The Dallas Cowboys will get to select a top 5 talent from the 2016 NFL Draft and only one question remains, will they select the right one?
The Cowboys have selected Dez Bryant, Tyron Smith, Morris Claiborne, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin, and Byron Jones as their first round picks since 2010. The only real miss in that group of names is Morris Claiborne and that is mostly due to him being injured.
The Cowboys hitting on 4 out of 5 players in the first round is a very solid ratio and should give them some confidence as they pick. Realistically the choice only comes down to 5 players, sure a quarterback would be nice but with Goff likely to be gone why would any team reach for a quarterback with the 4th pick? Paxton Lynch is late first round material and everyone else falls after. The Cowboys should wait until the 4th or 5th round to find a quarterback unless Carson Wentz or Christian Hackenberg are staring at you in the 3rd.
The Cowboys instead should focus on Laquon Treadwell, Joey Bosa, Myles Jack, Vernon Hargreaves III, and Ezekiel Elliot. These are the positions that the Cowboys have to develop and adding anyone of these players would make this team infinitely better. Arguments could be made for each player as well as a slew of others however these 5 represent the best the draft has to offer Dallas.
Ezekiel Elliot: Elliot is somewhat of a no brainer. The Cowboys have devalued the running back position but in reality there is nothing more important than offensive consistency and having a good running back can give you that, imagine if the Cowboys drafted Todd Gurley? Yes Darren McFadden had an excellent season and was the fourth best running back in the league however that will not last. McFadden may finish in the top 10 one more time however looking towards the future is something the Cowboys should start doing in this draft. Elliot is the most complete back in this draft and is less of a risk than Derrick Henry so this pick would make a ton of sense.
Joey Bosa: Bosa would be Hardy's replacement. He is a big edge rusher who is somewhat reminiscent of a less polished JJ Watt. Bosa should be gone by the time the Cowboys are on the clock but if he is there it will be difficult not to select him. He is a physically gifted pass rusher with some solid skills and would be able to generate pressure right away.
Vernon Hargreaves III: I had Ramsey in this slot for a while until I re-watched a lot of film on Hargreaves. Hargreaves is a more physical and disruptive cornerback who can also play safety. Ramsey will most likely start out in the NFL as a safety but has the ability to play corner. When you watch both players there is just a stiffness that Ramsey has that VHIII does not. This is the player the Cowboys envisioned when they drafted Morris Claiborne a couple of seasons ago. Adding Hargreaves would make him an excellent complement to Orlando Scandrick and allow Byron Jones to start at safety.
Myles Jack: Jack is coming off of a torn meniscus so picking him at 4 would be risky, but Jack might be worth that risk. Jack is an elite cover linebacker who can plug up the run or generate takeaways, oh and did I mention he can also double as a running back? That is absolutely ridiculous versatility. Jack would be Rolando McClain's replacement which would give the Cowboys a dangerous combination of ball hawking linebackers.
Laquon Treadwell: Treadwell is last and this pick would seem to make the most sense. Treadwell is the best wide receiver in the draft hands down. He is a matchup nightmare and has a strong nose for the end zone. Treadwell lining up next to Bryant would give the Cowboys the second receiver they had been craving for a couple of seasons now. They would be the next great wide receiver tandem and with Jason Witten getting older and Terrance Williams proving to be largely ineffective this could dramatically change the way the Cowboys attack opposing defenses.