Last year at this time, I ran a post that summarized the results of about 100 mock drafts. As of the time of that post (Feb. 25, 2007), Texas tackle Justin Blalock was the clear leader. Blalock eventually fell to the second round, where the Atlanta Falcons selected him with the 39th overall pick. He started 14 games in 2007.
How worthwhile was that effort on my part? Here’s an clue: none of the 27 mock selections in the 100 mock drafts was Purdue linebacker Anthony Spencer. This immediately makes me second-guess my current post.
But it’s too late. I reviewed a sampling of 100 mock drafts from FF Toolbox and My Mock Draft to identify players that various draftniks have chosen in advance on behalf of the Cowboys. I did not include those mock drafts that expect Dallas to trade the 22nd and 28th picks in the first round. From this review I have identified 30 players who were picked in either position in the first round.
The leaders: Arkansas running back Felix Jones (37 votes) and Tennesee State cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (15 votes).
Key: Name, Position, College (number of mock drafts selecting this player in either position of the first round). Click on the links to visit NFL.com’s profiles of these players.
Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas (37)
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee St. (15)
Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona (13)
Reggie Smith, CB/S, Oklahoma (13)
Limus Sweed, WR, Texas (13)
Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan (13)
Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas (12)
Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy (11)
Early Doucet, WR, LSU (11)
DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal (8)
Rashard Mendenall, RB, Illinois (8)
Jeff Otah, T, Pitt (7)
Sam Baker, T, USC (6)
Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida (5)
Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma (5)
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon (4)
Patrick Lee, CB, Auburn (2)
Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech (2)
Kenny Phillips, S, Miami (2)
Derrick Harvey, DE, Miami (1)
Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana (1)
Gosder Cherilus, T, Boston College (1)
Keith Rivers, OLB, USC (1)
Marcus Griffin, S, Texas (1)
Jamaal Charles, RB, Texas (1)
Matt Forte, RB, Tulane (1)
James Hardy, WR, Indiana (1)
Dan Connor, LB, Penn St. (1)
Dre Moore, DT, Maryland (1)
Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina (1)
Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan St. (1)
Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt (1)
Positions:
Defensive Backs: 11
Wide Receivers: 7
Running Back: 5
Tackles: 4
Linebackers: 2
Defensive Tackles: 2
Defensive Ends: 1
My Notes:
* I have no doubt that Dallas needs help in the secondary, but I think it will be an enormous mistake if the team focuses once again on the defense in the first round and ignores its pressing needs on offense. I would personally like to see the Cowboys take a receiver and would not mind at all if the first two picks were a running back and a receiver, in either order.
* Along those lines, if Dallas uses either of those picks on a defensive lineman or a linebacker, I will be just as sick as I was on January 13 after the Giants game. Only one of the mock drafts anticipated the Cowboys taking Penn State linebacker Dan Connor, but at least one of the draftniks thought Conner was the best selection. I know there was a day when a team may have benefited from cornering the market on Big 10 linebackers, but today ain’t that day.
* Of the five running backs on the list above, Jones’ time in the 40 ranked fourth. The fastest was Jamaal Charles, who recorded a 4.38. Jones performed better in other events, especially the 20-yard shuttle. Here are the complete times.
* Another player who may get some good looks is Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart. The 235-pound back ran a 4.48 and completed 28 reps on the bench press, both very impressive. Here is more on Stewart.
* A few receivers that impressed those in attendance (and who do not appear on the list above): Eddie Royal (Virginia Tech), Andre Caldwell (Florida), and Maurice Purify (Nebraska).
* Two receivers who could see their stock rise after the combine: James Hardy (Indiana) (6’5, 217 pounds, 4.48 in the 40) and Devin Thomas (Michigan State) (6’2, 215 pounds, 4.40 in the 40).
* DeSean Jackson (Cal) was the fastest of the receivers, running a 4.35 in the 40.
* One player who may be slipping: Mario Manningham of Michigan, who only managed a 4.59 in the 40.
