Now that the major free agent signings have been finalized, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be looking at the top three needs for each team heading into the 2015 NFL Draft. Today, the Dallas Cowboys are the focus. The Cowboys have the 27th pick in the first round and they will look to build upon their playoff run last season.
Dallas Cowboys 2015 NFL Draft: Top 3 Needs
Running Back
The Cowboys signed Darren McFadden, but they cannot possibly expect him to last an entire season as a workhorse running back with his injury history. Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar are complementary pieces like McFadden, but a running back that can make an impact similar to DeMarco Murray must be added. Tony Romo had one of the best seasons of his career in 2014 because the running game took all the pressure off the passing game. The Cowboys have an excellent offensive line, but their running game will not be good enough with the current group of running backs.
Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon are the two running backs that might make sense in the first round. Both could be leaned on heavily, like Murray was last season, so the balanced offensive attack that generated so much success could return even without Murray. If both of these running backs are off the board in the first round, there are still a few intriguing options in the second and third round like Jay Ajayi or Tevin Coleman. It is a good year to need a running back and the Cowboys will almost definitely draft one in the first three rounds.
Cornerback
The Cowboys are stuck with Brandon Carr’s ridiculous contract for at least another season and Morris Claiborne looks like a first-round bust. Orlando Scandrick is solid, but the Cowboys need another cornerback next to him so they can move on from Carr. The Cowboys finished 19th in the league in passing yards allowed during the regular season and the secondary was torched in the playoffs. Patching up that hole is a necessity if the Cowboys want to make a deep playoff run this year.
If Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon are off the board, cornerback is a legitimate possibility in the first round. Kevin Johnson, Marcus Peters, and Byron Jones are three cornerbacks who could interest the Cowboys in the first round. Kevin Johnson would be ideal, but he will probably be off the board. Marcus Peters has the talent to deserve the selection, but his off-field troubles might drop him out of the first round entirely. Byron Jones should be available, but his stock is still rising rapidly after the show he put on at the combine. Drafting a cornerback in the second or third round would be wise if the position is not addressed in the first.
Defensive Tackle
The Cowboys have a couple decent defensive tackles, but they lack a difference maker. They lost Henry Melton and Anthony Spencer in free agency, so depth at the unit is lacking as well. The top three defensive tackles on the depth chart (Terrell McClain, Josh Brent, and Nick Hayden) combined for one sack last season and Nick Hayden had the most tackles (only 17). Realistically, they should all be depth players on the defensive line, but two of them will receive starting positions unless the Cowboys address the position in the draft.
It is unlikely that the Cowboys will draft a defensive tackle in the first round because of their other needs, but at some point the position will be addressed. Michael Bennett is one intriguing option in the second round and he should be drafted right around where the Cowboys select.
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