2017 NFL Draft: Dallas Cowboys 7-Round Mock Draft at Week 14
An early look at a full 7-round mock draft for the Dallas Cowboys for the 2017 NFL Draft as the team sits at a league-best 11-1 entering NFL Week 14
The 2016 NFL season just passed the Week 13 mark and the Dallas Cowboys are the first team to learn that they are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. After winning a franchise best 11-straight games, America’s Team is at worst a Wild Card contender. At best, they can earn home field advantage throughout the playoffs. This coming weekend they can get one step closer to that by securing the NFC East with a victory over the New York Giants.
The win would make it impossible for the G-Men (8-4) to catch the Cowboys (11-1). It would also exorcise the one demon in Dallas’ record this season.
In Week 1 the Boys dropped a one-point heartbreaker to the Giants, their only loss of the year. So while the team is all-in on avenging that loss, fans have the luxury of starting to look ahead a little bit and see what can be done to make sure this successful year isn’t a one-hit-wonder, but a run that can last for several years.
The best way to do that is to continue to hit on draft picks like the Cowboys did this past season. Here we try and do just that with a very early look at a seven-round Dallas Cowboys mock draft for the 2017 NFL Draft.
Oct 10, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Perry Hills (11) is taken down by Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis (59) during the second quarter at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Round 1 Pick 32: Tyquan Lewis, DE — Ohio State
The Cowboys defense hasn’t gotten nearly enough credit for the season they have had. All the praise is being heaped on rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott and rookie quarterback Dak Prescott. Of course there’s great reason for that, but the defense is being overlooked. After 12-games this much maligned unit has surrendered just 19.0 points per game, good for fifth best in the NFL. They are allowing just 82.2 rush yards a game, good for second best.
That doesn’t mean they’re perfect though. They have surrendered 276.2 yards per game through the air, which ranks them near the bottom at 28th. Injuries to starting cornerbacks Morris Claiborne and Orlando Scandrick this season can be attributed to some of that.
Another big issue though is their lack of pass rush. For as good as the defensive line has been against the rush, they have been that bad at getting pressure on quarterbacks. So far as a team, they have just 18 sacks on the season and their team leader is defensive tackle/end Tyrone Crawford with 3.5.
Enter their first-round pick, Tyquan Lewis from Ohio State. The Buckeyes were good to Dallas last year as their fourth-overall selection of Ezekiel Elliott has been a huge success. So this year, they return to the well for a solid defensive end.
Lewis is 6-4 and 266 pounds, so he comes to the NFL with the right size to hold up in the trenches. He also has been productive at OSU, recording 27 tackles for a loss and 16 sacks in three seasons. Just two of those seasons he was a starter for the Buckeyes, and he recorded 15.5 of his career sacks in those two starting seasons.
Paired with Demarcus Lawrence on the outsides the ‘Boys would be able to slide Crawford back inside permanantly where he is better suited. A pass rusher like Lewis would limit the time opposing quarterbacks had to throw, thus helping reduce the number of yards surrendered through the air each game.
Oct 27, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies tight end Bucky Hodges (7) pulls in a pass against Pittsburgh Panthers defensive back Phillipie Motley (32) during the first half at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Round 2 Pick 32: Bucky Hodges, TE — Virginia Tech
With the 32nd pick in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select Temuchin “Bucky” Hodges, tight end, out of Virginia Tech. And then all the fans will freak.
Well, calm down Cowboys fans. There is understandable heartache at the prospect of another second round pick being used on a tight end. The team took Anthony Fasano in 2006 and he was gone quickly. Then they took Martellus Bennett in 2008 and he did nothing before heading out of town.
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Then again, in 2013 they took Gavin Escobar and he’s managed just 29 career receptions. It’s obvious that a two-tight end set just won’t produce a second pass catching tight end, so why do it?
Well, the reason is two-fold. One is that the other players didn’t work because the current starter, Jason Witten was still in his prime. There was no way Fasano or Bennett would push him, no matter how solid they were. Escobar was supposed to be the heir apparent, but that never materialized because Witten hadn’t slowed down and Escobar has been too inconsistent.
