The Cowboys need defensive help, but which position should take priority in the NFL Draft?
It is no secret that the Dallas Cowboys need defensive help for Christian Parker, and the franchise has already made several moves this offseason.
But the biggest ones are yet to happen.
Dallas holds two first-round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, Nos. 12 and 20. The big question is what positions the Cowboys could target with those selections.
For most, that depends on how the draft board falls, because if safety Caleb Downs slips to No. 12, Dallas will run to put its draft card in.
Still, most mock drafts have the Cowboys going for corner Mansoor Delane with the No. 12 overall pick, and considering the needs, that is what fans want to hear.
But linebacker is also a position high on the list.
And ESPN's Todd Archer has given us some information on the position the Cowboys have discussed, and it's surprising.
"The Cowboys opened up their draft meetings on Monday with the scouts, coaches, owner and general manager Jerry Jones, co-owner Stephen Jones, vice president of player personnel Will McClay and coach Brian Schottenheimer," Archer wrote.
"The first position discussed was edge players. Maybe this means nothing, maybe it means a little, but it seems fitting for a team in need of pass-rush help. The Cowboys have had meetings with Texas Tech's David Bailey and Ohio State's Arvell Reese. They were also at Miami's Pro Day with Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor."
The fact that Dallas has met with Arvell Reese and David Bailey, two players many expect will not last past the first handful of picks, is interesting. But in truth, the franchise is likely doing its due diligence.
Still, pass rusher high on the priority list?
We've gathered an assortment of reports on confirmed 30 Visits, and on some key Dallas Day visitors as well. (Big hat-tips to RJ Ochoa of Blogging the Boys and to Nick Harris of the Star-Telegram.)
Let's name names, complete with projected ranking and round …
5th Sonny Styles LB Ohio State Round 1
10th Mansoor Delane CB LSU Round 1
26th Omar Cooper Jr. WR Indiana Round 2
60th Keionte Scott CB Miami Round 2
61st Josiah Trotter LB Missouri Round 2
73rd Kamari Ramsey S USC Round 3
82nd Romello Height EDGE Texas Tech Round 3
98th Malik Muhammad CB Texas Round 3
168th Charles Demmings CB SFA Round 5
275th Nyjalik Kelly EDGE UCF UDFA
424th Rene Konga DL Louisville UDFA
Now we can add ...
Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, who we think is a candidate for Dallas at No. 20 ...
Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes is a visitor; he plays both cornerback and per The Athletic’s Dane Brugler is the No. 11 corner and No. 77 overall prospect.
And South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse (second-rounder?) has been here as has San Diego State corner Chris Johnson (possible first-round.)
Oh, and Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell, too. (He should be a high-second-rounder.)
They've also visited with receiver Chris Bell of Louisville (third-round projection) and with the intriguing tight end/receiver Eli Stowers of Vanderbilt (second round).
Add it up, and ...
While you can see why many fixate on Dallas' need to draft a corner with its early picks, maybe getting a pass rusher could be in the cards.
And inside that Cowboys meeting room? Maybe there's a reveal that the franchise has a keen interest in grabbing a pass rusher way up high.