Cowboys Draft: Stacking Defense, Playoff Push

0:00On April 6, Dallas Cowboys came off a wild year with a top-tier offense, but the league's worst defense, missing the playoffs in their first season, under Brian Shottenheimer. Now they're sitting pretty with first-round picks at number 12 and number 20, heading into the 20-26 NFL draft, aiming to stack. That defense and push for the postseason, they grab cornerback Jermad McCoy from Tennessee at 12, a lockdown guy who missed last year with an ACL tear, but is fully back and could have gone. Top 10 Without It. Then at 20, from the pick they got in the Micah Parsons trade with Green Bay, they take defensive in Aki Mesador to pair with Rashan Gary and fire up the pass rush. Fans are buzzing because Dallas desperately needs a true number one corner after getting torched through the air last season, and McCoy fits as a man, or zone beast. Their linebacker room gets a boost too with Kyle Lewis from Pitt in Round 3, a versatile tackler with sacks, picks, and runstuffs who can do it.

1:03All. Later rounds bring more heat, offensive tackle Jew Bowery in Round 4 for tackle depth, safety, VJ Payne in Round 5 with his 4.4. Speed Another edge guy Mason Riger, Speedster wide out Malik Binson, and guard Armaj Reed Adams in Round 7 for line insurance. This mock has the Cowboys building a nasty front 7 and secondary fast, turning that weak spot into a strength and setting up real playoff runs if these young guns hit.