Advertisement

sportsCowboys

Film room: Cowboys add perfect Byron Jones replacement, more defensive pieces in 3-round mock draft

See how the NFL combine impacted the Cowboys’ first three draft choices.

The NFL scouting combine has come and gone, which means it’s a great opportunity for another Dallas Cowboys mock draft. However, because the league has yet to release the compensatory picks for the 2020 draft, this mock draft will only be three rounds instead of seven.

Last time, we discussed Iowa DE AJ Epenesa as a possibility for the Cowboys in the first round; yet, Epenesa turned in one of the most disappointing NFL combines, which should eliminate him from consideration at pick No. 17 (don’t draft unathletic pass-rushers in the 1st round). In today’s NFL, rushing the QB is a race against time, so Epenesa’s poor speed score and average jumps and agilities bring into question whether he has the requisite athleticism to beat the clock on the edge.

Fortunately, while the combine may have cratered Epenesa’s stock, it enabled another potential selection to cement his status as a first-rounder. Who?

Just scroll down a little further to find out:

Cowboys

Be the smartest Cowboys fan. Get the latest news.

Or with:

Note: To keep things as realistic as possible, The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Machine was used to make this mock draft.

Round 1, Pick 17: CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

Advertisement

The combine could not have gone much better for Florida CB CJ Henderson, who measured in at 6-foot-1 and 204 pounds with 31 5/8-inch arms before testing above the 70th percentile in the 40-yard dash (4.39), vertical jump (37.5) and broad jump 10-foot-7.

Even though his 20 reps of 225 pounds on the bench means nothing in terms of his ability to play CB at the next level, it does indicate that he has a good work ethic off the field – 200-pounders don’t just rep 225 pounds 20 times without putting in serious work in the gym for a long time.

As good as the combine was, Henderson’s coverage ability may be even better, as the Florida product may be the best pure cover cornerback outside of Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah.

Advertisement

Henderson has the processing ability to play any coverage, but he undoubtedly thrives in man coverage, where his quick feet enable him to mirror and stay in-phase with receivers. Henderson is extremely effective in press coverage, where his length and timing enable him to disrupt the time of a receivers’ route at the line of scrimmage - check out the above clip of Henderson disrupting LSU WR Jamarr Chase, who multiple CBs said was the best WR they faced in college, at the line of scrimmage.

Moreover, Henderson‘s athleticism gives him more room for error at the line of scrimmage because he has the speed to rally and recover when initially beaten.

The problem with Henderson is that he provides little value as a tackler or in run support, which can create issues for a defense. He will need to improve in this area in the NFL, or opposing offenses are going to attack him with bubble screens, jet sweeps and tosses outside.

Still, cornerbacks get paid to cover, and Henderson possesses all the necessary traits to become one of the best pure cover cornerbacks in the league, which makes him the perfect player to replace Byron Jones in the Cowboys’ defense.

Round 2, Pick 51: Curtis Weaver, EDGE, Boise State

Advertisement

Another player who impressed at the NFL combine was Boise State edge defender Curtis Weaver.

At 6-foot-2 and 265 pounds with 32 3/8-inch arms, there were questions as to whether Weaver had the athleticism to translate his pass-rush ability to the NFL but impressive times in the two most important drills for edge defenders – the three-cone (7.00) and short shuttle (4.27) agility drills – should quiet many of those concerns.

Weaver is one of the most productive defenders in this class, dominating the small-school competition at Boise State, as he had three straight seasons with at least nine sacks and 13 tackles for loss.

Advertisement

On tape, Weaver is a talented pass-rusher who uses active hands, deceptive footwork and outstanding cornering ability to generate consistent pressure on opposing QBs.

His most effective move is the side-scissors, or two-hand swipe (above clip), to defeat hands and corner at the apex of his rush. Unlike many pass-rushers who must gear down to effectively corner, the Boise State product can carry a great deal of momentum as he turns the corner at acute angles, which is why it wasn’t surprising that he performed well in the three-cone at the combine.

Weaver also has a good idea for inside moves, as he’ll quickly redirect inside when an offensive tackle oversets to combat his outside rush. He’s also a very astute hand-fighter who is constantly working to parry, re-direct or clear a blocker’s hands.

Advertisement

In the run game, Weaver’s contributions are almost entirely penetration based, as he has a great feel for how to attack schemes and slip blocks, which is why he also rates highly in backfield production.

Unfortunately, Weaver doesn’t show much consistency in his ability to take on blocks and anchor at the point of attack. If Weaver can’t quickly clear hands, he often gets overwhelmed by the larger offensive linemen. His lack of length hurts his ability to stack and shed longer-armed blockers, which is probably why Weaver has opted to slip blocks rather than take on and discard blocks in the run game.

There’s also some question as to how Weaver will transition to playing primarily a three-point stance in the NFL. He’s not a good player in space, so he will need to play on the line of scrimmage full-time, which usually entails frequent plays from a three-point stance — something Weaver rarely did in his last season at Boise State, even when he aligned on the interior.

Advertisement

Ultimately, Weaver’s pass-rush ability makes him a worthwhile pick in the second round. Weaver would have to begin as a pass-rush specialist until he improves his strength and technique to a point where he can be consistently trusted vs the run. Nevertheless, he’d be the ideal player to develop behind Robert Quinn (if re-signed) for a year or two before stepping into the starting lineup.

Round 3, Pick 82: Davon Hamilton, DT, Ohio State

Ohio State defensive tackle Davon Hamilton didn’t have as good of a combine as either Weaver or Henderson, but who cares?

Advertisement

Hamilton is a 6-foot-4 and 320-pounds nose tackle who looks to eat interior running games for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as the combine holds little value for the big-bodied run-stuffers outside of the first round.

Don’t expect Hamilton to contribute much as a pass-rusher, as he only had one game with multiple pressures in 2019, per Pro Football Focus. However, he can maintain his ground and anchor at the point-of-attack against single and double teams. He possesses heavy hands and a strong lower body to strain and occupy blocks to keep his linebackers clean for an extra half-second.

Hamilton is one of the most technically sound run defenders in this draft, possessing the size, strength and skill to make an immediate impact, which would be a boon for a team like the Cowboys whose DTs struggled mightily against the run in 2019.

Advertisement

Hamilton isn’t a sexy playmaker who piles up backfield production. Instead, he is a powerful complementary defender whose presence will make life easier on the rest of the defenders around him, which just so happens to be what the Cowboys desperately need.

A match made in third-round heaven — you love to see it.

Advertisement

Find more Cowboys stories from The Dallas Morning News here.