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Dallas Cowboys’ pre-combine 7-round mock draft for 2022

By Terence Watson

Sep 18, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies offensive lineman Kenyon Green (55) blocks against the New Mexico Lobos rush during the second half at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies offensive lineman Kenyon Green (55) blocks against the New Mexico Lobos rush during the second half at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 25: Brandon Smith #12 of the Penn State Nittany Lions lines up against the Villanova Wildcats during the first half at Beaver Stadium on September 25, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 25: Brandon Smith #12 of the Penn State Nittany Lions lines up against the Villanova Wildcats during the first half at Beaver Stadium on September 25, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

With the 88th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select …

Brandon Smith, Linebacker – Penn State

Height:  6’3″    Weight: 239lbs

Career Stats: 132 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 6 passes defended, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble

I brought Smith up in another article a few weeks ago. I see him as a nice complement to Micah Parsons. Both have the speed to go sideline-to-sideline and make plays on the ball. Both can drop back into coverage, and both are good at rushing the passer. Leighton Vander Esch may not be back next season and adding another linebacker will be a priority for this team. Smith, who use to play the SAM linebacker position, switched to the WILL linebacker position this season and excelled.

That’s the same position that Vander Esch has held down since he came into the league and will most likely lose. If they are able to get Smith, then the Cowboys will have three linebackers on their roster who can stay on the field on all four downs and that’s something most teams could only dream of.

Previous Pick: Quay Walker, Linebacker – Georgia

NFL Draft Comparison: Germaine Pratt

With the 91st pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select …

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 6: Kerby Joseph #25 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates after intercepting a pass by Tanner Morgan #2 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the fourth quarter of the game at Huntington Bank Stadium on November 6, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Fighting Illini defeated the Golden Gophers 14-6. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 6: Kerby Joseph #25 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates after intercepting a pass by Tanner Morgan #2 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the fourth quarter of the game at Huntington Bank Stadium on November 6, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Fighting Illini defeated the Golden Gophers 14-6. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

Kerby Joseph, Safety – Illinois

Height:  6’1″  Weight: 190lbs

Career Stats: 116 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 6 passes defended, 5 interceptions, 1 forced fumble

Dallas is going to lose most of the safeties this offseason, so they need to bring in someone that has the potential to start immediately. Dan Quinn made a free safety by the name of Earl Thomas a household name and with Joseph, he could look to do it again.

Joseph is one of the better single-high free safeties in this draft. The knock against him is his lack of aggression in the running game at times. With Parsons in the middle of that defense, I wouldn’t be as worried about Joseph in that area. I would want his focus to be on stopping the big plays downfield and creating turnovers the way he did at Illinois.

https://twitter.com/BarstoolILL/status/1447226350209847303

Dallas has been looking for a ball-hawking safety for some time now and they have a chance to get one in this draft. There are so many talented safeties. But with bigger needs, the Cowboys could wait until day two to find their safety.

NFL Draft Comparison: Steven Parker

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