By Jamal Baker
NDG Contributing Writer
The NFL Draft is less than a month away and the Dallas Cowboys have a golden opportunity to set themselves up for success in the years to come. Dallas has filled important roster holes through a series of free agency signings—allowing them to select the best player available when they are on the clock.
NFL.com’s draft analyst Chad Reuter released a four-round mock draft where he predicts the Cowboys will trade down from the 12th spot. Dallas swung a deal with the Denver Broncos and received a first-round selection at No. 20 and second-round selection at No. 51 in return.
The Dallas Cowboys accomplished two goals with their first-round pick at No. 20—finding a second option at wide receiver alongside Ceedee Lamb and an elite player in this draft in Emeka Egbuka. He is a wicked route runner, and his baseball background is evident in his premier ball-tracking skills. Egbuka’s presence would open up the passing attack and relieve some of the pressure Lamb carries week in and week out.
With the Cowboys’ original pick at No. 44, Reuter projects them taking another Ohio State product in running back TreVeyon Henderson. If Dallas does not get a running back in the first round and Henderson is still on the clock at 44, they should sprint to turn in their draft card with his name on it. Henderson is a three down back who is a dynamic playmaker. Adding him to a running back room that features Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams would form a formidable trio.
Reuter has the cowboys taking Alfred Collins with the 51st pick to shore up their interior defensive line. Collins is a 6-foot-6, 332-pound nose tackle with untapped potential. He plays with a relentless motor and has the prototypical physical traits to blend right into an NFL defensive rotation.
Without a fourth-round pick in this mock, Reuter’s final selection for the Cowboys comes at pick No. 76 in the third round and is Ohio State center Seth McLaughlin. McLaughlin is coming off an Achilles tear but is highly intelligent from the center position. He has good recognition of blitzers and provides depth along the Dallas offensive line.
Mock Drafts are always fun to analyze as the draft quickly approaches. If the Dallas Cowboys can walk away with four top 100 selections as Reuter predicts, they will certainly be in position to have another A+ draft.
