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NFL mock draft 2013: Cowboys projected to pick defensive lineman

With Monte Kiffin as the new defensive coordinator, most mock drafts have them taking a defensive lineman to help transition to a 4-3.

Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys have hired Monte Kiffin as defensive coordinator, and he's expected to switch from a 3-4 defense to his patented Tampa 2. The news caused several mock drafts to switch up their projections for the No. 18 overall pick.

SB Nation's Dan Kadar is now projecting Dallas to select Florida DT Sharrif Floyd, noting his versatility should Kiffin keep some 3-4 wrinkles in the playbook:

Floyd is the kind of lineman who can play outside in power three-man fronts or tackle in a four-man set. He may need to play inside after nose tackle Jay Ratliff played in just six games this season and Josh Brent's playing future looking bleak.

Likewise, NFL.com's Albert Breer has the Cowboys taking Missouri DT Sheldon Richardson, and Walter Football is mocking LSU DE Sam Montgomery, in the event Anthony Spencer walks in free agency:

If Spencer does leave, Dallas may use this selection to find a new complement for Ware. Sam Montgomery makes a ton of sense at this spot.

CBS Sports' Rob Rang is an outlier in the mock draft world, projecting Dallas to take NC State QB Mike Glennon as an eventual replacement for Tony Romo:

Tony Romo is not the Cowboys' biggest problem but after another "playoff" failure, owner Jerry Jones will have to begin looking seriously at other options.

That pick seems like a reach, but there's plenty of time left in the draft process. We'll see how the QB class shakes out in the next few months.

Photographs by jamesbrandon, jdtornow, phlezk, flygraphix, mcdlttx, tomasland, and literalbarrage used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.