Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft (Every Round): Drafting the next great TE
By Reid Hanson
TE Kahale Warring
San Diego State
6’5″ 252lbs
Everyone’s favorite sleeper is a sleeper no longer. After draw-dropping Combine and Pro Day performances, Warring is now a legitimate Day 2 pick. In fact, since it’s likely the Dallas Cowboys would need to move up from Pick 90 to secure Warring, I’ve worked a trade-up into this pick selling off Dallas’ fourth round pick so they can move up roughly 10 spots.
Warring is phenomenal athlete who’s extremely raw in his development. The former water polo and basketball star has next-level core strength that translates wonderfully to the tight end position. His 128.3 pSPARQ score was fourth best in his class and he would immediately become one of the most physically gifted TEs in the NFL.
While some Dallas Cowboys fans will be off put by the developmental aspect of a player like Warring (shades of Rico Gathers?), he’s far from Rico 2.0. Warring played in a run-heavy offense at SDSU and managed to produce 51 receptions for 637 yards and eight touchdowns in 19 games. When asked to block he wasn’t just willing but tenacious (two things Gathers has not been).
His work ethic in the running game transferred to the passing game. Warring runs crisp routes and has plus start/stop ability in and out of breaks. He can make receptions in traffic or in contested situations. His hands are ridiculously strong, but he has had an issue with concentration-related catches.
He fits on the Dallas Cowboys as a complete TE capable of flexing out or playing in-line. He’s a redzone animal capable of filling the jumpball void Dez Bryant left behind, and he’s a hard worker willing to do whatever it takes to contribute today.
Warring has one of the biggest upsides in his class and despite his inexperience at the position (2 years of football experience) he’s athletic enough, mean enough, and hardworking enough to keep his floor up.
With the 136th overall pick the Cowboys select…