Time is inching closer to the NFL draft, and the Dallas Cowboys have a tough decision to make.
The number of holes that the Cowboys need to address when they're on the clock at No. 18 is staggering. Which side of the line do they address? Should they address the other safety spot? Or is there another position that's out of the blue that they would take?
No, I will not say Montee Ball again. The hate mail is still piling in.
Nevertheless, there are some interesting players that Dallas should consider looking at when Roger Goodell announces that Jerry Jones has 15 minutes to get a quality player.
So, let's go ahead and take a look at the top five players that the Cowboys should target at No. 18.
1) Chance Warmack, G, Alabama: Warmack is a mauler at the line. There's no other way to put it.
At 6'3" and 320 pounds, the former Crimson Tide guard would be an instant starter come day one for the Cowboys as they attempt to repair that dreaded offensive line.
Warmack has drawn comparisons to Larry Allen in some aspects, and if that's the case, this is a no-brainer. Anybody who comes from Nick Saban's team is guaranteed to be NFL ready, and he would be a great fit to put on either side of the interior line.
2) Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri: In a draft class loaded with defensive tackles, Richardson is probably the third-best choice after Star Lotulelei and Sharrif Floyd. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Richardson is a 6'3", 293-pound monster who won't get you many sacks, but he's very capable at clogging the middle of the line. And with Dallas switching to a 4-3 defense, added with the possibility of Jay Ratliff returning next year, the Cowboys will need someone to play on the other side of him.
Richardson's stock rose close to the top-10 after his performance at the combine, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him be taken well before then. But if he's there, he wouldn't be a bad choice.
3) Ziggy Ansah, DE, BYU: This pick comes down to Anthony Spencer not signing a new contract to stay in Dallas.
If not, Ziggy Ansah is a great choice here at 18.
Ansah was one of the fastest defensive lineman who ran the 40, running a 4.63, and at 6'5" and just over 270 pounds he would be a nice fit. He's not going to get you many sacks off the edge, but he's a really good run-stopping defensive end. Give him time to develop, and he has Jason Pierre-Paul written all over him.
That alone is intriguing.
4) Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas: I've been really intrigued with Kenny Vaccaro for the last number of months.
But then he ran a disappointing 40 time, and that raised a few eyebrows, but his game can't go unnoticed at 6'0" and 214 pounds.
Vaccaro's vertical of 38 inches was perhaps the biggest thing scouts came away with after the combine. Tie that in with quickness to be able to play the slot and center field, and you have yourself a quality player at 18.
5) Jarvis Jones, DE, Georgia: This is the dark-horse pick, albeit if Jarvis Jones were to fall this far.
Some drafts have him marked between picks 10-15, so it wouldn't be a shock to see him unavailable. But if he is, and if Dallas would rather have someone come off the edge and get to the quarterback, then there's no need to look any further than a man who had 14.5 sacks last year for the Bulldogs.
Jones has good size at defensive end at 6'3" and 245 pounds, and he has really good pursuit speed. And against the likes of Michael Vick and Robert Griffin III, Dallas will need that. If he's there at 18, this would be a huge steal.
So who do you think Dallas should take with the 18th pick? Do you want any of these players, or do you have another one in mind? Leave it in the comments.
Danny Webster is a featured columnist for the Dallas Cowboys. You can get in contact with him by following @DannyWebster21 on Twitter.
