Mock Draft Roundup: OL, or a CB like Alfonzo Dennard, could be Cowboys' choice

[Cr122]

[h=2][/h]

Mock Draft Roundup: OL, or a CB like Alfonzo Dennard, could be Cowboys' choice

jmachota@dallasnews.com
Published: 04 January 2012 02:21 PM


The season's over for the 8-8 Cowboys so now is a perfect time to track down the latest 2012 mock draft projections. The season finale loss to the New York Giants was a good indicator of where the Cowboys need their biggest upgrades, and that's on the offensive and defensive lines and, most importantly, the defensive backfield.

Judging by this latest roundup, the mock draft experts see the same shortcomings.

Here are five educated guesses at what the Cowboys might do with the 14th overall pick.

FOXSports.com’s Peter Schrager

Pick: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama.

Thoughts: "After seeing opposing offenses torch the Cowboys defensive backfield all season, Dallas fans would be more than fine seeing the 'Boys front office brass take a cornerback in the first round. Jenkins was dismissed from the team by Will Muschamp at Florida a year ago, but had a dominant season for Terry Bowden down at North Alabama in 2011. He’s considered a bit of a gamble because of the off-the-field stuff, but a premier talent at the position. The Cowboys have never been scared of "character" guys and won't shy away from adding Jenkins to their depleted defensive backfield."

Wes Bunting (NFLFootballPost.com)

Pick: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford.

Thoughts: "The idea of drafting an athlete like DeCastro and potentially playing him next to 2011 first-round pick Tyron Smith at left tackle has to sound mighty intriguing."

Ryan Van Bibber – SBNation.com

Pick: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska.

Thoughts: "Did anyone else see Terence Newman play on Sunday night?"

WalterFootball.com

Pick: DeCastro.

Thoughts: "The Cowboys have major issues on the interior of their offensive line. Left guard Derrick Dockery is a free agent after missing most of 2011 with a knee injury. Center Phil Costa sucks. Right guard Montrae Holland, meanwhile, can't really be relied upon.

"David DeCastro is one of the top interior linemen prospects to come along in years, and he's the highest-ranked prospect on the board. This is a perfect match."

NFLMocks.com

Pick: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin.

Thoughts: "The Cowboys need a new center, plain and simple. Konz is the best center in this class if he declares, and should be an immediate impact player for Dallas."​

 

[Cr122]

I'd be happy with either DeCastro or Konz.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

I'd be happy with either DeCastro or Konz.

I'd rather go with DeCastro at LG, and then Kowalski at Center. ANYTHING to keep Costa out of the lineup. That'd be a very nice Oline, with Smith, DeCastro, Kowalski, free agent, and Free. And of course with a new Oline coach, and I9'm not talking about Wes Phillips.

 

[Cr122]

I'd rather go with DeCastro at LG, and then Kowalski at Center. ANYTHING to keep Costa out of the lineup. That'd be a very nice Oline, with Smith, DeCastro, Kowalski, free agent, and Free. And of course with a new Oline coach, and I9'm not talking about Wes Phillips.

Hopefully, Houck retires. Then Sparano comes back and tells the team Tyron needs to play LT, move Free to RT.

DeCastro would be the better pick, but I wouldn't be upset if we drafted Konz. If we went DeCastro then I could see the format you have. We just need to add a RG like Chilo Rachal.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I'd rather go with DeCastro at LG, and then Kowalski at Center. ANYTHING to keep Costa out of the lineup. That'd be a very nice Oline, with Smith, DeCastro, Kowalski, free agent, and Free. And of course with a new Oline coach, and I9'm not talking about Wes Phillips.

I would be happier with Nagy at C. Kowalski will be lucky to hang around his NFL career as a depth player while Nagy has something.

 

[dbair1967]

I'd be happy with either DeCastro or Konz.

I would echo this. Some have Konz perhaps making it to late first round/early second round, meaning its possible we could manuever to land both these guys.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Decastro please... Offensive line improvement is a must!

 

[Rock Slamdance]

I'd be happy if Nagy went back to being a mid/late 90's major league baseball player.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

I would be happier with Nagy at C. Kowalski will be lucky to hang around his NFL career as a depth player while Nagy has something.

Eeeee...yeah. Ok. I think you are the only one opf that opinion on this board, and that's ok.

 

[Midswat]

I would echo this. Some have Konz perhaps making it to late first round/early second round, meaning its possible we could manuever to land both these guys.

That would never happen.

Listen, I'll say this up until the draft. It's not a coincidence that prior to Smith, Jerry never drafted an Olineman in the first.

He's an idiot. He see's the early 1990's Super Bowl teams with the triplets - the stars. He see's that while we had dominant lines, those lines were built primarily of late draft picks and cast offs.

Therefore, to Jerry.... you can get away with building an Oline that way. It's worked before, right? ~lip smack, wink~

I have this fear that with that in mind, there is a very real possibility that Jerry will scoff at drafting another boring Olineman in the first round when there's a sexier pick or trade down possible.

And I seriously doubt he'd take Oline in the first and the 2nd.

 

[dbair1967]

That would never happen.

Listen, I'll say this up until the draft. It's not a coincidence that prior to Smith, Jerry never drafted an Olineman in the first.

He's an idiot. He see's the early 1990's Super Bowl teams with the triplets - the stars. He see's that while we had dominant lines, those lines were built primarily of late draft picks and cast offs.

Therefore, to Jerry.... you can get away with building an Oline that way. It's worked before, right? ~lip smack, wink~

I have this fear that with that in mind, there is a very real possibility that Jerry will scoff at drafting another boring Olineman in the first round when there's a sexier pick or trade down possible.

And I seriously doubt he'd take Oline in the first and the 2nd.

We'll see. I doubt we'd draft OL in the first two rounds either and it might be overkill, but you never know. depending on how things shake out in free agency it could happen.