Dallas Cowboys Draft: 7 Wide Receivers for 7 Rounds

James Proche, SMU

Round Grade: 5th

Value: Great

Percent of Trials Available: 80%

Yes that is correct, the receiver that I have given a higher grade is somehow falling two rounds behind the previous guy I drafted. Let me explain:

Lynn Bowden is a low-floor/high-ceiling type prospect. He doesn’t have the production or technique, but the upside he brings makes him a higher sought commodity. He also gives the team more creativity with how they use him.

James Proche is a high floor-lower ceiling type prospect. He has plenty of experience and production that justify using a draft pick on him. However, his athleticism is mediocre at best and he has a defined role in the NFL as a slot receiver.  be creative with what routes he needs to run but he doesn’t do anything except play slot receiver.

However, don’t let his athleticism dissuade you from selecting a technically sound receiver.

Proche spent the last five years of his life at  the Hilltop in Downtown Dallas; this was after growing up in Dallas his entire childhood. The wide receiver finished his high school career at DeSoto high school and enrolled at SMU as a three-star recruit.

The Mustang has been remarkably consistent throughout his career for a team that had inconsistent quarterback play until the arrival of transfer quarterback Shane Buechele. In 49 games, Proche caught 301 passes for 3949 yards and 39 touchdowns. In his final season alone, he caught 111 passes for 1225 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The production stands out as Proche is one of the most decorated wide receiver prospects in the draft. Unfortunately, as an athlete, Proche doesn’t provide much. He tested below average at the combine ranking in the bottom 50 percentile in each athletic drill. However, none of this was a surprise after watching his film.

So what does the SMU product provide? As a stocky receiver, nickel cornerbacks will have a difficult time trying to beat him physically. He moves really smooth even if he isn’t the most agile and he has remarkable jump ball ability considering his height, length, and explosiveness.

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His body control and ball tracking ability in the air was extremely impressive to watch as he regularly makes some impressive back shoulder, 50/50 ball catches. In general, he has enough highlight-reel catches to make a 15 minute long video. As a route runner, he is fairly quick in and out of his breaks and his releases are smooth while not necessarily explosive. He sometimes rounds his breaks reducing his separation but he shows the ability to catch passes in uncomfortable positions.

Proche might not have the instant impact Cole Beasley once had for the Cowboys, but he would make for an interesting piece moving forward. As mentioned earlier, his athleticism won’t blow scouts and GMs away, but he has the skills and nuance to succeed at the professional level.

Also, it’d be pretty cool if a guy from Dallas could play… in Dallas.

This concludes the mock draft of receivers. This draft class has a lot of fun talent that project well at the next level. At a fraction of the cost of a free agent receiver, these receivers could become extremely valuable pieces on any team, and especially the Cowboys, who lost Randall Cobb in free agency to in-state Houston Texans.