Dallas Cowboys ‘like’ Jimmie Ward
Jimmie Ward (15) warms up. Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Cowboys are fully expected to draft an impact player on defense with the 16th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft despite the rumors of interest in Johnny Manziel or a top wide receiver. If the Cowboys did draft an offensive player, then I would expect it to be Taylor Lewan if he slips, and I could never see them taking Manziel at 16. Anyway, the Cowboys will probably focus on an edge rusher like Anthony Barr, a top DT like Aaron Donald (I have a hard time believing that they would pass up on him), or one of the top three safeties in this year’s draft class.
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Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is generally regarded as the top safety overall, but he probably won’t be there at 16 for the Cowboys. If they do want a safety, then they would have to choose between Calvin Pryor or Jimmie Ward. While most people like Pryor, I would prefer Ward due to his excellent coverage skills and instincts, and that’s something the Cowboys need more than size or hard-hitting. Pryor is good, but Ward fits the Cowboys better on paper, if this is indeed the direction they choose to go in (I don’t think it will be).
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Charean Williams, the Cowboys “like” Ward, but it sounds as if they like him more as a second-round pick than a first-round pick. There’s almost no chance of him slipping to them in the second, so a team that likes Ward like the Cowboys or Baltimore Ravens would have to secure him in the first if they like him enough. In all honesty, I don’t see either team making that move.