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NFL Draft 2017: Top target for each team

By John Buhler

Oct 29, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) looks to throw in the first quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) looks to throw in the first quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 5, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) during the second quarter against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) during the second quarter against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Dallas Cowboys: Derek Barnett

After a great 13-3 regular season in 2016, the Dallas Cowboys found themselves as a one-and-done in the NFC Playoffs. Their gut-wrenching loss to the Green Bay Packers wasn’t great, but it did expose a major offseason need that the Cowboys need to explore in the NFL Draft: get another pass rusher.

Dallas is elite on offense, but doesn’t have the personnel in the back-end of its defense to afford a lackluster pass rush. The Cowboys need to go with best pass rusher available at No. 28. There is a decent chance that could be Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett.

In theory, Barnett could go as high as No. 11 to the New Orleans Saints, but this guy could be the guy that Dallas needs to give them a much-needed bite coming off the edge. Don’t expect Barnett to be the second-coming of DeMarcus Ware, but he was an incredibly productive player in three years with the Volunteers.

Barnett leaves Knoxville with 198 career tackles with 52.0 for them for a loss of yardage. Add in that he averaged double-digit sacks in the SEC and Dallas could be getting a potential Pro Bowler at the end of the first round.

Is Barnett worth trading up for? Potentially, as he is better than most of the pass rushers that will be coming off the board in the latter part of the draft. However, he’s not worth giving up the farm for. Dallas does like to do things big under owner Jerry Jones. The Cowboys would be getting a total beast at defensive end if they take Barnett at No. 28.

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