Greg Hardy suspension: 3 NFL Draft replacement for Dallas Cowboys

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Aug 30, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Arik Armstead (9) grabs South Dakota Coyotes quarterback Kevin Earl (14) at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon

Arik Armstead is an interesting, and somewhat unconventional choice. At 6-foot-7 and 292 pounds, the defensive tackle from Oregon is another potential option for the Cowboys, despite little experience at defensive end during his time in college.

Coming in at just under 300 pounds, I see Armstead as someone who could be a very legitimate candidate to change positions. He is slightly undersized at defensive tackle, and considering he is not nearly as coveted as the aforementioned Shane Ray and Randy Gregory, there is a chance that he could fall to the Cowboys at the No. 27 pick in the first round.

The biggest problem with Armstead would be his speed. While he is extremely quick when compared to his fellow defensive tackles, defensive end is a completely different animal where speed is an absolute must. If he were to make the transition a successful one, he would definitely need to slim down a little bit.

Is he the best option to replace Greg Hardy at defensive end?

Not at all. He would be a project certainly, but his ceiling is tremendously high, something the Cowboys will have to consider. They were already a playoff team without Hardy last season, so a player that could rotate at multiple positions could be a good choice for the team.

He is also the most likely to fall all the way to the Cowboys pick No. 27, but even that looks bleak, considering teams like the San Fransisco 49ers in serious need of help up front. Nothing is out of the question, though.

Next: Biggest NFL Draft Busts in History

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