After posting some very impressive numbers at the Combine, I think that Aaron Donald has solidified himself as a first round pick.
He’s undersized for a defensive tackle, but he offers the Cowboys a unique blend of speed, quickness, agility, decisiveness, strength and character that I think would be great assets for a defense in desperate need of interior defensive line help.
There are other guys that the Cowboys could target here, but based on their defensive scheme and the fact that Donald is the best 3-technique defensive tackle available, I think this pick is a no-brainer.
A highly versatile player in college, Scott Crichton is one of a record 98 underclassmen that declared for the Draft.
Crichton was used all over the defensive front in college, but was most effective at defensive end. In 2013, he finished the season with 47 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles; however, he is far more disruptive than his numbers suggest.
Crichton is a guy who gets off the snap quickly and violently, and has a non-stop motor, which he consistently used to beat offensive linemen in getting to the ball carrier. He uses his hands well, and has shown the strength to hold up well in the running game.
At one point considered the nation’s No. 9 defensive tackle prospect by Rivals.com, Kelcy Quarles has the size and speed to excel as an interior defensive lineman at the next level.
Quarles finished the 2013 season with 39 tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks. He is light on his feet and has a good burst when firing off the line, but could benefit from getting in better shape and improving his stamina.
As a two-star recruit out of high school, Billy Turner didn’t receive any FBS scholarship offers, and decided to enroll at North Dakota State where started 56 of 57 career games.
Despite being very athletic for a big man, Turner would have to increase his core strength and work on his pass blocking ability to be truly successful at the next level; he is by no means a finished product.
However, at 6-5, 315-pounds, and sporting a 34-inch reach, Turner certainly has all the makings of an NFL offensive lineman, and with some coaching could easily be the Cowboys successor at guard.
After a pretty pedestrian showing at the NFL Combine, Dion Bailey’s draft stock took a sizeable hit, and is now being projected as a possible fourth-to-fifth round pick.
I honestly think that Bailey’s combine numbers were more of a fluke than an actual representation of the type of player that he is because on tape, I see a very fluid defender who has good instincts, and is a lot quicker than his combine numbers might indicate.
The only downside that I see to Bailey’s game is that he is still learning to play the safety position after playing at linebacker for most of his collegiate career.
After posting some insane combine numbers, Jerick McKinnon could join fellow Georgia Southern grad J.J. Wilcox as a member of the Cowboys.
As evident by his 4.41 40-time, McKinnon has excellent burst and acceleration. Watching him perform at the combine you saw a fluid athlete who can change direction on a dime, but who can also lower the boom against defenders.
The knock on McKinnon is that he rarely ran the ball between the tackles and an overall lack of experience as a true running back, however it's very hard to ignore his stats and Combine numbers.
Another player who benefited greatly from the NFL Combine is defensive end Larry Webster whose 4.58 40-time was second only to Jadeveon Clowney's 4.53.
Webster is dual sport athlete that is relatively new to playing defensive end, but judging from his collegiate stats, he can certainly play the position. He finished the season with a team-best 15 tackles for a loss and 13.5 sacks.
After struggling with substance abuse in the past, Casey Pachall hasn’t received the attention that he might have gotten otherwise.
Despite his past, Pachall’s size, exceptionally quick release and arms strength cannot be overlooked. He certainly has the size and arm strength to succeed at the next level. With some strong coaching, this kid could really be a diamond in the rough.
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