FRISCO, Texas – And you thought it was hard predicting the first round of the draft.
Yes, the 2019 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and everyone is well aware the Cowboys don't hold a first-round pick. As team chief operating officer Stephen Jones quipped back in February, they'll be watching Amari Cooper highlights while the Oakland Raiders are on the clock with their No. 27 pick.
Cooper was well worth the price, but it does make mock drafts a bit trickier this offseason. As hard as it might be to peg the first round of the draft, it's a seemingly impossible task to predict the second round. On top of that, Dallas doesn't pick until the back end of the second round, way back at pick No. 58.
Futile though it might seem, that's not going to stop anyone from speculating. Across the Internet, you can find multi-round mocks attempting to guess the latter stages of this year's draft.
Here's a sampling of some of this year's drafts and what they predict for the Cowboys. As you'll see below, there's not a lot of consensus on the matter.
Date of Mock: April 10
Pick: Washington S Taylor Rapp
Comment: Rapp can play anywhere on the field and that versatility will make him an integral part of the Cowboys' secondary from the moment he's drafted.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler
Date of Mock: April 8
Pick: Virginia S Juan Thornhill
Comment: "If Juan Thornhill is available, easy pick. We know this team needs a safety, it might be their top need. Thornhill checks all the boxes."
Date of Mock: March 28
Pick: Notre Dame WR Miles Boykin
Comment: Dak Prescott liked having Amari Cooper around for the second half of the 2018 season. Now Boykin steps into Terrance Williams' role while Randall Cobb works in Cole Beasley's old spot inside, completing a solid group that also includes second-year receiver Michael Gallup.
Date of Mock: March 28
Pick: Miami DT Gerald Willis
Comment: The Cowboys are finally on the board with Willis, a disruptive force at the defensive tackle position who needs to play with more consistency but can have an early impact in bursts.
Date of Mock: April 3
Pick: Boston College DE Zach Allen
Comment: The Cowboys continue to add pieces to a possibly elite defensive unit. Allen's strength and versatility allows him to contribute against the run and pass. Top needs: WR, S, Edge, TE, K
Date of Mock: April 3
Pick: Mississippi State S Johnathan Abram
Comment: George Iloka may not be a long-term solution at safety, and with Johnathan Abram still on the board at #58 (one of Dallas' 30 scheduled national visitors), it appears that value has intersected need. The former Bulldog has been labeled **"the hardest hitting safety in college football"** and may provide the enforcement the Cowboys haven't seen since the days of Darren Woodson. One can only hope that the remainder of the Draft is as beneficial to Dallas.
Date of Mock: March 22
Pick: Western Illinois DT Khalen Saunders
Comment: Even at under 6-1 and over 320 pounds, the Cowboys should unleash Saunders up the field as often as possible.
