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COWBOYS NFL DRAFT 2012


COWBOYS DRAFT ORDER
RdPk(Ovr)Name
1#6(6)Morris Claiborne, LSU, CB
3#18(81)Tyrone Crawford, Boise St., DE
4#18(113)Kyle Wilber, Wake Forest, OLB
4#40(135)Matt Johnson, E. Washington, S
5#17(152)Danny Coale, Va. Tech, WR
6#16(186)James Hanna, Oklahoma, TE
7#15(222)Caleb McSurdy, Montana, ILB

Complete NFL draft order »


HEADLINES

TEAM NEEDS

Defensive line

All of the Cowboys' defensive linemen combined for 10.5 sacks and 17 tackles for losses. This team desperately needs a disruptive presence up front, especially with nose tackle Jay Ratliff's production declining. Just look at Houston's J.J. Watt for evidence of what a playmaking defensive end can do for a 3-4 team. North Carolina's Quinton Coples or Mississippi State's Fletcher Cox could fit the bill for the Cowboys in the first round, although there are questions about Coples' motor. Jerry Jones has also expressed intrigue about Memphis nose tackle Dontari Poe, a workout wonder who wasn't a dominant player in Conference USA.

Safety

Brodney Pool is a band-aid at best after signing a one-year deal to replace one-and-done Abram Elam. The Cowboys have needed a playmaking safety since Darren Woodson's prime ended. The problem is that the best safeties on the board -- Alabama's Mark Barron and Notre Dame's Harrison Smith -- aren't perfect fits to be paired with Gerald Sensabaugh. Like Sensabaugh, Barron and Smith are better suited to play strong safety than free safety. Nevertheless, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Cowboys' first-round pick is Barron, a smart, tough, big hitter with leadership skills, ball skills and two national championship rings. If not Barron, the Cowboys could pick Smith in the second round.

Outside linebacker

The Cowboys had to put the franchise tag on Anthony Spencer and play a slightly above average outside linebacker $8.8 million this season because they did such a poor job preparing to replace him. They can't afford to let that happen again. Nor should they commit to a lucrative, long-term contract extension for a 2007 first-round pick who has been an underachiever. Although it wouldn't address an immediate need, the Cowboys would have to seriously consider selecting South Carolina's Melvin Ingram or Alabama's Courtney Upshaw if they are available with the 14th overall pick. Oklahoma's Ronnell Lewis could be a fit in the second round.

-- Tim MacMahon

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2011 TEAM DRAFT HISTORY

YEAR ROUND PK(OVR) TEAM NAME POSITION SCHOOL
201119(9)CowboysTyron SmithOTUSC
201128(40)CowboysBruce CarterOLBNorth Carolina
201137(71)CowboysDemarco MurrayRBOklahoma
2011413(110)CowboysDavid ArkinOGMissouri State
2011512(143)CowboysJoshua ThomasCBBuffalo
2011611(176)CowboysDwayne HarrisWREast Carolina
2011717(220)CowboysShaun ChapasFBGeorgia
Pick Notefrom San Diego
2011749(252)CowboysBill NagyCWisconsin
Pick NoteCompensatory

Complete Cowboys Draft History »

MEDIA

Podcasts
Todd McShay, NFL

ESPN's Todd McShay talks about how the Jets, Patriots, Eagles, Packers, Buccaneers, Redskins, Seahawks, Broncos and more teams fared during the NFL draft.

First Draft

Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay recap the NFL draft and offer grades and impact players for every team.

Todd McShay

ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay defends the Washington Redskins' decision to draft QB Kirk Cousins. McShay says this could be the best thing for Cousins' career and the Redskins could have a great backup.

More Podcasts »

LOOK BACK AT PREVIOUS NFL DRAFTS

2011
  • Newton
    Goin' To Carolina
    Off-field issues did not stop Carolina from making No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton the face of the franchise.
    2011 NFL draft coverage »
2010
  • Bradford
    Ram Tough?
    Injury concerns did not deter St. Louis from making ultra-accurate QB Sam Bradford its franchise player.
    2010 NFL draft coverage »
2009
  • Stafford
    Detroit QB City
    The Lions had many needs but couldn't pass up a chance at a franchise QB like Matthew Stafford.
    2009 NFL draft coverage »
2008
  • Long
    Fish Tale
    Seeing an OT who could anchor its line for years to come, Miami selected Jake Long No. 1 overall.
    2008 NFL draft coverage »
2007
2006
2005
  • Smith
    49ers' Mr. Smith
    San Francisco liked the potential of QB Alex Smith and made him the No. 1 overall pick.
    2005 NFL draft coverage »

COMPLETE DRAFT HISTORY

How has your team drafted in previous years? View the history of the draft dating back to 1967.

Mel Kiper's rankings on Insider

DALLAS COWBOYS ON TWITTER

Follow @espncowboysblog »

WATCH: JON GRUDEN'S QB CAMP

Transition game
Jon Gruden and Ryan Tannehill talk about moving from wideout to quarterback.

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DALLAS COWBOYS BLOG

Dallas Cowboys blog »

MUST-SEE DRAFT COVERAGE

  • ESPN Chicago on Bears
    Alshon Jeffery faced some pre-draft questions, but none that scared off the Bears.
  • ESPN Dallas on Boys
    Defense ruled for Dallas again on Day 2, with two more picks on that side of the ball.
  • ESPN NY on Giants
    The Giants continued to add firepower on Day 2 by selecting LSU WR Rueben Randle.
  • It's All About Luck
    What makes Stanford's Andrew Luck the best QB prospect in the past 30 years? Everything.

ESPN Conversations

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