It's been a busy and eventful draft so far for the Dallas Cowboys. They made a trade on the first day and almost ended up with two trades. They took with them human mountain Tyler Guyton, who had already settled in Frisco. The excitement continued yesterday with the acquisition of Marshawn Kneeland to fill the defensive end position. Then, an incredibly high pick was made on the inside offensive line in Cooper Beebe, and Notre Dame's Marist Liufau was added to the linebacker position.
Heading into Day 3, the Cowboys still have needs to fill. In addition to filling the wide receiver, running back, and defensive tackle positions, they are expected to look for players with high attributes. Historically, the Cowboys find a real gem in his third day.
Who are the players to watch on the final day that might interest Dallas? Check out the list of 10 players below.
Jalen Wright, RB – Tennessee
The question is whether Wright will lose to the Cowboys in the fifth round. It's unlikely based on his skill set, but if he were to happen, he would be an instant replacement for Tony Pollard in every respect. Wright isn't going to be a huge success in the A or B gap, but his off-tackle runs and his ability to contribute in the passing game are big pluses for him. He has incredible speed and is incredibly elusive.
Bucky Irving, RB – Oregon State
Irving isn't as fast as Wright, but he's definitely more explosive and combines that with great mobility in short areas. He has good visibility and a great way to get behind blockers and clear a path before entering the hole. His problem is that he's a bit undersized for a workhorse/bell cow running back. But as a change-of-pace running back with big pass-catching upside, he's one of the better running back talents Dallas should take on Day 3. Irving also appeared in 30 games for Dallas this year.
Rasheen Ali, RB – Marshall
Ali is a great prospect as a hidden gem late in the third day. He can make difficult, sharp cuts and get into running lanes, giving his all as a downhill runner. Beyond the second level, he can accelerate very quickly and beat defenders. His agility is probably his best trait as a late-day 3 running back prospect. Ali also visited for 30 days.
Brenden Rice, WR – USC
There's a bit of George Pickens in Rice, which is interesting. The Cowboys could use an outside possession wide receiver to fill the void left by Michael Gallup, and Rice is the perfect fit here. Being the son of NFL receiver Jerry Rice makes him even more interesting. What stands out is the fact that while he played in college, he averaged a touchdown every five catches. He is good at catching contested balls and has a slant route that is nearly unstoppable. His 4.50-second 40 and 1.55-second 10-yard splits raised many eyebrows.
Malik Washington, WR – Virginia State
Washington is more suited to the NFL, but he's still a player the Cowboys could use. Washington excels at separation in short areas and has very good change-of-direction skills. His YAC skills are off the charts, leading this year's draft class with 710 total yards after the catch. If you like PFF's grades, Washington finished second to Malik Nabors in receiving grades last year with a 92.4. He also earned a receiving grade of 99.9 on deep receiving.
Bab Means, WR – Pittsburgh
If the Cowboys wait until late in the draft to find a wide receiver who can play as an X-receiver, Means would be a very valuable pick. He has smooth acceleration, good burst off the line, and provides some threat as a ball carrier. He needs to work on beating the press and making routine catches. But there's a lot to work with here for a player in a role Dallas rarely has at the moment.
Jaylan Ford, LB – Texas
Ford is Dallas' 30th player, and while the Cowboys already took a linebacker in the draft, it's safe to say he could return to that position. The Cowboys have shown in this draft that they intend to second-guess the position, so why won't he take another linebacker? Ford is a great run stopper who could play at Mike's linebacker and has a lot of what Mike Zimmer looks for in a center linebacker. He has enough weight and size to play a thumper type role and has good instincts to follow. Ford's problem is with the press. He is a man who is unpredictable and actually dedicated to stopping the rampage.
Gabe Hall, DL – Baylor
Hall is a very distinctive player to watch late in Day 3 as a 3-tech defensive lineman. He has the size, frame, and NFL-ready spin move he can bring to the Cowboys' defense, an interior defensive lineman who can rush the passer after a failed attempt to make Neville Gallimore that player. You really need to find out. He has good awareness in terms of stopping the run, and he's good at positioning himself. His problem has to do with robot movement.
Justin Rodgers, Northern Territory – Auburn
Fans are concerned about the one-tech/nose tackle position and Maji Smith with Jonathan Hankins gone. Rodgers has a great ability to drop anchor and land well, so teams could use this pick to protect themselves when stopping the run. Closing the A-gap is his specialty, and the Cowboys' final pick could allow him to do that.
Chow Smith-Wade, CB – Washington State
Cornerback is a necessity for Dallas if they want to keep Daron Brand as their outside corner and keep Jordan Lewis for just one more year. You will need to draft a slot cornerback. The good news is that Smith-Wade is playing very well in this slot and could still be in the sixth round. He is quick, has great lateral movement, and has excellent route recognition. The reason he is overlooked is because of his size. He had no ability to play as an outside corner, and he only recorded three interceptions in the four years he played at Washington State.
