Dallas Cowboys 7-Round Mock Draft: Trading up for a future All-Pro

Round 5, Pick 164

TE, Colby Parkinson

Stanford

This is a pretty terrible tight end class, so luckily for the Dallas Cowboys, they just committed to Blake Jarwin. Jarwin is going to get the bulk of the tight end snaps and behind him Dalton Schultz will serve as the TE2. Schultz is a well-rounded player who has been improving the past two seasons and grades pretty well as a blocker. This buys time for the Cowboys to develop someone like Parkinson.

Parkinson is an intriguing prospect from a trustworthy program. The 6-foot-7, 251lb pass-catcher from Stanford has the type of raw abilities and measurable you can’t teach. The stuff you can teach (route running, blocking technique, weight training) all needs work.

Parkinson isn’t the slow and lumbering runner most men his size are. He’s actually pretty fluid and has a frame that should be able to handle extra weight without giving up mobility. It’s going to take a couple years but Parkinson could be a decent tight end in the pros.

Round 5, Pick 179

LB Justin Strnad

Wake Forest

Justin Strnad is a 6-foot-3, 235 lb linebacker who’s made for the pro game. He’s strengths are his ability to play sideline to sideline, to be an asset in coverage, and to play in multiple fronts. More finesse than strength, Strnad is the kind of guy you want to keep blockers off of. He’ll be a special teams ace and a developmental linebacker with starting potential as a nickel ‘backer or WILL.