BTB Community Mock: Pick #9, The Dallas Cowboys Select...

For me this is a hard decision even though I started the Pro Tyron Smith campaign earlier this fall. I really like Prince Amukamara, he would answer a need in the secondary for a lockdown cornerback. I think Prince has a skill that not many cornerbacks possess, the ability to trail a wide receiver down the field. When you watch a lockdown corner like Revis, he has the ability to trail the wide receiver from the line all the way down field. I think the Cowboys could use a guy like this with shutdown skills, but premier tackles are hard to come by in the NFL.

This is why my selection is Tyron Smith. He reminds me of D'Brickashaw Ferguson from the New York Jets. As a matter of fact, the Jets blog on SBNation recently compared Smith to Ferguson when doing their community mock pick for Dallas. I think that if Jason Garrett truly has his say in the draft, then Tyron Smith is our guy. I think the biggest hole on our team is right tackle and free safety. When Doug Free was playing right tackle for us in 2009, this offense was humming. We need to get back to that type of football, where we have the ability to run the ball, but still have the ability to maintain pass protection. When I look over Tyron Smith, I see amazing upside for a kid 20 years old. He has massive arms and weighed in at 307 during the combine. This is the first time in a really long time that the Cowboys are actually serious about taking a offensive lineman this high in the draft. I have been a huge supporter of Tyron Smith for months now and as much as I love Prince Amukamara, I have to go with Smith here. Smith is a instant upgrade at right tackle. I think he can start right away, yes he will have some growing pains but this is a guy who has played the position for two years now. He is not a four year player like some of the tackles available, but no other tackle offers the tremendous upside you are getting with this kid. We are talking Pro Bowl material and if you insert this talent with Doug Free, you have possibly the best bookend tackles in the NFL.

(Why the pick cont.) I believe Tyron Smith presents the Cowboys with the long term and short term solution they have been looking for at right tackle. Most want more athletic offensive lineman like a Doug Free, well then this would be that type of lineman folks. Garrett loves tackles who are athletic and can get out in the second level. That is one of Smith's best attributes. Garrett also needs his tackles to be premier pass protectors, which Smith has the ability to be. I think this is a home run pick for the Cowboys and the Mel Kiper types will admit that on draft night when this pick is made. I truly believe Smith is the best tackle in this draft and has the most upside. Were talking about a 20 year old kid with massive arms, great footwork, strength that continues to develop, athleticism to get into the second level and Pro Bowl type talent all around from a 20 year old offensive tackle. I believe the Cowboys would be thankful to land a blue chip player 9th overall. In a offense where you need to protect the passer but also need to be athletic enough to run screens, tosses and the ability to block in the second level, I feel Smith fits that criteria Garrett will look for.

I could have went in various directions here. If the Cowboys feel they need a defensive end, then JJ Watt and Cameron Jordan would be great picks here as well. This happens to be a deep defensive lineman draft, so I would take Smith over them even though I love Watt and Cameron. The Cowboys could take Prince Amukamara here, solidifying their secondary. Terence Newman is 32 years old and looks to be in the twilight of his career. Prince is another great pick here as well, but the drop off in offensive tackle talent in the second round concerns me. Yes I love the Danny Watkins and Marcus Cannon scenario, but for my money I am taking the blue chip prospect here. Tyron Smith is now being heavily courted by the Cowboys and for good reason. I think this is a great pick for us and I stand behind my decision 100 percent. Thank you for the honor of selecting this pick, I truly appreciate that. I hope you will see my reasoning and understand that I feel Tyron Smith is a blue chip talent at a position we desperately need young talent at.

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

HIGH PRIORITY TEAM NEEDS (lower number indicates higher priority) according to Drafttek.com:

-- Threat Level Red (priority 1-2): None (First top ten team with no Red Threats)

-- Threat Level Orange (priority 3-4): Offensive Tackle, 3-4 Defensive End, Cornerback, 3-4 Outside LB, 3-4 Middle LB (either spot), Free Safety, Strong Safety, 3-4 Defensive Tackle, Center

-- Threat Level Yellow (priority 5-6): Guard

-- Threat Level Green (priority 9): Quarterback, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight End

-- Drafttek.com ranked #14 Overall, #2 at the position

-- Wes Bunting, National Football Post: #9 Overall, #1 at the position

Impression: A gifted athlete for the position who at only 20 years old is far from a finished product. However, the flexibility, athleticism, frame and body control are all there for this guy to develop into a very good starting left or right tackle in the NFL, depending on where he feels comfortable.

-- CBSSports.com ranked #16 overall, #2 at the position

-- Scout.com ranked #11 overall, #1 at the position

-- Mike Mayock ranked #13 overall, #2 at the position

He played on the right side and came out as a junior, and has the most potential of any tackle in the draft.

-- NFLDraftScout.com profile:

Pass blocking: His best trait. Flashes very good initial quickness and gains good depth with his initial kick-slide. Plays on the balls of his feet with good forward and lateral balance. Shuffles his feet laterally to mirror the defender. Has the long arms and strong hands to lock onto the defender. Loses focus and relies too much on his agility to remain in front of the pass rusher. Becomes susceptible to swim moves when he doesn't use his hands aggressively. Has the agility to handle converting to the left side.

Run blocking: Good positional blocker. Quick off the snap and can catch and turn his opponent away from the play. Does a nice job of walling off his target, but needs to get stronger and keep his feet churning to drive his opponent out. Too often gets stood up by defenders, creating a pile that the ballcarrier must run around, rather than clearing a hole for the play to run through. Isn't afraid of contact and can drive the defender off the ball in short-yardage situations with his initial push, but isn't yet strong enough to finish blocks consistently.

Pulling/trapping: Good mobility to pull and lead the toss-sweep. Good balance and straight-line speed getting to the second level. Struggles to hit the brakes and re-direct and allows his arms to flail at the defender, which could draw holding calls at the next level.

Initial Quickness: Inconsistent with his initial get-off. Capable of being the first off the snap, as he often is when he anticipates a blitz to his side or has to get out in front of a sweep play, but can also be among the last off the snap.

Downfield: Good athleticism and effort to make downfield blocks. Looks for someone to hit and will peel back if necessary to pop a defender giving chase. Good overall athleticism, but struggles changing direction and therefore must do a better job anticipating where the defender is going to be, rather than allowing him to rush past.