The Dallas Cowboys are coming into the NFL draft this season with a number of needs and in the first round they have some prime options, as names like Anthony Barr, Justin Gilbert, Aaron Donald, Kony Ealy and Timmy Jernigan could be targets, while in later rounds the team may look to find a long term backup for Tony Romo, including players like Aaron Murray, Zach Mettenberger, David Fales or Derek Carr.
The team is hosting a number of prospects ahead of the draft and the majority of them have been on defense and that likely means Jerry Jones will be going that way for the first round pick for the team. The Cowboys and everyone else can bring in 30 players for visits and names like Jernigan and Barr have been mentioned as potential picks that the Cowboys are looking at, along with Donald, who played his ball at Pitt. The team could look at a corner like Gilbert if he slips, as he is expected to be a first round pick, while Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier has been moving up draft boards as well.
Donald has been picked to the Cowboys in many mock drafts by experts and now the team has to decide where their biggest needs are heading into next season. Romo was injured at the end of 2013 and now the team could look for a backup player to groom behind him in the draft, as this year as a deep class of options, including ones in the later rounds like Aaron Murray, Zach Mettenberger and David Fales, who all could be on the board in the deeper rounds.
The Cowboys pick at number 16 in the draft and while most of the elite players will be gone, the team has the chance to add someone that can give them an impact, especially on defense. Barr had a great season and some see him as atop 10 pick after making over 60 tackles with 10.0 sacks and he could be an option if he slips past the Giants at number 12. Donald also had 10 sacks and a strong season, as did Jernigan and those picks could be options as well. The Cowboys ranked 30th in passing yards last season and 27th in rushing yards allowed and that likely means a defensive pick is coming.
The Cowboys have three quarterbacks on their roster now in Tony Romo, Kyle Orton and Brandon Weeden so it's not likely that they will take on this year, but there is a chance that Jones is thinking about the future with Romo getting older. Romo has still been one of the most productive QBs in the league, but after seeing the way some of the young guns have played, Jones may not be able to help himself.