With Witten set to turn 35 years old next season, he is much closer to the end than he was when any of the other guys were selected. He is also coming off his first game without a catch after 130-straight contests securing a grab. Witten is still a solid professional and a serious weapon for Dallas. However, he is showing signs that it’s time to think about getting younger and more athletic at the position.
The second reason for this making sense is that Bucky Hodges is too good to pass up here. The 6-7 Hodges weighs in at 245 pounds and is a receiver trapped in a wide outs body. He has the height to make a difference in the red zone while towering over defensive backs. He also has the speed to get past linebackers who would be a better size matchup with ease.
In three seasons for the Hokies, Hodges has 128 receptions for 1,696 yards and 20 touchdowns. He’s also rushed 19 times for 70 yards and a score to show off his versatility. With the current youth movement in Dallas, Hodges is just the next step towards the future for the Cowboys. Fans may cringe at this pick initially, but they will grow to love Bucky.
Oct 31, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars linebacker Steven Taylor (41) runs with the ball after intercepting the ball agains the Vanderbilt Commodores in the first quarter at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Round 3 Pick 32: Stevan Taylor, LB — Houston
This one here is a total value pick. The Cowboys are actually pretty solid for 2017 at linebacker with their best player being Sean Lee. He should be joined by 2016 second-round pick Jaylon Smith, who has missed all of this season due to a knee injury.
Smith was a top-five talent, who fell due to the lingering nerve issues in his surgically repaired knee, so his return isn’t guaranteed, but it is likely. The third option for them at linebacker is a combination of the improving Damien Wilson and the jack-of-all-trades Anthony Hitchens.
Taking Houston’s Steval Taylor with their thrid round pick will only make a unit of strength even stronger. Taylor is listed at 6-1 and 225 pounds and has excelled as a pass rusher for the Cougars. In four seasons he has 329 tackles, 49 for a loss and 26.5 sacks.
Taylor also recorded four interceptions, returning one of those 74-yards for a score this season. He would be an ideal fit as one of the outside linebackers in defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli’s system and could bring a much needed playmaker to the defensive side of the ball.
In Week 13, Anthony Hitchens grabbed an interception off the hands of Minnesota VIkings quarterback Sam Bradford. A penalty by cornerback Orlando Scandrick nullified the play, which was dissapointing to say the least. As a defensive unit, the team has just four interceptions on the season. None have come courtesy of their linebacking corps, which would make a guy like Taylor a hot commodity for them.
He may not be ready to start immediately in the NFL, but could very well grow into a prominant role for Dallas.
Nov 19, 2016; Greenville, NC, USA; East Carolina Pirates wide receiver Zay Jones (7) gets ready for a play during the third quarter against the Navy Midshipmen at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Navy defeated East Carolina 66-31. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Round 4 Pick 31: Zay Jones, WR — East Carolina
With their fourth-round pick, the Dallas Cowboys have to fill a hole left by free agency. Wide receiver Terrance Williams is in the final year of his contract and he has shown enough promise to earn a big contract from a receiver-needy team.
Dallas will let him walk because they already are paying big money to Dez Bryant at the position and still have slot specialist Cole Beasley, who leads the team in receptions. Williams is a good player, but losing him won’t be the end of the world as his production could be matched by someone else.
One such person could be East Carolina wideout Isaiah “Zay” Jones. The 6-1, 197-pound Jones has exploded his senior season for 158 receptions and 1,746 yards. On the season he also hauled in eight touchdowns for the Pirates.
Don’t let the explosive 2016 season fool you into thinking Jones is a one-year-wonder though. As a freshman he had 62 receptions for 604 yards and followed that up with 81 for 830 as a sophomore. He continued to improve as a junior bringing down 98 receptions for 1,099 yards in 2015.
He isn’t a name on many people’s radar, but he should be. And thanks to the lack of coverage Jones has received, Dallas may have unearthed yet another gem in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
Sep 24, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines cornerback Channing Stribling (8) breaks up a pass turnover Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) in the second half at Michigan Stadium. Michigan 49-10. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Round 6 Pick 31: Channing Stribling, CB — Michigan
The Cowboys traded their fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in a deal for Matt Cassel. That means it’s a good thing that they hit on the first four picks according to our mock draft, but that doesn’t mean they’re done.
