2016 NFL Draft: Dallas Cowboys Should Take Ezekiel Elliott At No. 4 Overall

By Jacob Camenker

The 2016 NFL Draft has already been one of the most unpredictable drafts we have seen in a long time. The top two picks have already been traded and there is still a great deal of conversation about what may happen in the rest of the top five. The Dallas Cowboys are one of the teams that will be intriguing to watch, but their decision should be easier than they are making it.

As it stands now, there are a few prospects that the Cowboys want to get their hands on. Their top target is Jalen Ramsey, a defensive back out of Florida State, but he is likely to go off the board with the third overall pick to the San Diego Chargers. Because of this, the team will have to choose between three players in Joey Bosa, DeForest Buckner and Ezekiel Elliott, and they should strongly consider taking Elliott with the pick.

Elliott was an absolute monster last season playing at Ohio State, as he was the workhorse back for an offense that used two quarterbacks in most of their games. He was their most consistent threat, and he totaled 1,821 rushing yards with 23 touchdowns on the season. He had similar production during his sophomore season (1,878 yards with 18 touchdowns), and it really seems like he will become a bellcow back at the next level.

With the Cowboys, Elliott could have an immediate impact. The team already sports the best offensive line in all of football, and having a player like Elliott running behind them would drastically improve their offense. Darren McFadden was relatively solid last year, but Elliott would still be a huge upgrade over him thanks to his combination of size, power and speed.

Some may argue for Bosa or Buckner with this pick, but as time goes by I am thinking that it’s more likely the Cowboys will wait on a defensive end. To begin with, Bosa has some character concerns and has been generally overrated, so he may suffer a draft day fall. As for Buckner, he just does not make too much sense. This draft is full of great defensive line prospects, and they could easily get one at the top of the second round.

If the team waited on a running back, they may not find a true workhorse, as Derrick Henry is the only other top-notch prospect in this draft. He may be gone by the time their second pick rolls around.

At the end of the day, taking Elliott would be the best option for the Cowboys. He will have the biggest impact on the team as a rookie, and he could help make their offensive unit one of the best in the league. I would not be surprised to see Jerry Jones pull the trigger on him this coming Thursday.

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