Dallas Cowboys: 7-Round 2018 mock draft after Dez Bryant release

Round 4, Pick 16: Jordan Whitehead, S, Pittsburgh

What the Cowboys plan to do at safety in 2018 remains to be seen as of right now. There has been chatter about moving Byron Jones to cornerback, and there’s a hole at strong safety by the measure of most — Jeff Heath was fine, but not a long-term answer. Thus, the Boys take a flyer on Jordan Whitehead. While the Pitt product is undersized at 5-10, 195 pounds, he proved to be a playmaker with great instincts on the back end. Adding that type of player at a position that needs depth is never a bad thing.

Round 4, Pick 37: Brandon Parker, OT, NC A&T

The perceived need on the offensive line in Dallas seems a bit overblown by my measure. Yes, La’el Collins struggled at times last season, and he may need to move back to guard with Jonathan Cooper leaving in free agency. However, the signing of Cameron Fleming helps with that. What the Boys really need is just to add depth and potential, which Brandon Parker provides them.

His level of competition at NC A&T was predictably not the best. But the 6-7, 314-pounder is a mammoth that shows great strength on film and has the body type that screams potential. He won’t need to play right away hopefully, but he’s a worthwhile, high-upside project for the Cowboys to land here.

Round 5, Pick 34: Genard Avery, LB, Memphis

We’re finally going to add a linebacker to the mix for Dallas because, well, they need to add a linebacker to the mix. Anthony Hitchens’ departure leaves the corps lacking quite a bit, and taking one much earlier than a fifth-round compensatory pick might make sense. However, the fact that Genard Avery fell to the Cowboys here is a gift that makes addressing other areas earlier worthwhile.

Avery is simply a beast. He’s a bigger guy at linebacker, but is one of many freak athletes in this linebacker class. What’s more, he displayed tremendous amounts of production and versatility throughout his career at Memphis. He has the physical tools to play wherever needed as a linebacker, which is exactly what Dallas should be coveting.