The Draft Was
... Not quite as splashy as it should've been. Felix Jones
was the targeted running back, but over Rashard Mendenhall? All
six picks were good ones, getting six productive, talented
college players, but if Jones isn't the home-run No. 2 back the
Cowboys are banking on, the draft quickly becomes average. Best Value Pick: Tashard Choice, RB Georgia Tech. 4th
round. While a bad pick when it comes to need, Choice is a good
player who has plenty of value and upside. If he doesn't have to
be a workhorse, which he won't be at Dallas, he should be
productive. He should've gone a round earlier. Biggest Reach: Erik Walden, DE/LB Middle Tennessee. While
he fits the Cowboy mold of tweeners, taking a chance on a late
receiver prospect would've done more good. They Should've ... Gotten a receiver. Dallas had its
choice of any receiver at the end of the first round but decided
on Mike Jenkins. While that was certainly a fine pick, taking a
Devin Thomas, and then getting a corner in the second round,
would've made more sense.
#
Pick
22
22
1st Round
Felix Jones, RB Arkansas
He'll be the back for someone trying to get a speed runner on
the cheap. Don't want to pay the high price to get a McFadden,
Mendenhall or Stewart? Then wait for Jones and roll the dice on
a jack-of-all-trades back with a ton of tread on the tires and
devastating breakaway speed. The big question is whether or not
he's a workhorse No. 1 back. He wasn't in college and he's not
built like a 25-carry-a-game NFL runner. Ideally he fills a
Reggie Bush role on a team with a Deuce McAllister and is used
to run and catch on the outside and not between the tackles.
With his ability to go from 0-to-60 in a heartbeat, he's the
type of player who makes offensive coordinators drool at the
possibilities. He'll be a fun toy to play with. CFN Projection: Late First Round to Early
Second Round CFN Position Rank: 4
25
25
1st Round(from Seattle)
Mike Jenkins, CB South Florida
A tremendous three-year starter on a good USF defense, Jenkins
is a true shut-down corner who isn't afraid to get physical and
can all but erase the top receivers when he has his game on. The
question is his motor. If it's going full-tilt and he wants it,
he looks like an all-star. When he suffers lapses or doesn't get
up for the competition, he can be beaten by average receivers.
He needs to bring it game in and game out. It would be nice if
he picked off more passes, taking away just six despite being a
four-year regular, but that's a bit misleading. CFN Projection: First Round CFN
Position Rank: 2
30
61
2nd Round
Martellus Bennett, TE Texas A&M
A big, imposing target, even if he's a big thin on a 6-6 frame,
Bennett looks like an NFL tight end. Athletic with the moves of
a big receiver, he's smooth and strong when the ball comes his
way. He's not all that fast and he needs to prove he can produce
at a high level after being underutilized at A&M, but the former
basketball player could be another Antonio Gates if he reaches
his potential. CFN Projection: Late Second Round
CFN Position Rank: 3
23
122
4th Round
(from trade)
Tashard Choice, RB Georgia Tech
If healthy, he's a top five back. He won't stay healthy. He has
speed, but he's a physical runner who'll wear down in a big
hurry, but when he's on, he's tough and will carry an offense.
While he doesn't have elite measurables and he doesn't do any
one thing all that well on an NFL level, he's a dream No. 2
back, or even a No. 1A, with high character, great drive, and
the potential to save an offense for a game or five when the
star back can't go. CFN Projection: Third Round CFN
Position Rank:11
8
143
5th Round
(from trade)
Orlando Scandrick, CB Boise State
Blazing fast, running a 4.36 at the Combine, Scandrick upped his
stock after a good but not great three-year career. He has
decent size, but he doesn't use it enough and isn't too physical
and has a major question mark about his toughness. On speed
alone he'll be worth playing around with in the secondary at
several spots, but he needed to stay in school another year to
up his stock. CFN Projection: Late Fifth Round to Early Sixth
CFN
Position Rank: 19
1
167
6th Round
Erik Walden, DE/LB Middle Tennessee Undersized for an end and not fast enough as a linebacker,
Walden's a tweener who has to fit a specific need and a specific
role. He'll never be a starter, but he was ultra-productive at
the Sun Belt level and was good at getting into the backfield.
He'll have to be a rush-OLB to make any sort of an impact. CFN Projection: Free Agent CFN
Position Rank: NR
