The Dallas Cowboys might need to nail the 2020 NFL Draft more than anybody. Their roster was picked apart this offseason. Byron Jones, Jason Witten, Robert Quinn, Randall Cobb, Travis Frederick, Jeff Heath, and Mailiek Collins are all gone. I’m not sure anybody had more prolific losses across the board than Dallas. Dallas more than almost anybody needs a strong draft to replace some of the holes left behind. Let’s dive inside the Cowboys 2020 NFL Draft war room to see what Dallas might be thinking when they’re on the clock.
Dallas has 7 selections on draft day. They’re pretty much straight across the board. The only difference is they have an extra 5th rounder and no 6th rounder. Dallas holds the 17th overall selection in the first round so we will start there.
The Cowboys really boxed themselves into a corner here. I think they have to land an edge rusher early in this draft. Robert Quinn gave Dallas 11.5 sacks a year ago. How do you replace that sack production? Banking on Dorance Armstrong to do that isn’t a good idea. Is their ideal pick K’Lavon Chaisson? I’m not sure he’s a perfect 4-3 defensive end. Javon Kinlaw would have been a great pick but they already signed Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe in free agency. I think Dallas can move down if they want a safety and HaHa Clinton-Dix filled that role anyway. It’s really a tough call for Dallas.
Therefore, I think the Cowboys’ ideal strategy would be to take CJ Henderson in the first round to replace Byron Jones. Henderson has 4.39 speed and the sort of quickness and closing ability to replace what Byron Jones gave them. Henderson can really do it all. Henderson is 6-foot-1 with fluid hips and great knee bend. The former Florida Gator had 11 pass deflections this past year. Dallas has to replace Byron Jones.
In the second round, Curtis Weaver could be their guy. Dallas has gone the Boise State round a bunch. Tyrone Crawford, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Leighton Vander Esch are recent examples. Weaver could be next. As I mentioned, Dallas has a real need at edge. Weaver provides that and had a dynamic 2019 season with 13.5 sacks. He’s perfect for the scheme too.
Let’s go over other possibilities. Dallas could trade down, collect a few extra picks, and select Cesar Ruiz in the first round. Keeping this offensive line intact is imperative. Just ignoring the loss of Travis Frederick is something that can crumble this team. I don’t want to get too carried away but Dallas also needs to think quarterback. What if Dak threatens to sit out games if a long term deal isn’t reached? What if he pulls a Zeke? The Cowboys have to draft another quarterback regardless. The question is how high?
Finally, let’s cap things off with a tight end. Dallas has to try to get one. Dalton Schultz, Blake Jarwin, and Blake Bell ain’t it. Why not take a flier on someone like Adam Trautman out of Dayton. Trautman is a big sleeper in this draft. 6-foot-5 easy mover who had a big Senior Bowl. Imagine what a prolific tight end could do for this offense? It’s the one big piece missing.
