While the majority of mock draft experts have projected the Dallas Cowboys to select a cornerback with their first round draft pick, Wes Bunting of NationalFootballPost.com recently tossed a curveball.
Bunting predicted last week that the Cowboys would use the 14th overall selection on LSU defensive end Michael Brockers.
"Brockers is as talented as any defensive lineman in the draft and is capable of maturing into a game-changer up front," Bunting wrote. "He's got the ability to play all over the Cowboys' line early and offers them a lot of versatility in their 3-4 front."
Brockers, 6-5, 322 pounds, didn't have great production during his redshirt sophomore year, finishing with two sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss in his first full season as a starter. The athletic interior lineman also struggled at the NFL Combine, running the 40-yard dash in 5.36 seconds and turning in a 26.5-inch vertical jump.
The Cowboys could certainly use a "game-changer" up front to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. But is that more important than upgrading one of the worst defensive backfields in the NFL?
Here are some other recent mock draft predictions.
NFL Network's Chad Reuter
Pick: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama.
Comment: "Kirkpatrick's combine and pro day workouts didn't shock scouts with exceptional agility. But his toughness, length and physicality as a tackler could push the Cowboys to add to their secondary."
CBSSports.com's Rob Rang
Pick: Kirkpatrick.
Comment: "The Cowboys' defense made gains under Rob Ryan, but inconsistencies in the secondary led to plenty of breakdowns. Kirkpatrick's recent arrest for marijuana possession could scare off some teams but Jerry Jones has shown a willingness to overlook off-field transgressions in the past. There is no denying Kirkpatrick's size and physicality would be a welcome addition to a defense in need of a shakeup in the secondary."
NFLDraftScout.com's Dane Brugler
Pick: Kirkpatrick.
Comment: "The Cowboys have several holes to fill, but the greatest of them is in the secondary, more specifically at cornerback. Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick is a top-10 talent with an impressive blend of size, length and speed, but could fall a few spots on draft day because of his recent run-in with the law for possession of marijuana (even though it was dropped). His aggressive playing style coupled with Dallas' need at cornerback makes this an easy pick for Jerry Jones and company, especially if DeCastro is off the board."
SportingNews.com's Russ Lande
Pick: Kirkpatrick.
Comment: "The Cowboys' secondary struggled in recent seasons. Kirkpatrick is 6-2, 186 pounds and has elite talent, but is he raw. He could develop into the high-end cornerback they desperately need."
SBNation.com's Ryan Van Bibber
Pick: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford.
Comment: "Children in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area still cry when they think about the Cowboys' secondary. Nobody cries more than Rob Ryan, whose head coaching career hit a speed bump because of that unit. Jerry Jones cares about children and Rob Ryan; ergo, he will spend big bucks on Brandon Carr or Cortland Finnegan in free agency. Jones has his own reputation staked on Tony Romo. DeCastro gives Romo a little protection and some more help via the running game."
WalterFootball.com
Pick: DeCastro.
Comment: "The Cowboys have major issues on the interior of their offensive line. Left guard Derrick Dockery is a free agent after missing most of 2011 with a knee injury. Center Phil Costa sucks. Right guard Montrae Holland, meanwhile, can't really be relied upon. David DeCastro is one of the top interior linemen prospects to come along in years, and he's the highest-ranked prospect on the board. This is a perfect match."
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