Mock drafts for the upcoming 2017 NFL draft have started to surface with a little more frequency here lately around the Internet.
The last few weeks, both Pro Football Focus and CBS Sports released their first 2017 mock drafts. I guess Todd McShay must have been feeling a little left out, because he just dropped his first attempt at predicting the 2017 NFL Draft.
I don’t know about you, but I personally like to see who these so-called “draft analysts” choose to select for each team, especially for the Dallas Cowboys.
McShay is one of the more well-known draft analysts out there, and he along with Mel Kiper Jr. cover the draft for ESPN in April. Unfortunately, you have to be an ESPN Insider to see McShay’s first 2017 mock draft. But, fortunately for you I happen to be a member and can share with you who he believes the Dallas Cowboys will take with their first round selection.
As much as I respect the work that Todd McShay does, I’m not sure I really like who he chose for the Dallas Cowboys.
31. Dallas Cowboys: Solomon Thomas, Stanford, DE
First off, if Todd McShay’s 2017 mock draft is accurate, then the Dallas Cowboys make it to the Super Bowl, but unfortunately are not coming home with the Lombardi trophy.
Secondly, I can understand why McShay might believe that the Dallas Cowboys will go this direction. They certainly need all the help they can get with their pass rush, but to me Solomon Thomas is more of a 3-technique in a 4-3 defensive scheme.
Thomas reminds me a little bit of what the Dallas Cowboys already have with Tyrone Crawford. He can play defensive end, but he’s not overly explosive or dynamic as a pass rusher. He does however have the versatility to play on the outside or be kicked inside to the 3-technique.
Now, Thomas was probably the best pass rusher still on the board when the Cowboys were on the clock. McShay has five defensive ends being drafted before Thomas, and that’s not even including the outside linebacker’s that were drafted ahead of him as well.
With the Dallas Cowboys picking so late the first round it is going to be a tough task to find a pass rusher to come in and contribute right away.
Of course, there is no way of knowing if this is the position the organization focuses on once they are finally on the clock. The Cowboys will have a lot of needs to fill and could go a number of different directions.
They will need help at cornerback with Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne in the last year of their contracts. The same can be said at safety with Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox in the last year of their deals as well.
The Cowboys also might want to look to the future and upgrade the tight end and right tackle positions. Both Jason Witten and Doug Free aren’t getting any younger and there doesn’t seem to be a current player on the roster ready to take over.
The point I’m trying to make here is that there is no way of knowing who the Dallas Cowboys may draft. Looking at these way too early mock drafts is just for fun and it’s important to remember that.
Do you like Todd McShay’s selection for the Dallas Cowboys?
Please feel free to use the comment section below to share your thoughts and opinions on this topic.
