Dallas Cowboys Draft Needs 2019: A Look At Their Picks And Who They Can Draft

With just about two months to go until the 2019 NFL Draft, each team around the league is gearing up to choose several college players who will hopefully improve their fortunes. Last year’s NFC East champs are no different, as the Dallas Cowboys have multiple positions of need and not a great deal of draft capital to work with.

The Cowboys only have six picks in the draft this year. Their first-rounder was given to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for Amari Cooper, and their sixth-round pick was sent to the Cincinnati Bengals for Bene Benwikere.

That means 57 players will be off the board before the Cowboys get to make a single draft pick. Thankfully, there will still be players left to help them address the defensive line, perhaps the biggest hole on the roster right now.

The Cowboys could lose star pass rusher Demarcus Lawrence to free agency. Even if they manage to keep him, they still need help in the trenches; the Cowboys had an average pass rushing unit in 2018 even with Lawrence.

Ohio State defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones could be a fit at the 58th overall pick, as mocked by the Dallas Morning News. He showed off ample pass rushing talents with the Buckeyes, but liabilities in the run game could make him slip to the Cowboys.

Injury concerns have followed Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Terry Becker Jr., but if the Cowboys believe he can stay healthy, he would also be a fit. He recorded 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 2018, while putting up seven sacks the year before against SEC competition.

Despite the Cowboys’ obvious need at the line of scrimmage, do not be surprised if they opt for receiving talent in the second round. Quarterback Dak Prescott could use a reliable tight end now that Jason Witten is retired and receiver Cole Beasley is a free agent.

Iowa’s TJ Hockensen would be the dream pick here. The 6-foot-5 Hawkeyes star caught 49 passes for 760 yards and seven touchdowns in a run-heavy offense. He has the skill set of a modern NFL tight end; he averaged 15.5 yards per reception last year and has been praised for his blocking skills.

However, in the likely event Hockensen is off the board, Alabama’s Irv Smith would work, too. Smith is not as big or as hyped as Hockensen, but he put up nearly identical stats for the national championship runner-ups last year. He also fits the mold of a modern tight end, as he can stretch the field and run block with effectiveness.