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Earlier today, Dave offered us a summary of the latest mock drafts by Mel Kiper and Todd McShay. And we follow that up with a veritable mock draft cornucopia: 12 freshly minted mock drafts offering ten different names for the Cowboys, among them some pretty unlikely prospects.
It's still too early to tell with any degree of certainty what the Cowboys will do in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. What we do know is that there will be very talented players available when the Cowboys are on the clock. But that won't stop us from looking at who some selected mockers like for the Cowboys this week.
| Source | Player | Update |
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DraftAce (Ryan McCrystal) |
D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama |
February 7 |
| Comment: "Aside from Tyron Smith and Nate Livings, no one’s job is safe on the Cowboys offensive line. Fluker could be brought in to compete with Doug Free for the starting right tackle position. Whoever loses that competition would then be a candidate to shift inside to right guard. In the long run, Fluker’s role may be as a guard, but he should be a 10-year starter in this league somewhere on the line" | ||
| Drafttek | Datone Jones, DE, UCLA |
February 6 |
| Comment: "For the 2nd consecutive simulation, Jones is the choice and as the NFL has devolved into a padded version of 7-on-7, new DC Monte Kiffin will want to counter with "hybrid" defenders capable of lining up inside or out, depending on the down and distance. [...] Datone Jones recorded 57 tackles, 19 for losses and 6.5 sacks for the Bruins in 2012 to earn All-Conference Honors, as he lined up at both DT and DE. He was even more impressive during Senior Bowl week as no one (not even Eric Fisher) could consistently block him, flashing quickness not normally seen from a 280 lb man. " | ||
| NEPatriotsdraft (James Christensen) | Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma | February 6 |
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Comment: "Adding the physical Johnson to Tyron Smith would be a good start to rebuilding the Cowboys’ offensive line. He has really improved his game this year and is ready to contribute as a rookie." |
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Draft King (Lou Pickney) |
Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia | February 6 |
| Comment: "Having a tackling machine at middle linebacker is one of the keys to make the "Tampa Two" style 4-3 defense work. It stunned me that the Cowboys flipped from the 3-4 approach that they built toward going back to the Bill Parcells era this off-season, but with that plan now in action, a gifted tackler and playmaker like Ogletree would be an excellent choice for the Cowboys. Defensive tackle might also be a consideration here. Jerry Jones (owner/GM) tends to speak his mind, and he could easily tip what Dallas is wanting to do between now and the draft -- he's done it before." | ||
|
FF Toolbox (Rob Warner) |
Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina | February 6 |
| Comment: "Protecting Tony Romo is a must going forward as the Cowboys must replace Doug Free (backup at best) and upgrade the interior of the O-line. The 6-foot-3, 295-pounder will bolster the Cowboys interior line and has the versatility/athleticism to play Center or OG at the next level." | ||
| Scouting The Seahawks (Derek Stephens) | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah |
February 6 |
| Comment: "The Cowboys will be moving to a 4-3 now with Monte Kiffin coming on as the new defensive coordinator, and they’ll need another talented defensive tackle to put alongside Jay Ratliff. Lotulelei has been dropping on some boards due to consistency questions, but he possesses perhaps the strongest combination of size and athleticism in the class, and has potential to be a devastating force for a lot of years from either of the two interior DT spots." | ||
|
Rotoworld (Josh Norris) |
Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri | February 5 |
| Comment: "Richardson’s talent likely exceeds this slot, but if he is on the board the Cowboys have found their 3 technique defensive tackle. The Missouri product has some Fletcher Cox to him and can be scheme versatile. Richardson ended his career with the Tigers on rocky terms, but he has plenty of talent." | ||
|
Football's Future (Robert Davis) |
Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri | February 4 |
| Comment: "The Cowboys will likely address the trenches with this pick, whether it be the offensive or defensive line. Richardson is a tremendous physical talent that can get into the backfield and make things happen, but is also active against the run." | ||
|
USA Today (Tony Pauline) |
Jonathan Jenkins, DT, Georgia | February 4 |
| Comment: "Jenkins is a dominant interior run stuffer with all-pro potential if he applies himself. He's also a terrific fit for the Cowboys' new 4-3 alignment." | ||
|
Mocking The Draft (Matthew Fairburn) |
Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina | February 4 |
| Comment: "If Chance Warmack is the best guard prospect to come around in years, Jonathan Cooper isn't too far behind. He has picture-perfect technique both when firing out of his stance and when pulling across the line of scrimmage. The Cowboys need all sorts of help on the offensive line. Tony Romo would appreciate a bit of help up front." | ||
| Mocks and Locks | Barrett Jones, C, Alabama | February 4 |
| Comment: "Barrett Jones allows Dallas to start with a new center, one that has a ton of experience and is a mauler. He's a leader but is underwhelming; not a ton of potential here. " | ||
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CSNPhilly.com (Jared Sherman) |
Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU | February 3 |
| Comment: "The Cowboys are switching to the 4-3 under Monte Kiffin, so DeMarcus Ware will be putting his hand on the ground as a DE. Anthony Spencer, the other OLB Dallas who would need to get in a three-point stance, is an UFA. Montgomery got overshadowed by teammate Barkevious Mingo at LSU but was the more productive of the two." | ||