Mel Kiper has published his fifth and final mock draft of the season, and he chooses a defensive lineman not named J.J. Watt for the Cowboys.
Dallas Cowboys
Cameron Jordan, DE, CalA shift from the previous mock, where I had the Cowboys targeting a corner. This is a team that needs to find solutions on front seven and Jordan offers a lot of versatility. Think about lining up a dynamic pass-rusher who can take on double-teams as a 3-4 defensive end and forcing the offense to make a decision on doubling him or DeMarcus Ware.
His rationale makes good sense. It’s a position of need, and the Cowboys have lacked any pass rush whatsoever from their end spots, outside of a few occasions where Stephen Bowen has provided it. The question, I suppose, is just how dynamic of a rusher Jordan would be in the Dallas scheme.
Kiper projects Cam Newton to go first, saying that the Panthers will buy into his upside. The other elite talents go in order from two through five – Von Miller, Marcell Dareus, A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson. Julio Jones and Blaine Gabbert both go in front of the Cowboys, removing the possibility of entertaining high leverage trade possibilities.
He leaves Robert Quinn, Prince Amukamara, Tyron Smith, Anthony Castonza and Watt all on the board to opt for Jordan at No. 9. Amukamara lasts all the way to No. 20.