* Three receivers who appear on the list above– Limas Sweed (Texas), Malcolm Kelly (Oklahoma), and Early Doucet (LSU) — did not participate in drills.
Cornerbacks and safeties will perform on Tuesday, so I will have a follow-up afterward.
Poll
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look, i read what you said about drafting on defense this year (again). Now, I vote to draft a CORNER, why?, bcuz Thats our hugest hole on the team whether or not we’ve drafted defense the last few years. I know the team is interested in Pac Man Jones, which is cool if we get him. Then I would rather use two picks on Offense. First a running back like Jones, so that he can be our Return Man. And then, a Receiver like tha 6’5 guy Hardy. At this point, I dont see how taking a stud like Rodgers-Cromartie would be negative either. A guy like Hardy would be available in Rd 2. Where Cromartie would probably not. So, I would take Felix Jones, and Cromartie in Rd. 1. Regardless of if we pick up Pac Man. He would just make us Solid. And I mean SOLID in the 2ndry.
A guy like Hardy, thats really drafting a future #2 receiver, we have a number 1. We could look for our future #1 receiver in another draft. This year, we gotta draft tha studs. Special teams guys and motors for defense too.
22. Cromartie
28. Jones
I mentioned Cromartie, becuz I think he’ll be available. Hands down if McKelvin is there, we gotta take him.
If neither is there, we could take guys like, Lee, Flowers in rd 2 as well.
Then we’d be looking at guys like Sweed, Jackson in Rd. 1.
Any way you look at it, this years draft is solid, but, without the standout guy like Peterson at RB or C. Johnson at WR.
Thanks for the comments, Money. As long as we get at least an offensive player in the 1st, I am pretty impressed with several of the corners. Cason from Arizona looks to me to be as promising as Cromartie or McKelvin, but you may know more.
If what I hear as of March 28th is true, Dallas will pick up Pacman and Warrick Dunn, which means we should still draft a corner, a safety and a reciever is this draft. Personally, I would use the #22 pick, trade the #28 foe additional picks, and draft needs in rounds tow through seven. Possible a nose tackle and some depth on the offensive lines would benefit Dallas also.
Hey, Cason is a good Corner, I got a chance to watch him play a couple games in a couple of seasons. Im from California, south. So, being of the Pac 10, we get all the news around here. Plus, being a USC guy, we got the best out of Cason. He did very well against guys like Dwayne Jarrett or even Steve Smith.
Cason is good for press coverage, and even run support.
BUT, we need that deep cover guy, and I think Cason has a lot of work if he’s to cover deep in the NFL.
Cromartie is the best at deep coverage. Well, thats the word around town. His size is perfect. But run support is a negative.
We have a many options in this years draft.
Personally, I dont want to trade one of our 1st rd picks. Id rather use both of em this year.
Any one of these guys will boost our offense big time;
Limas Sweed, Devin Thomas,DeSean Jackson, Johnathan Stewart, Felix Jones, Malcom Kelly or even James Hardy.
Those are guys I think we need to come away with.
Our other pick, should be on either;
Leodis McKelvin, Rodgers-Cromartie, Mike Jenkins, or even Antoine Cason.
And Iam also all for Pac Man. So, drafting one of those corners would be a beautiful thing.
Even when Newman retires (which wont be for a long time hopefully) and assuming Pac Man can keep it together and stay in Dallas like he says hed like to. We’ll have a solid starting corners for the next 10 seasons. Which means our rookie would get to come in on nickel, or, Pac Man can have extra time to get back into football shape. (assuming our rookie corner is a stud and can come in right away. I think any of those corners can. Hey man, I can be here all day giving my two cents about Dallas. One thing I dont want, is to trade any one of our 2 picks. And I know thats likely. I just hope we dont.
I voted for CB, but I’m a great believer in drafting quality athletes, rather than drafting for need.
I think if you have two (or more) equally rated players when your turn comes up, then drafting for need is OK.
But taking a lesser rated player over a more highly rated player because you’re drafting for need I think is the wrong way to go.