With their fifth-round pick, they try to once again find some gold late in the draft in the defensive backfield. In 2008, they drafted Orlando Scandrick out of Boise State in the fifth round. He has developed into a consistent starter for the team and is often considered the team’s best cover corner.
Another starter on the defense is Barry Church, a safety who wasn’t even drafted out of Toledo. This season they added another decent player to that group by taking Purdue corner Anthony Brown in the sixth round.
Brown has been picked on by opposing quarterbacks, but has held his ground with a solid rookie season. He could very well be in line to become a full-time starter, and could have some more help with the selection of Channing Stribling in the fifth round.
The Michigan Wolverine cornerback is a lengthy 6-2 and earned some high praise from his head coach Jim Harbaugh via Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press.
“He’s not in the limelight as much as some other players across the country, but people should not sleep on Channing Stribling,” Harbaugh said today on the “Jamie and Stoney Show” on WXYT-FM (97.1). “This player will have a fine future. This guy will probably play 10 years in the NFL. I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s steadily, consistently good. People talk about being consistent, but consistently good is what you’re looking for. That’s what Channing Stribling is as a football player.”
At just under 180-pounds, Stribling could stand to work some with NFL strength and conditioning coaches. Still, he has the ability to fight for the ball and his four picks in 2016 show he is a playmaker.
Oct 31, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (91) celebrates a tackle for a loss against the Syracuse Orange at Doak Campbell Stadium. Florida State won 45-21. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports
Round 7 Pick 15: Derrick Nnadi, DT — Florida State
The first of two picks in the last round, this one was acquired as part of the trade for Cassel in which Dallas surrendered an earlier fifth-round selection. Dallas uses this selection to snatch up 312-pound Derrick Nnadi, a defensive tackle out of Florida State.
Nnadi is a big bodied guy that can help continue to build upon a strength of the Boys: run stuffing. Dallas has done a remarkable job stopping opponents’ rushing games, but they can’t rest on their laurels and expect that to continue.
Here they grab a former four-star recruit who plays a position that gets little-to-no attention. Nnadi lines up as a nose-guard, who has the assignment of stuffing the run and taking on blockers. He does that extremely well and has recorded 107 tackles with 13.5 going for a loss. He also has eight quarterback sacks, with five of them coming in 2016.
The reason for his success can be found with his insane strenght. According to Ryan S. Clark of WarChant.com, Nnadi is the strongest player on the team and it isn’t close.
“He’s the strongest guy I’ve ever met in my life,” redshirt sophomore tight end Ryan Izzo said. “When he goes to do max, he fills up the whole bar [with plates]. The bar is bending. When he touches [his butt] on the ground, he’s probably the strongest guy I’ve seen honestly.”
With Nnadi and Lewis, taken in Round 1, added to the development of 2016 third-round pick Maliek Collins at tackle, the Dallas defensive line could look a lot better in 2017 than it has so far during their 11-1 start.
Oct 29, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Kyle Kalis (67) blocks against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Round 7 Pick 32: Kyle Kalis, G — Michigan
With their final pick in the 2017 NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select Michigan guard Kyle Kalis. Here they again try and add some depth to a position of strength, selecting someone to provide depth for the best offensive line in the league.
There could be a spot open as well as Dallas could very well lose guard Ronald Leary in the offseason. After going from undrafted rookie to starter, Leary lost his job in 2015 to rookie La’El Collins. This season, Collins suffered a toe injury which required surgery and has sidelined him since early October.
Leary stepped in and played wonderfully in the absence of their starter. Collins could be the team’s designated returnee from the IR and it could result in the team having to make a decision about which player offers them the best option moving forward.
Given Collins youth, he could very well be the choice and, if so, Leary will walk. That leaves a spot on the bench open and grabbing a guy who played against some of the best in college football would be a good place to look.
Kalis is 6-5 and 305 pounds and was a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2016. He would have to fight for a job and a seventh round pick is kind of a crap shoot anyway. But at least he has played in some big spots and has worked with a former NFL coach while playing for the Wolverines.