Dallas Cowboys 7-round Mock Draft 2.0: Cowboys trade back in first round, pick up a second (Mockery II)

It’s mock draft season and that brings us to our second edition of our BTB mock series. In Mockery II, the Cowboys move back to the end of the first round and acquire another second-round pick!

Using the Draft Value Chart from WalterFootball, we can strike realistic trades based on value. Let’s get started and make another mockery of the NFL Draft for the Dallas Cowboys:

As the Cowboys are on the clock at 19, they’re staring at Isaiah Wynn, a guard prospect they really like. They also still see 1-tech DT Vita Vea there but then they receive a call from the Jaguars. The Jags pick 29th and that’s a hefty ten spots back for the Cowboys who could sit and pick a player they like.

Jacksonville wants an offensive lineman that can help them continue to improve their offensive attack. In order to get up there, they’re going to have to give up their two because a three and four won’t quite make it. Making sure they don’t drastically overpay, the Jags were able to recoup a fourth from the Cowboys.

Jags send pick 29 (640 pts) + 61 (292 pts) to Cowboys in exchange for picks 19 (875 pts) + 117 (60 pts). Total Value: Jaguars + 3 pts.

Pick 29 (From JAC): Cowboys select OG, Will Hernandez, UTEP (Brugler: 32nd, 3rd OG)

Analysis: Dallas gets a day one starter at left guard while also picking up another Top-100 pick in the process. Though some folks want Dallas to grab a serviceable free agent to start at guard, realize that the Cowboys’ Pro Personnel department has been lacking in that area. The Cowboys don’t want to spend big money but they will flip a first-round pick on the position to keep the line’s integrity intact.

Hernandez is a mauler-type at guard that has been missing in between Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick. Where the Cowboys are picking, they may be wiped out and a trade back that nets you Hernandez and another pick would be perfect.

Pick 50: Cowboys select WR, D.J. Chark, LSU (Brugler: 54th, 5th WR)

Analysis: Here is a guy that will bring blazing speed into the NFL and could challenge right away for playing time against any of the receivers on the Cowboys not named Dez Bryant. The Cowboys have a lot of receivers that do similar things to each other but they don’t have a receiver with elite speed and reliable hands. That’s Chark’s value in the NFL where quarterbacks are looking to get the ball out quick and let the player make plays.

Pick 61 (From JAC): Cowboys select DT, Derrick Nnadi, FSU (Brugler: 85th, 9th DT)

Analysis: Nnadi isn’t the penetrating three-tech that Rod Marinelli falls in love with but it’s about time the Cowboys front office pick a one-tech that can eat up blocks and allow others to make the play. Nnadi is built like a brick house even though he’s only six feet tall. He’s got surprisingly good quickness and burst for his frame and is a master in the leverage game. The Cowboys could really see Nnadi make an immediate impact with a perfect marriage for the pass rushers they have.

Pick 81: Cowboys select FS, Quin Blanding, Virginia (Brugler: 100th, 3rd FS)

Analysis: Blanding has outstanding production where he’s recorded over 100+ tackles each of the last few seasons. He’s not a finished product but his tackling ability is second-to-none. He does a great job of reading the ball while it’s in the air and pluck it from it’s intended receiver. He started 49 straight games and had 10 interceptions. He flashes burst to undercut routes and can clog up the passing lanes rather quickly. Blanding will need to work on consistency but there’s a lot to like with this cat.

Pick 117 (No Pick traded to JAC)

Pick 138: Cowboys select OLB, Darius Leonard, SC State (Brugler: 112th, 10th OLB)

Analysis: Leonard showed out in the Senior Bowl and his instincts are some of the best in this class. He’s got length and burst but could look to improve his play strength but he played well in games against top schools like Clemson where he had 19 tackles. Leonard is a solid backup with immediate impact on special teams.

Pick 139: Cowboys select CB, Isaac Yiadom, Boston College (Brugler: 124th, 16th CB)

Analysis: A good lengthy cornerback that plays sticky man coverage and has great speed with a fantastic motor. He’s aggressive to attack passing lanes and can mirror receivers quite well. He does need to put a little more muscle on his frame and doesn’t have the best ball skills. Yiadom has all the traits that you look for to develop in a young cornerback but will need to learn the intricacies of the NFL route tree.

Pick 174: Cowboys select TE, Tyler Conklin, Central Michigan (Brugler: 176th, 10th TE)

Analysis: He missed five games in 2017 and still managed to be one of the most productive tight ends in the conference with over 400 yards in receiving and five touchdowns. Conklin is a decent blocker in the running game and gives great effort play after play. He will need to improve in a multitude of areas but was a team captain and can at least upgrade the tight end room.

Pick 176: Cowboys select DE, Dorance Armstrong Jr., Kansas (Brugler: 188th, 16th DE)

Analysis: He’s got great length to work with but could stand to add some weight as he’s just under 250 pounds. He’s a violent attacker with strong hands and decent production (34 career tackles for loss, 10 career sacks). He ranks fifth all-time at KU in TFL’s and had 20 of them in 2016.

Pick 196: Cowboys select SS, Trey Flowers, Oklahoma State (Brugler: 198th, 8th SS)

Analysis: He’s got all the size and length you want and was eager to get involved in any and all tackles, leading his team with 267 career tackles. He’s bit tight in the hips and that’s going to hurt his prospects as he’s not very fluid. Flowers has great length to take on the bigger receiving targets in the NFL.

Pick 236: Cowboys select OT, Brett Toth, Army (Brugler: 248th, 19th OT)

Analysis: Toth is a pretty solid prospect in a tackle class that isn’t that enticing. He’s worthy of a mid-round pick but he’s got a two-year commitment to the armed forces to serve first. Toth is a lunch pail guy and the Cowboys may be intrigued by his work ethic and raw abilities.