It's mock draft time, and don't you just love poring over all those mocks. Some you glance at and immediately start shaking your head in utter disbelief. Others you hold up and proclaim to be 32 commandments - like Moses with his stone tablets on Mount Sinai.
I realize that some people would suggest that not just any draftnik with Internet access can make "official" proclamations… but they are wrong. We can. And we do. All the time. You can go all over the Internet and see!
As always, we've collected quotes on who some of the leading draftniks think the Cowboys will take with their first pick, and it comes as no surprise that the 'Tyron Smith to Dallas Campaign' is gaining steam. But will it last till draft weekend?
National Football Post (Wes Bunting), 3/16/2011: Tyron Smith, OT, Southern California
"It’s rare to find an offensive tackle with Smith’s dimensions, length and overall movement skills. He still possesses plenty of upside to his game and with some time could end up being one of the better offensive tackles in the league."
ESPN (Todd McShay), 3/16/2011: Tyron Smith, OT, Southern California
"Three of the Cowboys' top four defensive ends from last year -- Marcus Spears, Stephen Bowen, Jason Hatcher -- played the 2010 season on one-year deals, so Dallas could very well look at Wisconsin's J.J. Watt here. However, it's better to be on the front end of a position wave than the back end, and this is the area where the run on the top four offensive tackles (at least four in the first round) could start. Smith has bulked up to 307 pounds after playing the college season at 285, and while he still has some developing to do he also has more upside than any other 2011 tackle prospect. He has the tools to step in at right tackle (where he played at USC) as a rookie and eventually move to the left side."
Drafttek.com (Long Ball), 3/22/2011: Tyron Smith, OT, Southern California
"Dallas needs to replace Columbo at ROT -- Tyron Smith played ROT at USC. Dallas needs value for the #9 pick - Smith can play LOT and Free can play ROT if they decide to switch in the future. Smith showed up at the Combine with a chiseled 307 lb physique, takes the bar in his 11" hands and presses 29 reps with his 36-3/8" arms - I'm sure his Pro Day will be equally impressive! Old Long Ball has it on good authority from 2 different sources that the Cowboys have requested more game film from USC on Smith than any other team. Finally, as deep as the DE class is, I believe a quality DE34 will fall to #40 - I'm not so sure that can be said for OT prospects."
CBSSports (Chad Reuter), 3/21/2011: Tyron Smith, OT, Southern California
"Head coach Jason Garrett wants QB Tony Romo protected; Smith has loads of length and upside at barely 20 years old."
Mocking The Draft (John Dove), 3/22/2011: Tyron Smith, OT, Southern California
"Smith's stock continues to rise and the Cowboys are in need of an upgrade at the tackle position. Smith shows the best technique and balance of all the tackle prospects. His age and athletic ability give him a ton of potential."
DraftAce.com (Ryan McCrystal), 3/22/2011: Tyron Smith, OT, Southern California
The Cowboys would love to land Prince Amukamara, and would probably consider trading up for him or Patrick Peterson if the opportunity presented itself. But with both top corners off the board, the Cowboys have to reach to fill another position of need. Tyron Smith played right tackle at USC, but has demonstrated this offseason that he has the athleticism and the size to easily shift over to the left side. This is definitely a risky pick, but the Cowboys don’t have many other options.
Pro Football Weekly (Nolan Nawrocki), 3/15/2011: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
"Watt tested off the charts at the NFL Scouting Combine and received rave reviews for his maturity and focus in the interview process. He is not without his detractors in the scouting community, but his ability to man the five-technique post where the Cowboys are severely undermanned could allow him to fit into the top 10."
Draftcountdown (Scott Wright) 3/21/2011: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
"Watt isn’t an elite pass rusher but he is absolutely relentless with a non-stop motor and is versatile enough to play multiple positions in either a 4-3 or 3-4. Watt’s best fit at the next level will come as a five-technique in a "30" front and that's exactly what he’d play in "Big D". Cal’s Cameron Jordan would also be an ideal fit. Considering the issues they had in pass coverage last year the Cowboys would be crazy to not strongly consider Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara too. Dallas could also use an infusion of youth along the offensive line so Tyron Smith of USC could be a possibility, although Jerry Jones doesn't historically like to use first rounders on blockers."
Walter Football, 3/22/2011: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
"Jay Ratliff and Stephen Bowen figure to start on Dallas' defensive line for a long time. Ratliff will continue to man the nose tackle position, but there is still a void at right end, currently occupied by an ineffective Igor Olshansky.
J.J. Watt's draft stock is continuing to gain steam, and it looks like he'll be selected near the bottom of the top 10. Mike Mayock went as far to say that Watt is the best five-technique he's ever seen. Mayock also stated that he's better than Tyson Jackson (I should hope so), who went No. 3 overall."
Draft Season (Erik Falk), 3/21/2011: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
"The Cowboys are horrible in their secondary, and there isn’t a offensive lineman worth taking at number nine. That being said, I think the Cowboys get great value with Amukamara falling to them at pick nine."
CBSSports (Rob Rang), 3/21/2011: 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. 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."
Weei.com (DJ Bean), 3/21/2011: Cameron Jordan, DE, California
"The Cowboys had hoped to play a game in the Super Bowl, and after an enormously disappointing season, they have to find their way back to contender status. Drafting Cam Newton when they already have Tony Romo is not exactly the way to go about that. Instead they can opt for a stud defensive end like Jordan, who could replace Stephen Bowen."
SB Nation (Brian Galliford), 3/7/2011: Robert Quinn, OLB, North Carolina
"Dallas is a prime spot to entertain the idea of a trade, because their needs don't match up with the talent likely available to them. A BPA route may be in order if they stand pat, and Quinn is arguably that here."
Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft overview (min. five rounds deep)
| Site |
Date |
1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | 4th Round |
5th Round | 6th Round | 7th Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drafttek |
3/22/2011 | Tyron Smith, OT, USC |
Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State |
Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor |
Tyler Sash, FS, Iowa |
Chykie Brown, CB, Texas |
DeMarcus Van Dyke, CB, Miami |
Nick Bellore, ILB, Central Michigan |
| Sideline Scouting |
3/22/2011 | Tyron Smith, OT, USC |
Rahim Moore, S, UCLA |
Allen Bailey, DE, Miami |
Shareece Wright, CB, USC |
Jarriel King, OG, South Carolina |
Kai Forbath, K, UCLA |
Jarrard Terrant, S, Georgia Tech |
| Walter Football |
3/22/2011 | J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin |
Brandon Harris, CB, Miami |
Joseph Barksdale, OT, LSU |
Deunta Williams, FS, North Carolina |
Lee Ziemba, G/OT, Auburn |
Stephen Ridley, RB, LSU |
- - |
| Draftsite |
3/22/2011 | Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska |
DeAndre McDaniel, S, Clemson |
Jah Reid, OT, Central Florida |
Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State |
Jake Kirkpatrick, OC, TCU |
Brian Rolle, OLB, Ohio State |
Dan Bailey, K, Oklahoma State |
| NFL Draft Blitz |
3/5/2011 | Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska |
Rodney Hudson, OG/C, Florida State |
Marcus Gilbert, OT, Florida |
Jerrell Powe, DT, Mississippi |
Deunta Williams, FS, North Carolina |
Willie Smith, OT, East Carolina |
- - |
Once again, you can now vote on which which mock you like the best. Draft Tek has walked away with the victory for two straight weeks, will this week see a new winner, or is there no chance for the top spot without Tyron Smith?