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Dallas Cowboys 7-Round Mock Draft: Getting Defensive (version 1.0)

By Reid Hanson

MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 21: Quintez Cephus #87 of the Wisconsin Badgers is pursued by JC Jackson #7 of the Maryland Terrapins during a game at Camp Randall Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin defeated Maryland 38-13. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 21: Quintez Cephus #87 of the Wisconsin Badgers is pursued by JC Jackson #7 of the Maryland Terrapins during a game at Camp Randall Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin defeated Maryland 38-13. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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OXFORD, MS – SEPTEMBER 24: Brian Herrien #35 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs the ball and is tackled by Benito Jones #95 of the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels defeated the Bulldogs 45-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Round 5

Benito Jones

DT, Ole Miss

Ladies and gentlemen, I give your trashcan full of dirt. At 6-foot-1 321lbs, Benito Jones isn’t just a speed bump, he’s a road block. That should be music to Dallas Cowboys fans’ ears. For years the team has been hesitant to invest draft picks in the interior line. And when they did they were either boom/bust 3-techs like Trysten Hill, or late round flyers on try-hards like Joey Ivie.

Under Mike Nolan, many are hoping the Cowboys will invest in a run-stopping 1-tech that can 2-gap in either the 4-3 or the 3-4. Jones should be able to do that.

The good thing with Jones is he’s not just an unathletic slob who stands his ground. He’s actually fairly nimble and has a build that can handle his weight. He’s never going to be a pass-rusher, but he projects to be a decent 2-down player in the NFL.

Fit on the Dallas Cowboys

As discussed before, the Cowboys are paper-thin at DT depth this season. With such a deep free agent class, one would hope the Cowboys would invest money to the top of the ranks before the draft. There are a few players who can play both 1-tech and 3-tech and the Dallas Cowboys should seriously consider them.

If Dallas signs a guy like D.J. Reader, they wait until Day 3 of the draft and go after a developmental player like Benito Jones. With any luck Jones would join a DT rotation early and give Dallas some inexpensive depth inside against the run.

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