2018 NFL Draft: Dallas Cowboys 7-round mock

Round 4 – Pick 118

Fred Warner, LB, BYU

Speaking of the middle of Dallas’ defense, another position that the Cowboys may look to address is linebacker. Sean Lee is perpetually hurt. Jaylen Smith is still working his way back into the player we saw at Notre Dame. Meanwhile fellow starter Anthony Hitchens is a pending free agent that is on his way to a big pay day. Lee and Smith are a strong duo but the team needs a third player to round out the linebacker corps.

In this mock draft that player comes in the form of BYU’s Fred Warner. In Warner Dallas gets an athletic partner for Smith and Lee. He also could be a possible replacement for Lee down the line. Warner is an athletic space player that excels in coverage. At BYU he showed an excellent nose for the football and the ability to play in the opponents backfield. Not the biggest player at only 225 pounds, he would benefit from some time in the weight room. However, in the era of space the NFL is current in, a linebacker of that size can thrive.

Projected Compensatory Picks

These picks are projected by Fanspeak’s On the Clock. Dallas should be receiving compensatory picks for losing players Ronald Leary, Morris Claiborne, Brandon Carr and Barry Church. Right now two of those fall at the end of the fourth round.

Pick 138 – Chad Thomas, DE, Miami – Continuing the defensive theme, the Cowboys grab a talented defensive end out of Miami, Chad Thomas, with their first compensatory pick. Thomas was a versatile player along Miami’s talented defensive line this past season. He possesses ideal athletic traits with the perfect size for the NFL at 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds. At the next level coaches will have to work on his hands to get the most out of him but the talent is there in bunches. For Dallas he could be another player to fill in opposite Demarcus Lawrence with last year’s first round pick Taco Charlton. Thomas is the ideal right defensive end for a team that prefers a bigger end than typical in this league.

Pick 139 – J’Mon Moore, WR, Missouri – Last year the Cowboys handed wide receiver Terrance Williams an extension. Dez Bryant and his big cap hold is also still on the team. Financially the Cowboys do not have much room for a wide receiver. On the field, however, they are in desperate need of some playmaking. Last year’s fourth round pick Ryan Switzer should see an expanded offensive role in his second season in the slot. He may possibly replace Cole Beasley who could be a cap casualty. The team still needs to find a playmaker on the outside that can be an eventual replacement for Williams.

J’Won Moore would be a developmental receiver that makes sense for Dallas. At 6-foot-3 and 204 pounds, he possesses the ideal size to play on the outside opposite Bryant. He also has speed that can take the top off the defense. With Bryant sliding into the latter side of his career and lacking that ability, it would be wise to grab someone that can. He will need to work on his routes but the tools are all there for Moore to make an impact down the line.