With the NFL Draft just days away, the Dallas Cowboys’ first pick will be ...
The Dallas Cowboys will be open for business Thursday on the first day of the 2022 NFL Draft.
They could trade up for the right player and a unique talent. They could trade back, depending on what’s left on the board when they pick at 24.
Or they could stand put and hopefully catch a falling star that fits their needs.
The Cowboys could go offensive line, receiver, linebacker or a stud defensive lineman.
The Cowboys will be ready for anything on the first day of a draft that expects to be unpredictable with a host of trades and movement likely on the come.
Look for a run on receivers early and while the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones will be tempted to go with Arkansas standout Treylon Burks, who should be the last top receiver still on the board when they pick at 24, look for them to do the prudent thing.
Boston College guard Zion Johnson, who is the best interior lineman on board, is the pick for the Cowboys on final Star-Telegram mock draft.
He would be a walk-in starter for the departed Connor Williams and fill the team’s most urgent need.
The Star-Telegram’s 2022 NFL Mock Draft 3.0
1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Travon Walker, DE, Georgia.
Too much smoke on the first pick. The athletic Walker jumps Hutchinson to go No. 1 overall.
2. Detroit Lions – Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan.
The do-it-all pass rusher stays home and is a god send to the Lions. Will help the defense and ticket sales.
3. Houston Texans – Evan Neal, OT, Alabama.
The Texans’ rebuild will be slow and methodical. They begin with the best tackle in the draft.
4. New York Jets – Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati.
Long, rangy corner who did not give up a touchdown in coverage during his college career.
5. New York Giants – Kyle Hamilton, FS, Notre Dame.
The Giants are thin at safety, and Hamilton is the rare safety who can play deep, middle and box.
6. Carolina Panthers – Ikem Ekwonu, OT, N.C. State.
The Panthers need a quarterback, but they start with with a punishing blocker who can anchor the line.
7. New York Giants (from Chicago) – Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon.
Thibodeaux was in play for the No. 1 pick before a down season. The skills are there. The upside is to the ceiling.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Malik Wilis, QB, Liberty
Falcons get a quarterback to develop for the future and he can sit for a year behind Marcus Mariota.
9. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) – Derek Stingley, CB, LSU.
The Pete Carroll era began with a defensive foundation. Stingley is a shutdown corner with NFL pedigree.
10. New York Jets (from Seattle) – Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State.
The Jets got their franchise quarterback last year. They now get a massive offensive tackle to protect him.
11. Washington Commanders – Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama.
Williams is the best receiver in the draft, despite his torn ACL. Commanders finally get Terry McLaurin some help.
12. Minnesota Vikings – Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia.
A monstrous defender who offers elite run defense and the potential to impact the game as a pass rusher.
13. Houston Texans (from Cleveland) – Jermaine Johnson, DE, Florida State.
Coach Lovie Smith needs a pass rusher for his 4-3 defense. Johnson has rare speed and quickness off the edge.
14. Baltimore Ravens – Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson.
Booth is a press-zone corner who has a ball-hawk mentality as well as the physicality to be great in run support.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami) – Drake London, WR, USC.
One year after taking Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, the Eagles continue to upgrade the WR corps.
16. New Orleans (from Indianapolis through Philadelphia) – Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
The Saints need help at receiver, and they luck into the falling Wilson at 16. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
17. Los Angeles Chargers – Trevor Penning, OL, Northern Iowa.
Chargers go back-to-back years with first-round tackles, and Penning ran a 4.89 second 40-yard dash.
18. Philadelphia Eagles – George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue.
The Eagles need rush help after a paltry 29 sacks as a team in 2021. Karlaftis is a freakish athlete.
19. New Orleans Saints – Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh.
The Saints made the massive trade up with the Eagles to get a quarterback. And Pickett is their guy.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia.
Wyatt is an explosive interior rusher who is just tapping his potential. Third Georgia DL picked in top 20.
21. New England Patriots – Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington.
The Patriots find a first-round replacement for J.C. Jackson. McDuffie is a shutdown corner who does it all.
22. Green Bay Packers (from Las Vegas) – Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State.
Receiver is a huge need after the loss of Davante Adams. The speedy Dotson can take the top off a defense.
23. Arizona Cardinals – Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State.
The Cardinals lost Christian Kirk in free agency. Olave, a route-running specialist, is the perfect replacement.
24. Dallas Cowboys – Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College.
Arkansas WR Treylon Burks is tempting, but Johnson fills the biggest need as a walk-in starter at right guard.
25. Buffalo Bills – Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida.
With Tre’Davious White coming off a serious knee injury, this future shutdown corner fills a huge need for the Bills.
26. Tennessee Titans – Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah.
Titans get the draft’s best all-around linebacker in Lloyd, who can rush the pass rusher and stuff the run.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Boye Mafe, Edge, Minnesota.
Tampa Bay needs a rusher to replace Jason Pierre Paul. Mafe is a freak athlete who can get to the QB.
28. Green Bay Packers – Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia.
Dean won’t wow you with his size, but he’s a playmaker and great leader who could be the next Ray Lewis.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (from San Francisco through Miami) – Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas.
Burks won’t replace Tyreek Hill, but his skills as a game-breaker can put the big play back in the Chiefs offense.
30. Kansas City Chiefs – Daxton Hill, S, Michigan.
The Chiefs need to bolster safety after letting Tyrann Mathieu and Daniel Sorensen walk. Hill can hit, run and cover.
31. Cincinnati Bengals – Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington.
The Bengals have a need at cornerback and Gordon is a dynamic athlete who will be better in the NFL.
32. Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams) – Lewis Cine, S, Georgia.
Detroit fills a long-standing need with Cine, who would be the fourth first-rounder from the national champions’ defensive squad.
