FRISCO, Texas – If there's one lesson to learn from the 2017 NFL Draft, it's this:
No one knows what's going on.
What other conclusion can you come to? It's a good guess that Myles Garrett will be the No. 1 pick in the draft, and it's obvious that there's some interest in Mitchell Trubisky.
Almost everything else is a guessing game.
So if there's so much uncertainty at the top of the draft, how on Earth can we predict what's going to happen to the Cowboys at No. 28? We know the Cowboys need pass rushers, and we know they'd like to address their secondary. There should be options at all of those positions, but good luck figuring out who.
One look at the mock drafts around the league will confirm that fact. As has been the case for much of the spring, you'll see some familiar names at both defensive end and cornerback.
On the eve of the 2017 NFL Draft, though, there doesn't appear to be much of a consensus about which direction this team will go.
Here's the mock draft rundown:
NFL.com’s Lance ZierleinDate of Mock:April 26
Pick:Florida CB Quincy Wilson
Comment:"Rod Marinelli's defense will require a cornerback with cover talent in zone and a willingness to hit. With so many holes in the secondary, drafting this position is a strong possibility."
SI.com’s Chris Burke & Emily KaplanDate of Mock:April 26
Pick:Missouri DE Charles Harris
Comment:"Harris could be a fit for teams in the first half of Round 1, so landing him at 28 would be a boon for Jerry Jones & Co. The talented Missouri pass rusher profiles physically as more of a 3–4 OLB, but he had significant college success playing off the edge in a 4–3. One thing's for sure: Dallas defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli would find a way to maximize Harris's quickness off the edge."
Date of Mock:April 26
Pick:Harris
Comment:"Smart money has the Cowboys selecting a cornerback or pass rusher here. Harris is the type of edge threat who can thrive under Rod Marinelli's leadership."
Date of Mock:April 26
Pick:USC CB Adoree Jackson
Comment: "With the losses of Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne to free agency, the former Trojan Swiss army knife slots in right away as a three-down cornerback for the Cowboys opposite promising second-year pro Anthony Brown. Jackson also returned four punts and four kick returns for touchdowns in his college career, so he could factor in on special teams for Dallas. And if that's not enough, why not throw him out on offense a few times a game and see what he can do? In three years at USC, Jackson caught 39 passes for 628 yards and six touchdowns and ran the ball 15 times for 92 yards.
Date of Mock:April 25
Pick:Jackson
Comment:"Some teams have Jackson as the second-best cornerback in the draft. He might be long gone by this point."
CBSSports.com’s Rob RangDate of Mock:April 24
Pick:Harris
Comment:"The Cowboys' gambles on recent character concerns at pass rusher have not paid off and adding a playmaker to this unit should be a top priority. Harris possesses the burst, bend and lethal spin move to wreak havoc off the edge and, after only joining the sport as a junior in high school, he possesses the upside for defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli to develop."
Date of Mock:April 24
Pick:Washington CB Kevin King
Comment:"King is a perfect fit for the Cowboys defense."
Date of Mock:April 25
Pick:Jackson
Comment:"This pick seems certain to be on defense, whether it's a pass rusher up front or a coverage player. It's no coincidence that the NFL invited six cornerbacks to the draft. Teams could covet Jackson for his upside as a cornerback and his incredible ability as a return specialist."
Rotoworld’s Josh NorrisDate of Mock:April 25
Pick:Houston EDGE Tyus Bowser
Comment:"Bowser's lack of pass rush snaps might limit his true EDGE evaluation. He tested in the 95th percentile and would help in a variety of ways. He could line up as a SAM, rush the passer or work off the ball. Working under Rod Marinelli would be a treat."
Date of Mock:April 17
Pick:UCLA DE Takkarist McKinley
Comment: "They have to upgrade their pass rush, no matter what. This is a kid with a ton of explosive edge ability."
Date of Mock:April 20
Pick:Harris
Comment:"The Cowboys would love to have the option of several pass rushers here and certainly would be fine landing Harris to work into their rotation.
Date of Mock:April 26
Pick:LSU CB Tre'Davious White
Comment:"Dallas addresses its glaring need in the secondary."
Date of Mock:April 17
Pick:McKinley
Comment:"The Cowboys have to add talent both in the defensive backfield and along the defensive line. They love the SPARQ system for grading athletes, especially on the edge, and Takk tested extremely well there. He could give Rod Marinelli another body to use in his waves along the defensive line."
Date of Mock:April19
Pick:Harris
Comment:"For as good as the Cowboys were a season ago -- mostly due to the emergence of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott -- the defense was average and the defensive line was only slightly better. Harris had a poor combine but was impressive at his pro day -- and more importantly, he improved every year at Missouri.
NJ.com’s Elliott Shorr-ParksDate of Mock:April 17
Pick:White
Comment:"The Dallas Cowboys need help in the secondary since they lost Morris Claiborne to the New York Jets this offseason. White can help the Cowboys in both the secondary and on special teams next season."
Date of Mock:April 19
Pick:Western Michigan WR Corey Davis
Comment: "This pick will likely be a defensive end or cornerback unless one of the top three wide receivers fall here. Ankle surgery kept Davis from participating in the combine, but he'll be ready for individual workouts in April and mini-camp, which is all that matters."
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