great leader. His leadership drove the Utes to a fantastic season, ultimately finishing in the top 15 teams in the country. He is a fantastic athlete and has the ability to pick up first downs with his legs. Huntley is also exceptionally accurate, finishing his senior year with a 73.1% completion rate (second only to Joe Burrow). An athlete as tough and mentally strong as Huntley would do well to learn behind someone like Dak Prescott.
The Cowboys received a compensatory pick in the fifth round this year due to the departure of Cole Beasely. Because of the lack of depth the Cowboys have in the secondary, I expect them to use several picks to beef up their lineup of defensive backs. Robinson, who earned All-American Athletic Conference honors in his senior season, played cornerback throughout college but has the physical attributes to play safety if he is needed there.
Round 7: Mike Panasiuk (DT, Michigan St.)
Panasiuk is an elite run-defender, but that is pretty much it. He is able to plug holes like nobody else and regularly controls the lineman who takes him on. His pash-rush is basically non-existent, registering only five sacks in his four years with the Spartans. The six-foot-four 300 pound defensive tackle is rarely caught out of position and could prove to be a valuable situational player for the Cowboys.