The Athletic

Exactly two weeks until the NFL Draft, you have undoubtedly seen a number of Dallas Cowboys mock drafts, perhaps even doing some of your own with the many draft simulators. We’ve been doing them often, including a couple of weeks ago; they’re one of the more popular things to pop up in social-media discussions right now. The point of mock drafts, some would argue, isn’t to guess the exact player the team will draft but more so to explore strategy and examine the approach that may be on the table. Which positions will be targeted or prioritized above others? Is a particular draft slot too valuable or is trading back a more favorable option? We’re going to use this version of The Athletic’s Cowboys’ mock draft to take that angle. We’re going to use Pro Football Network’s draft simulator but instead of just making a pick and explaining the reason for it, we will offer the different directions the Cowboys could go with the selection. One caveat with approaching the mock draft in this manner is that we’ll play it straight, making the seven picks the Cowboys have in hand and avoid dabbling in the trade winds. It’s likely — arguably wise — for the Cowboys to entertain trades if they can to add another pick or two in the top 100 but trade opportunities on draft day are a mystery and contingent on much more than the Cowboys alone. Let’s dive in!