2012 Dallas Cowboys Mock Drafts: Post-Combine Edition

If you thought the Combine would lead to some new names being mocked to the Cowboys, you may be in for a surprise as you read through our mock draft roundup this morning.

While there were many prospects who stood out at the Combine and possibly improved their draft stock, the mock draftniks this week are a conservative bunch, sticking to the names they've been mocking to the Cowboys for the last few weeks.

Cornerback and O-line remain the two positions mocked most frequently, with Dre Kirkpatrick and David DeCastro still the odds-on favorites. In fact, it's hard finding mocks that don't have either of the two mocked our way.

In today's round-up, we look at the latest post-Combine mocks from Foxsports, SBNation and Draftek, a whole Armada of mocks from NFL.com and many others, including one from the illustriously named website Fantasy Knuckleheads.

All the mock draft goodness after the break.

Peter Schrager, Foxsports, 2/29/2012: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Will [the marijuana charges being dropped] be enough for some teams to get over the incident? For many teams, maybe not. For the Cowboys? Sure. A six-foot cornerback with top-flight speed (think Patrick Peterson speed), Kirkpatrick is the rare tall cornerback who can keep up with the game’s fastest receivers (think Patrick Peterson).

The Cowboys are desperate for some depth and some young talent at cornerback. Kirkpatrick would be a steal at No. 14.

Ryan van Bibber, SBnation, 2/29/2012: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Dallas might fill their cornerback needs in free agency, targeting either Brandon Carr or Cortland Finnegan. If they do, they would be under no pressure to grab one in the first round of the draft. DeCastro matches need and draft spot as one of the more promising interior linemen since Steve Hutchinson.

Drafttek, 2/29/2012: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

How can you tell when Cuzzin Jerruh is lying? His lips move . . . but for the sake of argument, let's take him at his word that needs will be filled in free agency and the Cowboys will adopt a "BPA" policy for the 2012 Draft. In this horrific simulation, the top 2 CB's (Claiborne #3 to Minnesota and Kirkpatrick #5 to Tampa Bay) are both off the board, the "People's Choice" OG David Decastro goes to Kansas City at #11, and even "Super Soph" DE Michael Brockers is gone (#9 to Carolina).

So looking at the Big Board, the two best values remaining are RB Trent Richardson and ILB Luke Kuechly . . . of the 2 positions, RB appears to be in better hands with Murray/Jones/Tanner than ILB with Lee/Carter/Lemon. The potential injury concerns are prevalent at both positions . . . but only Lee has proven he can play in the NFL. We hope Carter is starting material, but we don't know . . . Kuechly is the best ILB prospect in this year's draft. Don't you always take "the best"???

Ryan McCrystal, DraftAce, 02/29/2012: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Rob Ryan recently stated that he wants the Cowboys to focus on the secondary this offseason, and I suspect Jerry Jones will listen. Charges were recently dropped against Kirkpatrick in his marijuana arrest, which help alleviate any concerns teams may have about his character. Then again, the Cowboys aren’t the type of franchise that pays much attention to those types of concerns to begin with, and for that reason Janoris Jenkins may be an option here as well.

Steve Wyche, NFL.com, 02/29/2012: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Dallas could make a surprise pick and snap Boston College ILB Luke Kuechly. It's a need, but the secondary is more pressing.

Chad Reuter, NFL.com, 02/29/2012: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Terence Newman won’t be in Dallas much longer and Kirkpatrick’s combine workout showed he has enough speed to stay with NFL receivers. He didn’t run agility tests, however, and only weighed 186 pounds, so Dallas may not have a problem picking him up in the mid-first round.

Albert Breer, NFL.com, 02/29/2012: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Don't be surprised if Dallas signs a free agent corner (Brandon Carr, Cortland Finnegan) and drafts one. Rob Ryan can't have enough of them.

Bucky Brooks, NFL.com, 02/29/2012: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

After watching receivers routinely run past Terence Newman and Co., Jerry Jones is intent on fortifying the secondary. Kirkpatrick is a solid all-around corner with the size and length to challenge the big receivers that rule the roost in the NFC.

NationalFootballAuthority, 2/29/2012: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The 'Boys need an upgrade at the corner position and Jenkins makes sense here; only because it seems as though he has made serious strides to clean up his act. His off the field antics forced his path to UNA as many will recall. There are some other interesting options here, and if it's not Jenkins it could be Alabama CB Dre Kirkpatrick.

NFLmocks.com, 2/28/2012: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

DeCastro only plays guard which could push him down the board. Konz on the other hand is a center which holds more value. You say, but Jesse where is the cornerback? Well one of the combine rumors is that the Cowboys will be signing Brandon Carr, the Kansas City Chiefs cornerback, as soon as free agency opens and that they are looking at OL. Tyron Smith is moving to LT also in case you missed that. Center though remains a problem. Konz, to me, is better than Mike Pouncy last year.

NePatriotsdraft, 2/29/2012: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Even if the Cowboys sign Brandon Carr or another veteran CB, they could still use another piece to their secondary. Jenkins has some well known character issues, but he’s also an extremely talented player who can bump at the line and turn and run with even the fastest WRs.

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