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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.
In today's round-up, we look at the latest mocks published over the last few days, including mocks from Drafttek, Foxsports, NFL.com, USA Today, a whole armada of mocks from CBSSports and many others. All the mock draft goodness is summarized below, and there's a poll at the end as well.
| Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh |
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NFL.com (Jeremiah), Feb27 |
Comment: "Donald is gaining steam after a dominant season, Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine." |
| CBSSports (Brugler), Feb 26 | Comment: "Donald will be an attractive prospect to play the three-technique spot for Dallas' four-man front with his explosive, relentless play style." |
| CBSSports (Rang), Feb 26 | Comment: "More decorated than a wedding cake, Donald offers the buzz Jerry Jones always appreciates as well as the burst to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks from the middle." |
| SI.com (Burke), Feb 26 | Comment: "Sure, Clowney’s 4.53 40 time was incredible. But Donald’s 4.65, at 280-plus pounds, might have been even better. The Cowboys do not have any cash lying around with which to re-sign Jason Hatcher. Nabbing Donald would make Hatcher’s impending departure sting a lot less. The Pitt product is capable of disrupting offenses on a consistent basis." |
| Optimum Scouting (Galko), Feb 26 | Comment: "Safety or defensive line. Those are the clear positions of need for Dallas to address, and I’d guess they double up at both positions in this draft. With the two top safeties gone and the best defensive tackle/inside speed rusher in this class available, Donald seems like a no-brainer here. Do not rule out Johnny Manziel if he starts to slip on draft day." |
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Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State |
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Draftseason (Edlund), Feb 28 |
Comment: "The Cowboys need a defensive tackle who can penetrate and create ruckus in the backfield in order to make their Tampa 2 scheme work. Jernigan is coming off a sub par Combine, but he has some great tape showing what kind of destructive penetrator he is. He’d be a solid choice for the Boys here." |
| USA Today (Davis), Feb 27 | Comment: "Pro Bowl DT Jason Hatcher is scheduled to be a free agent, and Dallas desperately (and unsuccessfully) searched for players to put next to him last year before ultimately finishing last in total defense." |
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CBSSports (Prisco), Feb 26 |
Comment: "The Cowboys might be losing Jason Hatcher and there isn't much else around. Jernigan can play a lot of roles." |
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Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota |
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| SB Nation (Kadar), Feb 24 | Comment: "If both safeties are off the board, the Cowboys should target the best defensive tackle in the draft. Whether that's Hageman or Aaron Donald, that's up for debate. Hageman is more versatile and just plain has more potential." |
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Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri |
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Drafttek.com, Feb28 |
Comment: "Can Ol' Long Ball make a confession? The last 2 simulations, I put a Grab on Ealy but took it off this time to see if the computer was smarter than me. Well, guess what? (quit snickering, I know what you're thinking!) . . . my goodness, the computer must know that DeMarcus Ware had elbow surgery and Cuzzin Jerruh is negotiating through the press to reduce his $12.25 million compensation for 2014! Anthony Spencer was paid the franchise tag for a non-participatory season due to injury and he is an UFA in 2014. Will Tyrone Crawford come back from injury? George Selvie is a nice rotational piece, but the rest of the roster is filled with JAGs (there were 20 different players who played DL for the Cowboys in 2013). Kony Ealy's explosion was on total display in Missouri's 2013 game against Florida. " |
| Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo |
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| Ourlads.com, Feb 26 | Comment: "The Cowboys need to generate a pass rush opposite Demarcus Ware in the Tampa-2. Mack can widen out and bring it. His versatility as a hand-in-the-dirt pass rusher or a standup outside linebacker helps his stock. He features an explosive and sudden first step when rushing the passer. For the past four years he has been a disruptive playmaker despite teams’ accounting for him on every play. He led the Bulls with 100 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 10 passes defended, and 5 forced fumbles. |
| CJ Mosley, LB, Alabama |
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| Foxsports (Klatt), Feb 26 | Comment: "They need help in the secondary, but they would be overdrafting if they took a C or FS here. The best defensive player available is Mosley, and it is a great value." |
And now for a look at some of the prospects that might fall the Cowboys' way later in the draft. The table below summarizes four mock drafts that go beyond just the first round. Let us know in the attached poll which of these mocks you like the most.
| Source | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 7th | 7th | 7th |
| Drafttek | Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri |
Kelcy Quarles, DT, South Carolina |
Loucheiz Purifoy, CB, Florida |
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois |
Brandon Thomas, OG, Clemson |
Khairi Fortt, OLB, California | Ryan Grant, WR, Tulane | Bene Benwikere, CB, San Jose State |
| Draftsite | Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame | Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State |
Yawin Smallwood, ILB, Connecticut |
Kareem Martin, DE, UNC | Chris Burnette, OG, Georgia |
Glenn Carson, ILB, Penn State |
Matt Hall, OT, Belhaven | Kadeem Edwards, OG, Tennessee State |
| Walter Football | Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State | Dion Bailey, S, USC | Telvin Smith, OLB, Florida State | Dakota Dozier, G, Furman | - - | - - | - - | - - |
| Rant sports | Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh |
Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State |
Kelcy Quarles, DT, South Carolina |
Billy Turner, OT/OG, North Dakota State |
Dion Bailey, FS, USC | Jerick McKinnon, RB, Georgia Southern | Larry Webster, DE, Bloomsburg | Casey Pachall, QB, TCU |