NFL mock draft 2.0 — Dallas Cowboys get lucky, fill big need with CB C.J. Henderson
The Dallas Cowboys are heading into the 2020 NFL draft needing help the most help at defensive end, cornerback, safety and receiver.
The first two are a little more critical in the need department than the others because of the unknown and the uncertainty at the positions.
The Cowboys lost last season’s two most productive defensive players, lineman Robert Quinn and cornerback Byron Jones, to free agency.
While they signed indefinitely suspended defensive end Aldon Smith to a one-year deal to help fill in for Quinn, he has not played in four years and still has yet to be reinstated by the NFL.
At least Smith has a resume of past success, there are no current or prospective former No. 1 cornerbacks on the roster to replace Jones, a Pro Bowl talent.
The need there is acute.
The Cowboys covered themselves a bit in free agency at safety with the signing of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. But he is on a one-year deal and fellow starter Xavier Woods is in the last year of his contract. The need is for now and the future.
Drafting a receiver is not a first-round must now that Amari Cooper has signed a five-year, $100 million contract and Michael Gallup coming into his own. But they do need a replacement for departed slot receiver Randall Cobb.
Look for the Cowboys to address the receiver position in the middle rounds. It becomes an option in the first round if one of the top two players in Jerry Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb fall to them and make it a situation they can’t pass up.
With the 17th overall pick, teams are at the mercy of what’s left on the board but the Cowboys would be beyond excited if Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson was there for the taking, as the Star-Telegram Mock Draft 2.0 predicts.
Jeudy fell to the Cowboys in the initial mock draft.
Henderson would fill the biggest need and be the best fit, in addition to being a player worthy of the draft slot.
He is widely considered the No. 2 player at the position, though some general managers rank him as the best cover cornerback in the draft, ahead of Ohio State star Jeffrey Okudah.
Here is the Star-Telegram’s second mock draft that still projects three TCU players being selected in the first round:
1. Cincinnati Bengals (2-14) – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU: They can start contract talks now. This has been a foregone conclusion for months. Burrow to the Bengals.
2. Washington Redskins (3-13) – Chase Young, DE, Ohio State: Washington continues to load up on Buckeyes and this one may be the best player in the draft.
3. Detroit Lions (3-12-1) – Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson: Lions coach Matt Patricia is already lying in bed at night dreaming of ways to use the speedy Simmons
4. New York Giants (4-12) – Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn: After the Lions took Simmons, the Giants couldn’t pass up the gift of a future all-pro defensive tackle
5. Miami Dolphins (5-11) –Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon: The Dolphins go with the safe pick and chose Herbert over the injury prone Tua Tagovailoa.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11) – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama: The Chargers run to board to take Tagovailoa, who is the most talented QB in the draft.
7. Carolina Panthers (5-11) – Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama: The Panthers are a year away from getting their quarterback but they lock up their franchise left tackle.
8. Arizona Cardinals (5-10-1) – Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State: The South Grand Prairie star Okudah is natural at the position and will replace Patrck Peterson as CB1.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10) – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma: Lamb is the first receiver taken in the draft and highest receiver ever drafted from Oklahoma.
10. Cleveland Browns (6-10) – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa: The Browns get more protection for quarterback Baker Mayfield.
11. New York Jets (7-9) – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama: The Jets let Robby Anderson go in free agency and get a real No. 1 in the talented and explosive Jeudy.
12. Las Vegas Raiders (7-9) – Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama: The Raiders channel their inner Al Davis and the fastest receiver in the draft.
13. San Francisco 49ers (13-3) – Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina: The 49ers maintain the mantra of keeping what’s strong, strong after dealing DeForest Buckner to Indy.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) – Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia: If you sign Tom Brady in free agency, then you must make protecting him a high priority.
15. Denver Broncos (7-9) – Joshua Jones, OT, Houston: A 45-game starter at Houston, Jones will be this draft’s first pick from a Texas school.
16. Atlanta Falcons (7-9) – K’Lavon Chaisson, DE, LSU: The Falcons signed Dante Fowler in free agency but couldn’t pass on the second-best pass rusher in the draft.
17. Dallas Cowboys (8-8) – C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida: Dallas’ troubled secondary gets a Christmas gift in April when Henderson falls to them.
18. Miami Dolphins (5-11) – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville: He ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing 5.1 seconds at the combine. Now he will be rushed to protect Herbert.
19. Las Vegas Raiders (7-9) – Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU: As Dallas knows, D-line coach Rod Marinelli likes to draft defensive lineman. He’ll be the first Horned Frog selected.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10) – A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson: The Jaguars have traded away Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. They need help at cornerback, badly.
21. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) – Patrick Queen, LB, LSU: The Eagles add to an already stout front seven on defense.
22. Minnesota Vikings (10-6) – Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU: The Vikes will use the Buffalo Bills’ pick to replace Stefon Diggs. And this TCU star fits the bill perfectly.
23. New England Patriots (12-4) – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU: Tom Brady or no Tom Brady — and, yes, Pats’ fans it’s still the latter — they still need help at receiver.
24. New Orleans Saints (13-3) – Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor: The big and athletic Jefferson playing opposite Pro Bowler Michael Thomas? Drew Brees may never retire.
25. Minnesota Vikings (10-6) – Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU: The Vikings fill a much needed hole after losing Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander in free agency.
26. Miami Dolphins (5-11) – Tee Higgins, WR, Miami: The Dolphins got their quarterback and left tackle. Now they secure a No. 1 receiver for years to come.
27. Seattle Seahawks (11-5) – Grant Delpit, FS, LSU: Delpit’s slide ends in a perfect spot as he can start a new version of the Legion of Boom secondary.
28. Baltimore Ravens (14-2) – Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State: The Ravens get some pass rush help to match a strong defensive tackle haul in free agency.
29. Tennessee Titans (9-7) – Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma: Murray gives the Titans defense a high volume tackler from Day 1.
30. Green Bay Packers (13-3) – Laviska Shenault, Jr., WR, Colorado: The run on WRs continues with Shenault, Jr. who in 2018 led the nation with 9.6 catches per game.
31. San Francisco 49ers (13-3) – Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia: A long and physical cornerback who is a willing tackler, built in the image of Richard Sherman.
32. Kansas City Chiefs (12-4) – Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU: For the first time since 1939, the Horned Frogs have three first-round selections, and Gladney is CB1 for the champs.
This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
