Do the Dallas Cowboys have a tough choice in round one?

Even though there are bigger needs, the Dallas Cowboys have an intriguing option when it’s their turn to choose in the upcoming NFL Draft.

If you were to poll every Dallas Cowboys fan and ask them who they would want the team to draft with the fourth overall selection, the majority of the choices would be one of the following positions:

Quarterback
Defensive Back
Defensive Lineman

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You might have a few that may throw out another position but by and large, these are the three positions almost everyone who cares about this team would earmark as the biggest necessity to fill going into next season.

Ultimately, when you are picking as high as the Cowboys are, you want the perfect marriage of best player available and position of need. That is the one luxury to having a top four selection.

Theoretically, this should pan out in your favor, however if it doesn’t, which side do you lean upon? Do you take the best player on the board, regardless of position or do you fill a need with the best player who does so?

One position that most everyone is probably not thinking about if and when this situation pops up is wide receiver. It may be time to do just that, however.

One player may transcend everything you think you might know going into the draft. One player, chosen by this team, might make the entire football world turn their heads… then promptly shake in their boots.

That player is Laquon Treadwell from the University of Mississippi.

Before we go any further, let’s be very clear here. I’m extremely aware of the fact that much bigger voids are present within this current Dallas Cowboys roster.

However, IF you happen to be in the camp that believes you throw caution to the wind and take the best player available, regardless of anything else, then Treadwell may just be the choice to make.

Obviously, if we’re even having this discussion, all the necessary measurables are there. He’s tall (6’3″), he’s big (220 lbs.) and he draws comparisons to the Texans’ DeAndre Hopkins and someone else that Cowboys fans know quite intimately (see: Bryant, Dez).

Besides those obvious reasons though, this may be the single biggest thing going in his favor.

Pedigree.

Since 2010, here are the wide receivers who have been drafted from SEC schools, along with their numbers in the NFL:

2011
A.J. Green – Georgia, 415 receptions, 6,171 yards, 45 touchdowns
Julio Jones – Alabama, 414 receptions, 6,201 yards, 34 touchdowns
Randall Cobb – Kentucky, 306 receptions, 3,878 yards, 31 touchdowns

2012
Alshon Jeffery – South Carolina, 252 receptions, 3,728 yards, 24 touchdowns

2014
Odell Beckham – LSU, 187 receptions, 2,257 yards, 15 touchdowns
Jordan Matthews – Vanderbilt, 152 receptions, 1,869 yards, 16 touchdowns
Jarvis Landry – LSU, 194 receptions, 1,915 yards, 9 touchdowns

2015
Amari Cooper – Alabama, 72 receptions, 1,070 yards, 6 touchdowns

Consistent, dominant production. Exactly what you’re looking for when you’re drafting in the top five. The worst thing you can possibly do when drafting this high is to miss on your pick. To say that drafting a receiver from the SEC is a sure thing, seems incredibly accurate.

If you’re wondering how Treadwell’s production correlates with these guys in college, let me tell you.

Only Matthews (262), Cooper (228) and Cobb (228) had more receptions than his 202 in three years at Ole Miss. He had also more touchdowns (21) in his career than Jones (15), Landry (15) and Beckham (12).

Drafting Treadwell would also come with the benefit of almost guaranteeing either single coverage on him or a lot less double coverage looks on Dez Bryant. He would also likely move Terrance Williams into the third receiver spot.

We all saw Williams struggle as a #1 option this season. Imagine if he had the luxury of being the third receiver. Talk about “Romo friendly.” Bryant, Treadwell and Williams with Cole Beasley working the slot and Jason Witten doing his thing?

Almost every other quarterback in the NFL would be envious of that weaponry. A receiving corps such as that would rival any other team in the league instantly.

Depending on how the first three selections of the draft fall, the Cowboys could be faced with a decision to make between best player available and biggest need.

If the powers that be consider best player available, a long, hard look will have to be given to Laquon Treadwell.

Next: Cowboys 2016 NFL Draft: Five running back options

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