There are many reports swirling around about what the Cowboys should do with their draft picks in the 2014 NFL Draft. Some of the predictions on what the Cowboys could or should do include:
- Draft defense in the first five rounds
- Select a wide receiver in round one
- Don't draft a safety
- Draft Johnny Manziel
- Trade up for Jadeveon Clowney
- Draft an offensive tackle with first pick and move Doug Free to guard
Check out my article 2014 Team Needs: Dallas Cowboys, to see what needs the Cowboys must address in this year's draft.
Draft defense in the first five rounds
I do not think Dallas should enter the draft only looking to draft defense in the first five rounds. They have needs on offense as well and they should take the best player available based on their draft board that they have spent the whole year developing. If the best player available each time they pick is a defensive player then so be it, but they should not go into the draft with the mindset of drafting only defense with their first five picks.
Select a wide receiver in round one
This draft appears to be very deep at receiver and the Cowboys definitely could use another real good receiver. I feel
Would the Cowboys draft Mike Evans if he is available?good about Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams. I think they need to work on developing Dwayne Harris into a better third receiver because he is such a good return man. I believe to maximize your roster spots it helps a whole lot if your third receiver is also your main return man. If the Cowboys do take a receiver in the first round I would be okay with it as long as there are no defensive linemen available that are good enough to draft at that spot.
Don't draft a safety
Once again I don't think a team should ever go into the draft saying they are not going to draft a certain position. It is possible that they might not draft a safety, but the Cowboys need more production from their free safety position. If there is a good safety available and is the best player on their board, then they should draft him. I do not think they should take a safety in the first round though.
Draft Johnny Manziel
Johnny Manziel has been one of my favorite college football players to watch on television the last two years. I call
Will Dallas make a move for Johnny Football?him the Pistol Pete of college football and I do believe that he is the best quarterback in the 2014 NFL Draft. But, under no conditions should the Cowboys draft Manziel. I don't care if he falls all the way to their pick at number 16. They have too many holes to fill on defense and there are just too many questions about Manziel. In my article Johnny Manziel 2014 Draft Analysis I break down Manziel's strengths and weaknesses.
Trade up for Jadeveon Clowney
If the Cowboys could find a way to get Jadeveon Clowney that would be a great selection for them. He is the best athlete in the draft and fills a huge need that the Cowboys have. In my Jadeveon Clowney 2014 Draft Analysis I explain why the Houston Texans should draft him and I still stand behind that. But, there are questions about Clowney's work ethic and if the Texans don't take him then he could fall.
I could see the Cowboys trade their first and second round pick to get as high as the number seven pick in the draft. If
Could Clowney fall far enough to where the Cowboys could trade up to get him?they add their third round pick in a deal with the first and second round pick they might could move up to number five if he is still available. Giving up three picks to get him is a big price tag though, but it could happen and I could see Jerry Jones doing it.
Draft an offensive tackle with the 16th pick, move Doug Free to guard
This is definitely a possibility as well. Doug Free is 30 years old and is still playing pretty well. Dallas could move him inside to guard and extend his career for a while longer. But, he could get inside and struggle and then they have created more harm than good, so you might not want to change something that is working pretty well. Plus, Dallas has two pretty good guards in Mackenzy Bernadeau and Ronald Leary. There are five offensive tackles in this year's draft that could go in the first round. The top two being Greg Robinson from Auburn and Jake Matthews from Texas A &M. Taylor Lewan, from Michigan also figures to be a sure fire first round pick.