The 2010 season for the Dallas Cowboys mirrors that of the San Francisco 49ers. Jerry Jones' 'Boys were considered by many to be the Super Bowl favorites coming into the season. Instead, the defense looked lost, Tony Romo broke his collarbone and voila! you have yourself a top ten pick in the NFL Draft.
What will be their direction? According to drafttek.com, Dallas has needs that include virtually the entire defense and at offensive line. Scott Howard brings us the projected pick for "America's Team."
Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
It's never a good thing when you come into a season as a Super Bowl contender and leave with a Top 10 pick, but that's exactly what happened to Jerry Jones and his Dallas Cowboys. It certainly didn't help the team that they lost Tony Romo to a broken clavicle in October but the team was a mess even before that happened.
From a need perspective the Cowboys offense was actually pretty solid last year, but their defense certainly left something to be desired. They could use help at corner and defensive end which make Nebraska corner Prince Amukamara or Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt a serious consideration, but if I'm being true to the mock draft, here the pick is obvious. It's Marcell Dareus.
Now I know Dallas isn't in the market for a defensive tackle, but any time you have the chance to pick a Top Three talent at number nine, you're going to do it. Does that mean they'll deal the pick to a defensive tackle needy team that's salivating over Dareus' fall? Possibly, but when you have a chance to pick one of the best players available in the draft you snap it up.
If the Cowboys are going off of need there is no way Dareus is the selection but if the situation plays its self out like this don't be surprised if that's the direction they go.
Another NFC East team, now the Washington Redskins, is on the clock. I will bring you that pick tomorrow as we round out the top ten of the draft.
Check out the mock draft on the Arizona Cardinals team blog Revenge of the Birds to see who both the community and the writers are projecting.
2011 SBN AZ Mock Draft recap:
1- Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn (Jess Root)
2- Denver Broncos: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M (Cory Williams)
3- Buffalo Bills: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri (Scott Howard)
4- Cincinnati Bengals: AJ Green, WR, Georgia (JR)
5- Arizona Cardinals: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU (CW)
6- Cleveland Browns: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson (SH)
7- San Francisco 49ers: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina (JR)
8- Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn (CW)
9- Dallas Cowboys: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama (SH)