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Cowboys eye freakish DT, physical CB, RB of future in PFF’s 4-round mock

The Cowboys’ areas of need are no real surprise to anyone who’s been paying attention. But the way in which the front office will choose to address those needs (and their order of importance) is, of course, up for great debate this time of year.

There are decisions to be made with a slew of the team’s own free agents, and there will be other teams’ castoffs that warrant at least a discussion about their potential fit in Dallas.

But the Joneses love to build primarily through the draft, relying on young and inexpensive collegiate talent for their main influx of new personnel.

PFF‘s John Owning has sifted through through this year’s class to identify the first four picks that make the most sense for Dallas in 2023.

Round 1, Pick 26: DT Mazi Smith, Michigan

Sep 24, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Maryland Terrapins running back Roman Hemby (24) is tackled by Michigan Wolverines defensive lineman Mazi Smith (58) in the first half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

If Smith isn’t on your radar quite yet, he likely will be after the combine, predicts Owning. One of the premier athletes of this draft class, he’s a freakish athlete with scary size, blistering speed, and a ton of killer game tape against A-list competition.

He was one of the nation’s 15 best run-stopping interior defensive linemen last year, but he also has untapped potential in the pass rush game.

There’s no guarantee veteran tackle Johnathan Hankins is back in Dallas in 2023; Smith is an inch taller, 20 pounds heavier, and nine years younger.

The Cowboys tend to not address DT until deeper in the draft- Neville Gallimore, Quinton Bohanna, and Osa Odigihizuwa were all taken in the third round or later- but if Smith is there waiting at No. 26, “this is the perfect opportunity for Dallas to right the wrongs of its past,” Owning writes.

Round 2, Pick 58: CB Eli Ricks, Alabama

Ricks was a monster as a freshman at LSU, but injuries plagued him as a sophomore and then followed him to Tuscaloosa last season. When he’s healthy, though, the 6-foot-2-inch, 190-pounder thrives. “Among FBS cornerbacks,” Owning notes, “the junior allowed the lowest completion rate and tied for second in yards allowed per coverage snap in 2022.”

The Cowboys have historically proven to be unafraid to roll the dice with their second-rounders; Ricks is one of this year’s most talented cornerback prospects despite his injury history.

Anthony Brown is set to become a free agent, and he and Jourdan Lewis are coming off injuries of their own. Ricks could be a very physical presence in a Dallas secondary alongside Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland.

Round 3, Pick 90: WR A.T. Perry, Wake Forest

Perry may have slipped through the cracks a bit playing at Wake Forest, but he’ll be hard to miss at the next level. He’s 6-foot-3 (some outlets list him even taller) with massive arms and hands, and he put on a show among the all-stars at this year’s East-West Shrine Game.

He would be “a perfect complement” to CeeDee Lamb in the Cowboys offense, notes Owning, thanks to his ability to perform on the outside and routinely create separation.

With T.Y Hilton and Noah Brown on the cusp of free agency and loads of questions marks with the rest of the position group, Perry would be a nice addition to the WR room, even if Dallas lands a big veteran fish in the coming weeks.

Round 4, Pick 129: RB Zach Evans, Ole Miss

Oct 29, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Mississippi Rebels running back Zach Evans (6) jumps over Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Jardin Gilbert (20) in the second half at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Even if the Cowboys bring back both Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott in 2023, there seems to be a groundswell of support for the notion of drafting a running back every year just to keep the talent pool stocked.

Evans finished 2022 ranked sixth among the rushers in this year’s draft class with 6.1 yards per carry, with patience and burst and a knack for making second-level defenders look foolish once he gets there.

He hasn’t shown much as a pass-catcher, but Owning believes he has the raw skills that could help him “become the bell cow in Dallas’s backfield in Years 2-4.”

Story originally appeared on Cowboys Wire