Cowboys

2013 NFL Mock Draft: Cowboys could land more secondary help in Kenny Vaccaro

After shoring up their unit over the past two seasons, Dallas could add further depth with the strong safety out of Texas.

By Thomas Todd Apr 17, 2013, 9:30pm CDT

After missing the playoffs for the third straight season in 2012, the Dallas Cowboys will once again tool up and try to regain their crown as America's Team. A big factor in the playoff drought has been poor secondary play, and Dallas has looked to free agency and the draft to fix the issue. Their first pick last year was former LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, who looked the part of an NFL starter in 2012. With the 18th pick in this year's draft, the Cowboys could further shore up that unit.

According to three of CBS Sports' four NFL writers, the Cowboys will do just that with former Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro. The Texas native appeared in 51 games for the Longhorns across four seasons, starting 32 of them at safety. He made the All-Big 12 Team twice, being named to the first team in his junior season and second team as a senior.

But SB Nation's mock draft — done by the immortal Matthew Fairburn — has Vaccaro off the board early, at pick No. 8. With the elite safety gone, Matthew has the Cowboys drafting right tackle D.J. Fluker. A member of the massive Alabama line that steamrolled Notre Dame in the BCS Championship Game, Fluker could be a long-term replacement of the ever-mediocre Doug Free.

If Vaccaro slips to No. 18, almost all the experts agree that the Cowboys will gobble him up. But if the draft doesn't shake that way, look for Dallas to address their issues on the offensive line or at defensive tackle.