Which Dallas Cowboys draft scenario is your favorite?

Implications of the different draft scenarios:

• It should be obvious these packets aren’t written in stone. For example, in scenario two, Dallas could have chosen Antoine Winfield or Jaylon Johnson, instead of Jalen Raeger.

• I chose different players in each scenario just to show what’s possible. If I hadn’t, I might have chosen Antoine Winfield all five times. He’s my favorite player in the second-round range, because he would be such a big upgrade for the Cowboys at strong safety.

• This experiment shows (in my opinion) that it’s pretty hard to find a good cornerback outside the first two rounds in this draft. And even in the second round, it seems like there are better players available at other positions, so that choice doesn’t feel right.

• There are good options at wide receiver in each of the first three rounds, and likely later.

• As for safety, it feels like the second or third round is the best place to take one.

• In regards to defensive tackle, there are good players sprinkled throughout the draft. One of my favorites, Leki Fotu, has been mostly projected in the fourth round, which is why he doesn’t appear in any of my scenarios, which all stop at the third round. But I really hope the Cowboys take nose tackle Fotu here. How often can you draft a starting-caliber player in the fourth round?

• Because of all of these factors, it looks like the most advantageous scenarios are three and five. In both of these, the Cowboys draft a cornerback in the first round, either CJ Henderson or Trevon Diggs plus an extra draft pick.

• Choosing a cornerback early is especially tempting because Dallas will have two more cornerbacks turn free agent next year: Jourdan Lewis and Chidobe Awuzie. If Dallas doesn’t get a good cornerback in this draft, they could be in a real pickle this time next year.

Has Dallas done the same analysis as me, and come to the same conclusion? I don’t know. But it looks pretty obvious, so I don’t see how they could have missed it.

It’s also interesting that in the last few weeks, the most common player mocked to the Cowboys has been the edge rusher Chaisson. If Chaisson and Henderson are both available at pick 17, which player would the Cowboys choose? Or let’s say, the choice is Jeudy or Henderson? It’s the same dilemma.

Of course, if any of those top four choices are there alone, Dallas will probably take them. The possible exception being Kinlaw. His situation is unique because there have been health questions about his knee. And because of the pandemic, these questions haven’t been answered.

The point is it’s very difficult to acquire blue-chip potential players.  So I think if Dallas has a chance to get one of these top players, they’ll jump on it, even if it creates other problems later in the draft.

If more than one of these studs are available at pick 17, it will be a fantastic moment of suspense. Imagine thousands of fans on their feet at home screaming at their flat screen.

But you never know what will happen in the draft. The team’s brain trust could look at the situation completely differently. Who knows? They could even trade up and create an entirely different picture. What do you think? What is your favorite draft scenario for America’s Team? Tell us in the comment section below.