IRVING, Texas – The NFL draft is finally here, and with it comes the final opportunity to predict the Cowboys' picks.
After nearly five months of speculation, the members of the DC.com staff have analyzed enough of the prospects to make their final projections and briefly explain their choices.
The names surrounding the Cowboys' No. 16 pick should all be familiar by now, but there's no clear-cut consensus on what Dallas should do with its first pick – located right in the middle of the first round. That difference of opinion is perfectly illustrated in this week's mocks, as all five writers selected a different first round choice.
| Bryan | David | Ed | Nick | Rowan | |
| Round 1 16 | Odell Beckham Jr. WR - LSU | Zack Martin G/T - Notre Dame | Blake Bortles QB - UCF | Ryan Shazier OLB - Ohio State | Anthony Barr DE/LB - UCLA |
| Round 2 47 | Demarcus Lawrence DE - Boise St. | Scott Crichton DE - Oregon St. | Timmy Jernigan DT - FSU | Cody Latimer WR - Indiana | Dominique Easley DT - Florida |
| Round 3 78 | Trai Turner OG - LSU | Jarvis * *Landry WR - LSU | Cody Latimer WR - Indiana | Lamarcus Joyner CB/S - FSU | Dakota Dozier OG - Furman |
| Round 4 119 | Cassius MarshDE - UCLA | Caraun Reid DT - Princeton | Will Clarke DE - West Virginia | Marcus Smith DE - Louisville | Chris Smith DE - Arkansas |
| Round 5 158 | Kevin Pierre-Louis LB - Boston College | Devonta Freeman RB - FSU | Ronald Powell OLB - Florida | De'Anthony Thomas RB - Oregon | Josh Huff WR - Oregon |
| Round 7 229 | Logan Thomas QB - Virginia Tech | Denicos Allen OLB - Michigan State | Isaiah Crowell RB - Alabama State | Chris Watt C/G - Notre Dame | Parker Graham OT - OK State |
| Round 7 231 | Spencer Long OG - Nebraska | Zach Moore DE - Concordia | Russell Bodine C - UNC | Ahmad Dixon S - Baylor | Larry Webster DE - Bloomsburg |
| Round 7 238 | Demetri Goodson CB - Baylor | Larry Webster DE - Bloomsberg | Deion Belue CB - Alabama | Ethan Westbrooks DE - West Texas A&M | Chris Whaley DT - Texas |
| Round 7 242 | Khryi Thorton DT - Southern Mississippi | Zach Fulton G - Tennessee | Prince Shembo OLB - Notre Dame | D.J. Tialavea TE - Utah | Lorenzo Taliaferro RB - Coastal Carolina |
| Round 7 251 | Howard Jones OLB - Shepherd College | Chaz Sutton DE - South Carolina | Nic Jacobs TE - McNeese St. | Ryan Grant WR - Tulane | Brandon Dixon CB - NW Missouri St. |
| Round 7 254 | Kirby Van Der Kamp P - Iowa State | Garrett Gilbert QB - SMU | Alden Darby S - Arizona St. | Kenneth Acker CB - SMU | Kelvin Palmer OT - Baylor |
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Bryan:There is no doubt in my mind that they are hunting for a right defensive end in this draft but with the 16th pick, the guy they want in Anthony Barr is off the board. I believe Aaron Donald will be gone as well. If they cannot move, then the consideration becomes Zack Martin, Odell Beckham and Ryan Shazier. If this is the case, I they might believe they could grab a receiver later and take Shazier but the value of Beckham is much too good to pass up here and make him the selection. I am very excited about the selection of Cassius Marsh, defensive end and linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis and what they can bring to the defensive. Khyri Thornton also helps me along the defensive line at that one technique. I am also looking for traits late in the draft and quarterback, Logan Thomas surly fits that bill.
David: I just can't talk myself into Barr or Donald being available, but Martin should make an immediate impact on the offensive line. Crichton falling to No. 47 likely requires some luck, but I think he's a Day 1 contributor if so. With both lines addressed, the Cowboys are free to take a fantastic slot receiver in Landry – again, I'd expect him to play behind Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams from the outset. If Reid is available to bolster the defensive tackle depth in the fourth round, I'd have to consider that a steal – most see him as a three-technique, which the Cowboys covet. Taking a running back seems like a luxury, but Freeman is a hard runner and a good blocker, making him a good insurance policy for DeMarco Murray. With the slew of seventh-rounders, I'm going defense-heavy – specifically defensive end. Hopefully someone turns into something special. Gilbert, who played just down the road, could be an interesting project.
Ed: I might be crazy. Jerry Jones told us it wasn't a priority in his pre-draft press conference. The hype at the QB position has been on Johnny Manziel. Why am I picking Blake Bortles? I think the Cowboys will be wiped out at 16, and he may be the best option available. Yes, he won't play this year (hopefully), but I'm taking this pick and investing in a very bright future if he is available. Moving forward, I think the Cowboys will end up with Timmy Jernigan one way or another in this draft. They could take him in a trade back scenario, or grab him if he falls into the second. You'll see that Nick has Cody Latimer in the second, and that is probably more accurate, but with the wealth of receivers in this class I'm hoping he might be available in the third. The rest of my draft addresses some needs and takes some risks. Overall, I'd be very happy with this class if it turned out this way.
Nick:My trade last week didn't sit well with everyone so we nixed all trades, otherwise I'd stick with Anthony Barr, but I just don't see him being there at 16. Shazier would be a really good solid pick who steps right in and starts at one of the two OLB spots. Latimer might not last to 47 and the same could be said for Joyner, a
versatile player in the secondary. Smith gives the team more depth up front. Not sure if the Cowboys like Thomas at all, but if you're good enough for an SI cover, good enough for me. I think he's a dynamic player who makes a difference. If Dixon falls to the seventh, Cowboys could get a steal in a physical player with good speed. Westbrooks is the only player I've kept on my mock all three times.
Rowan: I think the most likely scenario is the Cowboys end up trading out of the 16th pick, but for mock draft's sake, I don't think the Cowboys would pass if Barr's there. That's the only way I think they stay put. They need to help their defensive line, and the Cowboys have had a history of turning second-round picks who fell from injury into starters. If Easley can stay on the field, this could end up being the best pick of the draft. The Cowboys need more interior linemen, and I suspect they grab help there in the middle rounds. Dozier fills that request. I think their next pick is a Smith – whether it's Telvin, Marcus or Chris. The other two are gone, and Chris Smith fits the pass-rushing bill. Huff's been a constant on my mock drafts, and I think the dynamic player complements the other receivers.
