The Dallas Cowboys, with one of the most expensive sets of offensive skill players in NFL history, don't have time to mess around or conventionally approach this offseason. Even with two first-round picks, the Cowboys are not set up great in this year's NFL Draft to take advantage of the overall depth of the class with no picks in either rounds two or three.
If Jerry Jones truly wants to reload on the defensive side of the ball, he might have to be willing to swing another couple of big trades and load up on picks for the first two days of the draft, not just stay put with picks 12 and 20 in the 1st round.
So we're going to take a look at a scenario where Jerry does just that. He's got to load up with some more picks, truly revamp that defense, and get bold in a draft class that looks like it's going to be stellar in the middle rounds for value.
We've put together a new three-round Cowboys mock draft with a couple of projected trades that truly will help fix up this Dallas defense.
Dallas Cowboys three-round mock draft features two blockbuster trades
Round 1 | Pick 22: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
After all of the maneuvering around the board here to get things set up, the Cowboys land one of the best pass rushers in the draft. This is not a draft class that is loaded with blue-chip prospects, so the Cowboys can't be worried about losing "quality" from dropping down 10 spots here.
Someone like Cashius Howell is going to come in and make an impact from Day 1. This is a guy who just has a knack for getting to the quarterback, and getting there quickly. He was an All-American this past season with 11.5 sacks and finished his collegiate career with 27 sacks in total.
If the Cowboys can start off a draft class with Howell somewhere in the 20s, it's a huge win for Jerry Jones. Howell may not have the most impressive overall measurables, but you have to watch the tape to truly see what he brings to the table as a pass rusher with a great overall plan.
Round 1 | Pick 30: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The linebacker position is one of the toughest positions to come in and play immediately in the NFL, but CJ Allen has the look and feel of a prospect who is going to be able to do it. Anytime you pull up a scouting report on this guy, you're going to read something about his intelligence, instincts, football IQ, and the fact that he was a captain and green dot guy.
Which means he communicates the defense.
There's so much value in having smart players in the middle of your defense, and while Allen is another slightly undersized prospect, he's got tremendous toughness and play strength.
Round 2 | Pick 55: D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
After the way he performed at the Scouting Combine, it doesn't feel like Indiana cornerback D'Angelo Ponds is going to still be on the board at this juncture of the NFL Draft, but you've got to be prepared for any and every scenario.
Ponds might be limited to the slot at the next level because of his size (5-foot-9, 182 pounds), but he's not going to give anything up if he has to play out there, either. He just gives you that sort of confidence that no matter what job he's being asked to do, he's going to strap up.
With Christian Parker coming from the Vic Fangio coaching tree, you have to think that someone who has such a good feel for zone coverage like Ponds is going to be high on the Cowboys' board overall. He's a ballhawk with phenomenal toughness and explosive athleticism.
Round 3 | Pick 94: Genesis Smith, SAF, Arizona
Here in the third round, the Cowboys get themselves another ballhawking defensive back prospect with tremendous explosiveness and athletic traits. Genesis Smith had four interceptions and four forced fumbles at Arizona over the past couple of seasons, and is just such a smooth mover on the back end with outstanding range.
He does a great job of reading the field as a deep safety and does a great job in man coverage when asked to do that as well.
He'd give the Cowboys a replacement option for some of their guys departing at safety in free agency.