Mel Kiper's 4th Mock: Cowboys Take UConn CB Byron Jones

For the second time in as many mock drafts, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Dallas Cowboys landing a cornerback in the first round of the upcoming draft.

Kiper has done four mock drafts thus far and, at first, he was leaning toward the idea that Dallas would take a defensive tackle. In his first mock, he had Dallas taking DT Jordan Phillips out of Oklahoma and in his second, he had them taking Iowa’s Carl Davis. The Draft Expert changed course in his third mock, giving Dallas Wake Forest corner Kevin Johnson. Which brings us up to date.

In this latest mock draft, he has the Cowboys taking UConn’s Byron Jones, a super-athletic corner who also can--and did, for two years for the Huskies--play safety. Jones had two interceptions last year before going down for the final five games of the year with a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery.

Since then, he’s been steadily climbing draft boards with some impressive workouts. At the combine he posted a record-breaking 12-foot-3 broad jump and, at Connecticut’s Pro Day, he ran a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash.

According to Todd Archer of ESPN Dallas, the Cowboys are expected to host Jones for a pre-draft visit next week at Valley Ranch.