Dallas Cowboys 7-Round Mock Draft: Trading up for a future All-Pro
By Reid Hanson
Round 7, Pick 231
WR John Hightower
Boise State
You didn’t think we were going to make it through a whole draft without snagging a guy from Bosie State, did you? Well here we go – the Dallas Cowboys’ newest gadget guy and heir to Tavon Austin, John Hightower.
Best 10-yard splits recorded among participating receivers at the 2020 Combine:
— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) March 14, 2020
1. Henry Ruggs III (1.43)
2. Ceedee Lamb (1.46)
4. Jerry Jeudy (1.48)
6. John Hightower (1.49)
T-8. Devin Duvernay (1.51)
T-8. Denzel Mims (1.51)
T-8. Michael Pittman Jr. (1.51)
Blessed with crazy speed, John Hightower is a bona fide field stretcher. His playing speed is tops and his build-up is deceptive, often forcing DB’s into bad angles and consistently creating something out of nothing. While Tavon’s role seems to diminish the further down field he runs, Hightower’s presence grows. The 6-foot-1 185 lb big play threat needs to add weight to his frame in order to hold up against press coverage , but he can thrive in the slot and at the Z and should be able to contribute immediately in the return game, and as a jet sweep and screen threat.
His drops are concerning but that’s why he’s available in the seventh round. What he offers as a field stretcher is valuable and just the threat of getting deep is useful, even if he’s not targeted often.
More from Cowboys Draft
- Dallas Cowboys 2019 Draft: Re-grading the picks 4 year later
- Dallas Cowboys: Re-grading the 2018 draft class (round by round)
- Re-grading the Dallas Cowboys 2016 draft, seven years later
- Dallas Cowboys 2023 UDFA profiles – Who are these guys?
- Dallas Cowboys 2023 draft grades: The science of the grades, pick by pick
Debrief
This mock draft relies on the premise Jeffery Okudah falls to Pick 8 and Arizona is willing to deal. Before the big trade for DeAndre Hopkins, I’d say no way would they trade back, but now that they have their WR1, they could want to speed up their rebuild and add two more top-100 picks to their roster. Dallas never gets their safety in this draft but I’m not sure Will McClay values one very high anyway.
They traded away the risk and reward of their Day 2 picks for one of the safest players in the draft. It’s costly but if he’s a lockdown corner on Day 1 and a future All-Pro like we expect, the cost is a bargain.
Dallas rounds out their roster with rotational players on the edge, at defensive tackle, and linebacker. They have developmental guys at TE and WR and have an instant starter in the slot who should be an improvement over Randall Cobb.
dark. Next. Cowboys 7-round mock draft: Massive defensive reload
Normally I’d never trade up for a player unless it’s a QB but I feel much better about trading up for Okudah than I do waiting for C.J. Henderson or settling on Plan B or C. Would you be willing to trade up for a sure thing? How far would you go and what would you give up? Be sure to check out the draft trade chart and hit up the Draft Network to run some mock drafts of your own.