Many NFL fans are finished watching the draft once the first round is done, but days 2 and 3 of the draft are where good teams are built.
The Cowboys said they though defensive back was their biggest need. To me, free safety is definitely the team's biggest need, but the question is whether they picked the best player available.
Day 1 Review
Connecticut defensive back Byron Jones was a player that many went back to watch tape on after his terrific combine. His world-record broad jump is well known by now, but he is much more of a prospect than a combine warrior.
- Strengths: Safety size, CB quickness. Phenomenal athlete. Fluid hips and efficient feet. Feisty run supporter. Good recovery speed.
- Weaknesses: Mediocre plant and drive. Not as good in off coverage. Needs to improve jam. OK tackler.
Jones was my top remaining defensive back prospect when the Cowboys went on the clock Thursday, but there were better prospects at more valued positions available at the time. Jones has the tools to become a player like Devin McCourty at free safety, but the impact he's likely to have at cornerback is far less than the impact a defensive lineman could have.
[NATL] 2015 NFL Draft: Top 10 Picks
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Day 2
The value in the 2015 draft is definitely Day 2. Even though the Cowboys aren't scheduled to pick until the end of the second and third rounds, they should have no problem finding two impact players.
My Day-2 big board starts with the three remaining first-round talents:
- Randy Gregory, Edge, Nebraska
- TJ Clemmings, OT, Pitt
- La'El Collins, OT, LSU
Forget the rumors about Gregory, because Vic Beasley is the only edge rusher with Gregory's ability and upside. Passing on Collins is understandable, but Clemmings has the potential to be an elite tackle in the NFL. If the price is right, the Cowboys would be wise to try to move up for Gregory or Clemmings.
There're are also still plenty of Cowboys' fits with Day-2 value available.
| Second Round | Third Round |
| Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Edge, UCLA Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State Danielle Hunter, Edge, LSU Grady Jarrett, DT, Clemson Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise St. Preston Smith, Edge, Mississippi State Bernadrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State Denzel Perryman, LB, Miami Carl Davis, DT, Iowa Trey Flowers, Edge, Arkansas Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State Paul Dawson, LB, TCU Ty Sambrailo, OT, Colorado State Donovan Smith, OT, Penn State Landon Collins, S, Alabama TJ Yeldon, RB, Alabama Eli Harold, Edge, Virginia Xavier Cooper, DT, Washington State Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota PJ Williams, DB, Florida State AJ Cann, G, South Carolina Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma Tre' Jackson, G, Florida State Mario Edwards, Jr., DL, Florida State Clive Walford, TE, Miami | Nate Orchard, Edge, Utah David Johnson, RB, Northern Iowa Rakeem Nunez-Roches, DT, Southern Mississippi Jalen Collins, CB, LSU Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma Ali Marpet, OL, Hobard Duke Johnson, RB, Miami Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami (Ohio) Henry Anderson, DT, Stanford John Miller, G, Louisville Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska Anthony Chickillo, Edge, Miami Daryl Williams, OL, Oklahoma Eric Rowe, DB, Utah Marcus Hardison, DT, Arizona State Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon David Cobb, RB, Minnesota Za'Darius Smith, Edge, Kentucky Steven Nelson, CB, Oregon State Markus Golden, Edge, Missouri Jaquiski Tartt, S, Samford Davis Tull, Edge, Tennessee Chattanooga MyCole Pruitt, TE, Southern Illinois Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State Mitch Morse, G, Missouri Josh Shaw, DB, USC Adrian Amos, S, Penn State |
Day 3
If you've made it this far, congratulations. Even the most enthusiastic NFL Draft fans are a little beat down by this point. There are a few players that could make a significant impact on an NFL roster that should be available Saturday.
| Offense | Defense |
| Quinton Spain, OL, West Virginia Jeremiah Poutasi, OL, Utah Chris Bonner, QB, CSU-Pueblo Javoris Allen, RB, USC Malcolm Brown, RB, Texas Zach Zenner, RB, South Dakota State Blake Bell, TE, Oklahoma Darren Waller, WR/TE, Georgia Tech Kenny Bell, WR/KR, Nebraska Stefon Diggs, WR/KR, Maryland Deontay Greenberry, WR, Houston | Bobby Richards, DT, Indiana Derrick Lott, DT, Tennessee-Chattanooga Xavier Williams, DT, Northern Iowa Marcus Rush, Edge, Michigan State Lynden Trail, Edge, Norfolk State Cedric Reed, Edge, Texas Deiontrez Mount, Edge, Louisville Jordan Hicks, LB, Texas Gerod Holliman, FS, Louisville Tray Walker, DB, Texas Southern Jacoby Glenn, CB Central Florida |
Prediction
The Cowboys would be best served choosing the best players available for the rest of the draft, but they should put some emphasis on finding a 3T, edge defender, running back and offensive lineman.
