When the Dallas Cowboys get on the clock in Pittsburgh on the first day of the NFL Draft on April 23, the story will be defense.

Does Dallas double-dip for new coordinator Christian Parker, or even consider drafting two of the same position, like edge rusher?

Or how about an offensive player that might've graded as an elite talent and is too good to pass up at No. 12 or 20?

The possibilities are endless, of course, due to the uncertainty of what transpires ahead of Dallas' current spot. Jerry Jones could also swing a trade-up, but we'll follow this projection as if it's "stick and pick" at 12 and 20.

With the No. 12 pick almost certainly projected to be a top-tier defender to enhance the Cowboys' worrisome unit from a year ago, therein lies even more possibilities for No. 20.

Depending on the reaction of their first choice, Dallas could feel a complete sense of freedom that'd allow for a "pure" best-player-available mindset ... as the Cowboys brass has hinted is the case.

So, who might that be? Based on the many mock drafts circulating this month, the Cowboys' second choice has sometimes drawn more attention than their first as we consider the rookie pairing on the field with Dallas' current roster.

In this exercise, we consider some options that might be seen as "unconventional", with the understanding that Jones & Co. are happy with their first choice of a defensive contributor at No. 12 and these players are on the board at No. 20.

Monroe Freeling, Georgia OT

When the offensive line is at its healthiest, the two tackle spots have been the least productive for the Cowboys over the last couple of seasons. Former first-rounder Tyler Guyton has left a lot of meat on the bone two years in, and especially after his rookie extension, right tackle Terence Steele hasn't fortified the edge as well as many have hoped.

Freeling could be a long-term investment for this unit if Dallas lands a defensive stud at No. 12 ... because the public outrage of an offensive line pick in Round 1 would be immense if Dallas didn't also address more dire needs.

The former undrafted free agent Steele will begin to have some contract flexibility to move on from. Freeling has been more comfortable playing on the right side, too, with most of his starts coming there against the stout SEC edge rusher competition.

Guyton will be entering Year 3, so the team may want to extend his leash, given that he also came with a first-round pedigree. But in that sense, Freeling is equally as raw coming out of college as Guyton was. The potential to be a replacement at either spot could still be helpful for arguably the worst part of the Cowboys' offense.

Aveion Terrell, CB Clemson

If Dallas is hesitant about drafting Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy because of his "redshirt" possibility after missing last year with an injury, picking a guy like Terrell could be looked at as contradictory. We believe LSU's Mansoor Delane would be the Cowboys' top choice at corner, but if they choose a lineman at No. 12 and Delane isn't available on the wraparound (which he surely won't be), there'd be trouble for that position.

Terrell entered the draft process as a first-round candidate, but he reaggravated a hamstring injury at Clemson's pro day that resulted in bad 40 times and could make teams reconsider picking him. If the Cowboys think less of his injury than that of a more substantial one like McCoy's ACL, then it could result in a risky selection.

Dillon Thieneman, S Oregon

At No. 20, Thieneman wouldn't be much of an "unconventional" selection because that's on the later end of his projections, but I've seen mocks that have him going as high as No. 12 for the Cowboys. That's a much more surprising gamble.

The Oregon product is regarded as the second-best safety behind Ohio State's All-American Caleb Downs, who Dallas (among others) has no reason not to like. If the Cowboys fall in love with the idea of a safety but miss out on Downs, reaching for the next-best option earlier than expected would fill the need for Parker, a secondary specialist who has prioritized the type of versatility Thieneman offers.

Many thought Tyler Booker was a reach at No. 12 last year, and that turned out fine, so this could be another one of those scenarios.