2018 NFL Draft: Dallas Cowboys 7-round mock

Round 5

Both of these picks are expected compensatory picks. The Cowboys do not own a fifth round pick after a trade with the Jets a year ago to get safety Xavier Woods. It is very unlikely Dallas keeps all these picks. They will likely package one or two to move up and grab a player they like.

Pick 174 – Darius Phillips, CB, Western Michigan – Last year’s secondary overhaul looks like it may pay off in the long run. It does not mean the team should not be looking to continue to add quality pieces to the unit in the pass happy league. Darius Phillips of Western Michigan would make sense in the fifth round for Dallas. Phillips is a former receiver turned corner with excellent skills in the return game. Those wide receiver skills translate as he has shown excellent ability to go get the ball in the air. At 5-foot-10 he is more likely to play inside but has the desired traits of an inside corner.

Pick 176 – Darrel Williams, RB, LSU – Running back is another position where it looks like Dallas is set but they can use some depth. Ezekiel Elliott will return in 2018 and hopefully not suffer the same fate as 2017. Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris have been very little more than adequate back-ups. Rod Smith finished the season strong and should compete for the number two back. Bringing a player in to compete with Smith could complete the running back room. In a deep class, Darrel Williams is being overlooked.

Out shined by former teammates Darius Guice (potential round one running back this year) and Leonard Fournette (top five pick a year ago), Williams is a strong candidate to have a better pro career than college. An impressive combine will open more eyes to the talent this guy has. A big-bruiser with fantastic running power at 6-foot-1 and 229 pounds. However he showed the ability to be a receiver out of the backfield while at LSU. A running back group of Elliott, Smith and Williams would be fantastic, especially behind the Cowboys strong offensive line.

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Round 6 – Pick 196

Adam Breneman, TE, UMass

Jason Witten is in the twilight of his career. Dallas needs to get younger at the tight end position. The team is very high on developmental prospect Rico Gathers but he has yet to play in an NFL game after suffering a season ending concussion last year. There are plenty of players that Dallas can consider that are already with the team. Grabbing a guy in day three would add another intriguing piece for the team to consider.

Adam Breneman is one of the players that needs the combine more than anyone. The former Penn State tight end had to retire early due to chronic knee injures. When he went to UMass for his MBA, he picked the sport back up. He has NFL size and was asked to block, unlike many tight ends in this class. If he can perform well in the combine, and more importantly, check out medically, teams will be intrigued.

Round 7 – Pick 236

Greg Senat, T, Wagner

One thing was clear after the Cowboys lost Tyron Smith to injury last year, the depth at tackle simply is not there. Smith and La’El Collins are entrenched at the tackle spot. Dallas should be looking for high upside players late in the draft that they can develop. Greg Senat of Wagner is that type of player.

The small school prospect looks the part of an NFL tackle. Despite only being 6-foot-1 the former basketball player is long and athletic. He will need an NFL strength and conditioning program to fill out that long frame. However, his athleticism pops, especially in the passing game.  Dallas is not adverse to taking these types of players. Look at the aforementioned Gathers, another former basketball player. Tackle will be a position Dallas will address to back-up their starters.