Mocking the Cowboys 2011 Draft: Final Pre-Combine Mocks

It's Combine time. That wonderful time of the year when hope springs eternal and everybody becomes an expert in player evaluation and selection. Our friends at BleedingGreenNation.com even found out that More People Watch The NFL Combine Than Baseball.

One of the joys of the Combine and of draft season in general are mock drafts; anybody can make one and nowadays anyone can publish one. It's the time of year when any random internet dude knows more than our coaches and scouts.

Combined.

But you never know, that one mock draft you're reading may just be the one that has it all figured out.

After the break you'll find choice quotes on which players some mock drafts like as our No. 1 pick, and also an overview of selected draftniks that have published a mock draft of at least three rounds. So without further ado, let's take a spin around this week's Cowboys mock draft world.

Si.com (Don Banks), 2/23/2011: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

"As is the case with Patrick Peterson, some scouts project Amukamara as an NFL safety over the long term. But for now he would nicely upgrade a Cowboys secondary that far too often in 2010 got burned like a slice or two of Texas toast. If both top-rated cornerbacks happen to be gone, Dallas might be of a mind to take the next best available defensive lineman, like North Carolina's Robert Quinn."

Drafttek.com (Long Ball), 2/23/2011: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

"Prince Akumara's 40 time at the Combine may make this selection unlikely - in either direction. However, no one can question his technique and tackling ability, two attributes sorely missing in the Cowboy defensive backfield. New DC Rob Ryan has proclaimed that his defense "has no place for cowards", which means Mike Jenkins' tackling had better improve. Terence Newman turns 33 in September, Orlando Scandrick has yet to prove he's a starter, Bryan McCann returns kicks but can he cover, . . . too many questions to not add a quality CB."

CBSsports.com (Rob Rang), 2/23/2011: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

"The offensive line might be a greater area of concern for the Cowboys, but with no offensive tackle in this class worthy of a top-10 selection, Dallas would be forced to look elsewhere. Mike Jenkins has great talent, but suffered through a sophomore slump in 2010 after flashing as a rookie. Veteran Terence Newman remains an adequate starter, but in a division blessed with the skilled receivers the NFC East boasts, the Cowboys would be wise to upgrade with Amukamara, who entered the year as the top-rated senior prospect in the country and did little to change that status with an All-American season."

SB Nation (Brian Galliford), 2/14/2011: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

"This might be a hair too early for Amukamara, but he'd have a hard time not improving the Cowboys' secondary. Whether he played at corner or safety, Amukamara would fill a huge need for Dallas at the back end of a still-talented defense."

CBSSports.com (Chad Reuter), 2/21/2011: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama

"New defensive coordinator Rob Ryan would love to add the strong and quick Dareus to his aggressive front three."

Weii.com (DJ Bean), 2/23/2011: Marcell Dareus, DL, Alabama

"Both Stephen Bowen and Marcus Spears are free agents, and the latter hit the IR last season with a strained calf. The Cowboys can’t be too sure of what their future holds at defensive end, but getting Dareus at No. 9 is the type of pick they wouldn’t have to think about. He possesses the talent and, more notably, the experience at five-technique, which is something not a lot of 3-4 defensive end prospects necessarily have."

Fanhouse.com, 2/18/2011:J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin

"The Cowboys have multiple free agents at the defensive end position scheduled to leave this offseason, and since the organization has always placed a premium on building a strong front seven on defense, it makes sense to bring in Watt, who could be the best 3-4 end in this draft."

Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft overview (min. three rounds deep)