IRVING, Texas – Less than three weeks until the NFL draft, and the landscape is clearly beginning to change – though not too much.
As the actual draft inches closer and closer, the picture is coming into focus. On one hand, it looks awfully similar to weeks past. Given the way the draft board falls, Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa remains as the most popular prospect available to the Cowboys at No. 4.
On the other hand, we're starting to see some new faces creep into the mix.
Most notably is Myles Jack, who has been at the center of some of this year's most intense draft speculation. Jack is due to have his surgically-repaired knee re-checked next week in Indianapolis, allowing NFL clubs to alleviate their concerns about his health.
Despite that fact, it hasn't stopped several draft analysts from mocking Jack to the Cowboys, which is a new occurrence in the past month.
Jack headlines the new names, along with another surprise or two along the way.
Here's the rundown:
ESPN.com’s Mel KiperDate of Mock:April 6
Pick:Ohio State DE Joey Bosa
Comment:"I don't think they should be out of the market for a quarterback this high, but it's hard to go wrong with the best pure pass-rusher in the draft. Bosa might not be the kind of freakish athlete you peg for a future 20-sack season, but he's a much better athlete than many give him credit for, and he'll be an early contributor who can stay on the field in any situation."
SI.com’s Chris BurkeDate of Mock:April 6
Pick:UCLA LB Myles Jack
Comment:"What happens late next week at Jack's combine medical recheck will determine where he falls on April 28. Bad news likely would portend a tumble down Round 1; an OK from the doctors would all but lock him into the top six. Dallas still has roster spots in need of a touch-up, but should feel positive enough about its RBs and DEs to nab Jack over Ezekiel Elliott and Joey Bosa."
Date of Mock:April 5
Pick:Florida State DB Jalen Ramsey
Comment:"He could play corner for them, but could be a star safety. They need help at both spots."
Date of Mock:April 8
Pick:Clemson DE Shaq Lawson
Comment:"The indications I keep observing out of Dallas is a lack of interest in Ohio State DE/OLB Joey Bosa at this spot, with chatter really picking up about the Cowboys having interest in Lawson. He would definitely fill a need for the team, and particularly if Ramsey is off the board here, Lawson could very well be the choice for Dallas."
Date of Mock:April 7
Pick:Jack
Comment:"According to Pro Football Focus, Jack was the top-graded linebacker in coverage in 2014 while playing the third-most snaps in the country with 1,109. The 20-year-old did the bench press, attended team interviews and underwent a medical check in Indianapolis, but he wowed scouts at UCLA's Pro Day with a vertical jump of 40 inches and broad jump of 10-feet, 4 inches. This just 53 days after being cleared to run following a season-ending knee injury. He claimed he was only "80 percent." Scary."
Date of Mock:April 5
Pick:Bosa
Comment:"The energetic pass rusher with versatile skills is a nice fit in Rod Marinelli's aggressive defense."
SB Nation’s Adam StitesDate of Mock:April 4
Pick:Bosa
Comment: "Randy Gregory may wind up being a good player for the Cowboys, but for now he's a player who can't be relied upon to stay out of trouble and on the field. The distraction of Greg Hardy didn't work too well either, so now the Cowboys need to add more defensive line talent. Cedric Thornton is a start, but Bosa could be the most productive NFL pass rusher of the draft class and a perfect fit in Rod Marinelli's defense."
Date of Mock:April 6
Pick:Bosa
Comment: "I could see Joey Bosa slide to the Dolphins or Buccaneers because of his character concerns (sorry, Mike and Mike, but the teams we've spoken to do, in fact, have concerns), but Dallas is a strong possibility as well. Jerry Jones has shown that he's not afraid to take a chance on a talented player with some off-the-field questions. With Greg Hardy on his way out, and Randy Gregory now one strike away from a year-long suspension, Bosa makes a ton of sense for the Cowboys."
**CBSSports.com’s**Will Brinson
Date of Mock:March 30
Pick:Bosa
Comment:"And kind of a nightmare scenario for the Cowboys. Faced with the option of grabbing a quarterback, they ultimately pass on Carson Wentz and go with a defensive player who can make an immediate impact. You can't sit there and constantly say this team is 'almost there' and then draft for life after Tony Romo."
Date of Mock:March 29
Pick:Bosa
Comment: "The Cowboys are desperate to upgrade the pass rush."
Date of Mock:March 28
Pick:Bosa
Comment:"The Cowboys need to address the defensive line this offseason and if Bosa is still available at pick No. 4, I don't think he'll still be around at pick No. 5. Bosa would be an ideal fit at left end in coordinator Rod Marinelli's scheme and gives the Cowboys much-needed depth, especially considering Randy Gregory's troubles."
NFL.com’s Chad ReuterDate of Mock:March 28
Pick:Jack
Comment:"Dallas gets the player whom many consider the best in the draft. If his knee injury is healed sufficiently, Jack and Sean Lee could be the best coverage linebacker duo in NFL history."
Date of Mock:March 27
Pick:Cal QB Jared Goff
Comment:"The Cowboys face a fascinating decision at No. 4 overall. An immediate impact defender like Ohio State's Joey Bosa, UCLA's Myles Jack or Florida State's Jalen Ramsey certainly make sense, as this is a Super Bowl contending team with a healthy Romo and Dez Bryant. Their injuries last year, however, give owner Jerry Jones a unique opportunity to invest in the club's future. Goff has some of the same attributes which make Romo so effective, including terrific feel in the pocket, toughness and accuracy down the field. Romo, 35, will be entering his 14th season, and has missed at least one game each of the past three years, including 12 games in 2015."
Date of Mock:April 1
Pick:Ramsey
Comment:"Last week, I would have told you that the prospect in this year's class who has the opportunity to make the largest impact as a rookie is Ezekiel Elliott . . . well, scoot over Mr. Elliott, and make room for Jalen Ramsey! The Seminole "made hisself some moolah" at Florida State's Pro Day,displaying the fluidity in position drills of a much-smaller man. Ramsey rested on his Combine results (4.41 forty, 41.5 vertical, and 135.0 broad, the last two best in class) and during the interviews afterward, declared himself the #1 prospect in this year's draft. Dallas has taken an economical approach in F/A thus far, filling in holes everywhere but at DB, most recently losing Patrick Robinson to the Colts after having an agreement in principle on a 3-year deal with Robinson's "former agent". Yes, Ramsey has similar characteristics to last year's RD1 choice Byron Jones in that both players can play CB or S, but what an opportunity for DC Rod Marinelli to utilize position flexibility to disguise defensive alignments. A philosophy of taking the best player at a position becomes a no-brainer if the player is the best at two positions!"
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