The Dallas Cowboys will be on the clock in the 2018 NFL Draft starting with the No. 19 overall pick. Who will they take there and beyond?
Things turned out much differently for the Dallas Cowboys this past season than they’d hope. The team was coming off of a 13-3 campaign with high hopes for what they could accomplish. What they accomplished was missing the playoffs and looking like a team with more holes than they thought, which brings us to the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Cowboys own the No. 19 overall pick in the draft and have a bevy of comp picks on Day 3 that should make for an impressive haul of draft picks. However, with the needs that they have on both sides of the ball, Jerry Jones and the brain trust has to be diligent in making picks that can give this roster what it needs.
That’s what we try to do in this final 7-round 2018 mock draft for the Dallas Cowboys.
Note: This mock draft was compiled using the Fanspeak On The Clock simulator.
Round 1, Pick 19: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
With Dez Bryant gone, the Cowboys need a No. 1 wide receiver. With Allen Hurns and Terrance Williams currently being their top two options, they frankly just need any type of wide receiver. Lucky for them, Calvin Ridley falls to them in this mock draft and they nab the sure-handed Alabama product in a flash.
Ridley may not be an otherworldly athlete and might not have break-neck speed, but he’s the crispest and purest route-runner in this class and is a guy who’s always open. It has been said that there isn’t a No. 1 receiver in the 2018 draft class. However, Ridley is the exception to that rule in my opinion, so the Boys luck out big time here.
Round 2, Pick 18: Justin Reid, S, Stanford
Byron Jones is moving to cornerback this season, which leaves the safety room in Dallas a bit bare as Xavier Woods and Jeff Heath would be the projected starters with little depth behind them. Justin Reid would help with that as he’s another guy who falls into their laps here. While not an elite player, Reid is an all-around safety that could be utilized wherever he’s needed most in the Dallas defensive backfield.
Round 3, Pick 17: Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas
Another departure helps to dictate this pick and the Cowboys are blessed with Malik Jefferson being here. His stock has fallen quite a bit since last offseason, but he’s a tremendous player when he’s at his best. For him, it’s all about consistency with his reads and angles. The hope, however, is that he can be rotational early on to help the linebacker corps in the wake of Anthony Hitchens leaving in free agency.
Round 4, Pick 16: Deadrin Senat, DT, South Florida
Many would have defensive tackle pegged as one of the biggest needs for the Cowboys and that’s not entirely wrong. While they’ve focused on the edge in recent years, the interior is where attention is needed now. They wait and get an intriguing player in Deadrin Senat. His size is what makes him fall, but he has impressive tape and quickness that could make him an effective piece for the Dallas defense.
Round 5, Pick 34: Siran Neal, S, Jacksonville State
Again focusing on the safety room for the Cowboys, Siran Neal is not an elite prospect. In fact, you’ll see him make a lot of mistakes when he’s asked to do a lot of things in coverage. But man, this dude can make a splash play and loves contact. The Dallas secondary could use a thumper of that ilk and Neal will be more than willing to give it to them.
Round 6, Pick 18: Javon Wims, WR, Georgia
Double-dipping again at a position that was taken early, the Cowboys take Javon Wims in the sixth round here. Wims flashed while at Georgia and has a long frame that could make him an interesting red zone threat. The Dallas offense truly lacks that as of right now and Wims has the potential to develop into something useful in Dak Prescott’s arsenal of weapons.
Round 6, Pick 19: Timon Parris, OL, Stony Brook
I personally believe that the concerns about Dallas’ offensive line are overblown, especially after they landed Cam Fleming in free agency. However, they could use versatile depth still and Timon Parris can provide that. He projects more as a guard than tackle, where he played at Stony Brook, but he has the frame that makes him an intriguing developmental prospect.
Round 6, Pick 34: Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State
Cornerback isn’t necessarily a need for the Cowboys as they have a young group that has shown real talent to this point. However, they could use a bit of depth and Taron Johnson has some intrigue from me. While not a great athlete, he can be valuable covering in the slot and has nice ball skills as a converted wide receiver. Not a bad pickup this late with the upside he possesses.
Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: Final projection on draft day
Round 7, Pick 18: Roc Thomas, RB, Jacksonville State
Ezekiel Elliott and Rod Smith seem to have a nice 1-2 punch, but having weapons in the backfield isn’t a bad thing and Roc Thomas would give Dallas another look as a late-round flyer. He has pass-catching ability that makes him intriguing in two-back packages on passing downs, or as a passing-down back.