Dallas Cowboys: Post-Combine 7-round 2020 mock draft hones in on defense
The Dallas Cowboys are in a crucial offseason and can help their defense in the 2020 NFL Draft, which they do in this post-Combine 7-round mock draft.
It’s business time for the Dallas Cowboys now that the NFL Combine is in the books. They are already preparing for the 2020 NFL Draft, which begins with Round 1 on April 23 from Las Vegas. But before that, they have huge decisions to make about the futures of three critical contributors: quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver Amari Cooper and cornerback Byron Jones.
While Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones and the rest of the Cowboys front office have other free agents to deal with, those three will determine their next moves, in the 2020 NFL Draft and otherwise. And as it stands now, it figures that Dallas with franchise tag Prescott while continuing to try and work out a new contract and then sign Cooper to a long-term deal. That leaves Jones as the odd-man-out.
Jones leaving the Cowboys secondary would put that unit in a tough spot moving forward. The former first-round pick was arguably their most consistent cornerback this past season and they’ll need to fill the void while also addressing other pressing needs in the 2020 NFL Draft, many of which fall on defense.
So with the testing in Indianapolis now behind us, let’s dive into a post-Combine 7-round mock draft for the Dallas Cowboys. (Notes: All NFL Combine numbers courtesy of NFL.com. This mock was compiled using The Draft Network’s mock draft machine.)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 197 pounds | Arms: 30.625 inches
40 Time: 4.46 seconds | Vertical: 35.5 inches | Broad Jump: 10-foot-3 | 3-Cone: 6.94 seconds
If things transpire as expected for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason and Byron Jones indeed finds a new home for the 2020 season and beyond, that leaves the Cowboys in need of help at cornerback. Chidobe Awuzie has come along well and Jourdan Lewis has performed solidly also. But without Jones in the fold, the defense lacks a true No. 1 cornerback and that needs to change.
As one of the focal points of the LSU Tigers defense that won the National Championship, cornerback Kristian Fulton was outshined by breakout star freshman Derek Stingley Jr. But while that may be the case, Fulton more than acquitted himself well. He’s well-versed in press coverage but can also succeed in off-man and zone with his size, solid length and smooth feet and hips when dropping back.
Fulton did himself tremendous favors at the NFL Combine when it comes to his speed. That was one of the big concerns about the cornerback as his ability to keep up on vertical routes or potentially play catch-up was in question. Running a 4.46-second 40 quells much of those concerns as he’s clearly plenty fast to acquit himself well in that regard.
The Cowboys would like to see Fulton add a bit more functional strength in an NFL conditioning program to help with his tackling consistency and, subsequently, his run defense. But for a team that is likely going to be searching for a No. 1 cornerback in the middle of the first round, Fulton checks all the boxes they could ask for him to.