(Editor's Note: The staff of DallasCowboys.com is currently previewing the depth chart at each position on the Cowboys' roster. The biggest remaining variable in determining that depth chart is the NFL draft, which begins April 28. This series will identify five potential draft picks who could affect the depth chart at each position.)
IRVING, Texas– Of all the positions the Cowboys could address in the 2016 NFL Draft, it's hardest to imagine them putting a priority on the offensive line.
The resources this organization have put into their offensive line are well-documented. They've got a top-10 pick playing left tackle and other first-round picks playing center and left guard. Their left guard, La'el Collins, should have been a top-10 pick, but unfortunate circumstances pushed him out of the draft entirely. Doug Free, the so-called "weak link" on the line, is a 10-year veteran with 98 career starts to his name.
Even the reserves are premium talents. Ronald Leary was a priority free agent who has blossomed into a veteran with two years of starting experience. Charles Brown, the current swing tackle, was a top-100 draft pick back in 2010. The Cowboys also spent a top-100 pick on Chaz Green last year in the hopes that he can one day start.
Despite all of that, it's impossible to undersell the value of the offensive line – especially for a team with an aging quarterback. It might not be a position of need, but it would not be a surprise to see the Cowboys add another body to what is already a position of need.
1. Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss – One week ago, Tunsil looked like the consensus pick to be the No. 1 overall pick in this draft. When Los Angeles traded with Tennessee, the possibility that he could fall to Dallas at No. 4 became a much more realistic possibility. Given the presence of Tyron Smith, it's hard to say Tunsil makes a ton of sense for this team. At the same time, he very well could be the best player in the entire draft – making him one of the safest picks possible. If selected, he'd likely slot in at right tackle and give the Cowboys an even bigger embarrassment of riches along their line.
2. Dominique Robinson, West Georgia – Perhaps the Cowboys will still look to address their tackle depth – just not with the No. 4 overall pick. Robinson was a Division II All-American during his first season starting for West Georgia. At 6-5, 305 pounds, he's got impressive enough athleticism that he made his way to Texas Tech before transferring for the final years of his college career. Robinson would be a developmental project at tackle – which is just fine, given the talent in place in the Cowboys' starting lineup.
3. Connor McGovern, Missouri – La'el Collins and Zack Martin figure to be an impressive tandem at guard for the foreseeable future, but the depth behind them is no sure thing. Mackenzy Bernadeau departed for Jacksonville in free agency, and his replacement – Joe Looney – has been inconsistent during his career. Ronald Leary, once he signs his restricted free agent tender, is on a one-year deal. McGovern, typically seen as a middle-round pick, could come in and solidify the interior depth – potentially with an eye on the starting spot in the future.
4. Isaac Seumalo, Oregon State – Everything that just applied to McGovern could also apply to Semalo, a 6-3, 303-pounder from Oregon. Seumalo was a three-year starter for the Beavers, and he showed the versatility to play at center, guard and tackle. He spent last season at guard and tackle, but NFL teams best project him as a center – where he started 23 combined games in 2012 and 2013. If drafted, he'd fill the role of Bernadeau, serving as quality depth at both guard and center.[embeddedad0]
5. Jack Allen, Michigan State – The four-year Spartan starter offers a similar option to Seumalo, though likely later in the draft. Allen started 47 career games at Michigan State, but the vast majority of them – 42, to be exact – came at center. He doesn't boast the same versatility as Seumalo, but he'd be a solid insurance option for Travis Frederick.
