$100 Match Bonus from Bodog!
Open an new account with Bodog and deposit $100 or more for a $100 match bonus!

BetUS $500 Match Bonus
Sign up for a new account with BetUS and deposit $500 or more to get a $500 match bonus.

2009 NFL Mock Draft: Dallas Cowboys

Written by Jimmy Boyd on April 10, 2009

cowboys draft 41009 After finishing with the best record in the NFC during the regular season in 2007, the Cowboys entered the 2008 season as the odds on favorite to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. If it weren’t for QB Tony Romo going down with an injury, the Cowboys likely would have been playoff bound, but the team clearly didn’t perform as well as expected last season. Jimmy Boyd takes a look at the Cowboys’ most pressing needs, likely targets, and recent draft track record in this 2009 draft preview.

Biggest Draft Needs – Offensively, it’s time for an upgrade at tackle. Flozell Adams has always racked up penalties but he played a pretty mean left tackle to make up for it. Last season, it became apparent that he is past his prime. On the defensive side of the ball, it appears safety Roy Williams will be moving on. For as good of a player as Williams has been, he is increasingly becoming a liability in pass coverage. Plus, Ken Hamlin struggled last season after earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2007. Bringing in a safety who can hack it against the pass is a must. Inside linebacker Zach Thomas may or may not return this season, but either way he doesn’t have much left in the tank and the Cowboys are going to have to look for someone who can play alongside Bradie James long term.

Likely Day 1 Targets – The Cowboys will only have one first day pick as they traded their first round pick (and third and sixth round picks) to Detroit in the Roy Williams (WR) deal. Don’t be surprised if Dallas targets a safety in round two like Clemson’s Michael Hamlin, South Carolina’s Emanuel Cook, Mississippi State’s Derek Pegues, Troy’s Sherrod Martin, or Western Michigan’s Louis Delmas. If the Cowboys elect to go with an offensive tackle Tulane’s Tony Kropog, Oregon’s Fenuki Tupou, and Oklahoma’s Phil Loadholt would be nice fits.

Delmas is a serious possibility. He is not an off-the-charts athlete, but he wows with everything else. His great instincts make up for his lack of top end speed. He has the kind of work ethic that any coach would love and is a willing tackler.

Tupou’s stock has risen. The massive 6′6”, 330 pound tackle plays with a mean streak too. He and Kropog, a 6′6”, 315 pound athletic tackle, are expected to go in the third round, while Loadholt might not be around when the Cowboys pick in round two.

Recent Draft Track Record – All in all, the Cowboys had a very successful 2008 draft, especially at the running back position. Felix Jones was a major asset because of his ability to get to the outside in both the running and passing games. He averaged a whopping 8.9 yards per carry in six games before getting hurt. I can’t wait to see how he does this season. Running back Tashard Choice stepped in and racked up 472 yards (5.1 ypc) in three starts as well. Cornerback Orlando Scandrick turned out to be a fifth round steal as he outshined first rounder Mike Jenkins. Second round tight end Martellus Bennett scored 4 touchdowns on 20 catches in his rookie season as a solid contributor.

Beat the NFL odds this season by doing your football betting on Jimmy Boyd’s NFL expert picks!

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in: