Reports: Cowboys Love J.J. Watt, Don't Think Highly Of Nick Fairley

According to a report by the National Football Post, which quotes a league source with knowledge of the situation, the Cowboys are strongly considering drafting J.J. Watt with the ninth overall pick of the first round (hat tip to scottmaui for the FanShot):

Per a source, the Cowboys are leaning strongly toward selecting Watt if they don't draft USC offensive tackle Tyron Smith.

The source said the Cowboys love Watt's intensity, technique, toughness and motor and have grown tired of problem players and want to add someone of high character to their locker room.

On the topic of potential problem players, in a separate but related article, Matt Mosley of FOXSports.com writes in his latest mock draft that Nick Fairley isn't even a consideration in the second round for the Cowboys.

I can say with conviction that the Cowboys want no part of Fairley. There’s simply no belief at Valley Ranch that Fairley would come close to reaching his immense potential.

This late in the process this could all be misinformation of course, but Mosley has been around the Cowboys long enough for us to give his information a little more credence. Mosley gives us this insight into the Cowboys' latest thinking:

The Cowboys want to move down in the first round and take either [Boston College offensive tackle Anthony] Castonzo, Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt or Colorado offensive tackle Nate Solder. If they get stuck at No. 9, the pick will either be Castonzo or Watt.