Mailbag: Should an OT be drafted early?

The Cowboys have certainly been more active in free agency than last year, but they still have glaring needs at receiver, cornerback, running back and defensive line. Do you think they can actually draft the best player available in the first three rounds or are they forced into drafting for need?

As good as Parsons is, will re-signing him as the top defensive player in the NFL keep the Cowboys from being able to improve the roster? Would trading him for multiple picks along with saving the high cap number actually be a viable option?

If pick 12 comes around and Penn State tight end Tyler Warren is there, how do you pass on him? A lot of people say the Cowboys don't need a tight end, but he's a stud who can immediately improve the run game, the passing game and the red zone. Even though Dallas seems set at the position, he'd be the No. 1 tight end on the roster. 

Why does everyone seem to think Dallas needs to pick a running back in the first round? The running back class is very deep, and they can find one in the later rounds. The Cowboys should pick a defensive tackle or defensive end in the first round, right? Great NFL teams build their offensive and defensive lines first. 

The lack of a fourth-round pick needs to be addressed by either trading back eight to 10 spots (assuming they get offers) or using the later-round picks in a package to move up to the fourth. I would prefer to move back and get at least a third-round pick, if not better, and save those fifth- and sixth-round picks for taking shots at players with potential to contribute. What would you do?

I was surprised to hear Brian Schottenheimer talk about building the team from the outside in, focusing on those players who are on the ends or edge. I've always heard championship teams are built from the inside out, focusing first on the offensive and defensive lines. Am I missing something? What do you think of this approach?

Is there one position group that's in good shape heading into the draft? Seems like there are pressing needs or question marks everywhere. Scary.

As a fan in the UK and not getting wall-to-wall coverage, it's interesting to see what players and positions have been prioritized so far. Aside from signing Micah Parsons, what do you see as the most important moves this front office still needs to make?

With most running backs having relatively short spans of productivity in the NFL, is it wise to spend a high draft pick on one (Ezekiel Elliott being a recent example)? Would the Cowboys be better off using the No. 12 pick to draft a player at a position that traditionally has more longevity?

With Micah Parsons now coming out and saying he wants to be the NFL's first $200 million defensive player, how is that going to change the contract negotiations? Can the Cowboys afford that? What once seemed like a relatively easy process just appears to be getting more and more complicated.

I know the Cowboys did the right thing by adding some quality running backs in free agency, but if Ashton Jeanty is there at No. 7 or 8, do you see the team moving up four or five spots to draft him? Would that be considered overpaying for a running back, even one who is as crazy skilled as Jeanty?