Everyone seems to expect the Cowboys to select an offensive lineman with their current first-round pick, 24 years old. Obviously they need help there, but it looks like they have quite a few offensive linemen in the draft, so do you think the Cowboys have a chance of that? Someone higher up on the board? If you still have one, would you consider choosing a defensive tackle or edge rusher? – Mark Somma/Winchester, Virginia
Nick Eatman: Not much would surprise me considering the Cowboys have so many needs right now. You could argue that a pass rusher isn't needed that much, but even if there was a chance to make that kind of difference, I don't think the Cowboys would pass on it. The problem is, elite pass rushers don't always sit at No. 24. Yes, you're right about the O-line needs and I think that's going to be the play here in the first round. But don't be shocked by curveballs. If a defensive player falls to his knees, I think the Cowboys will attack. They spoke in Tuesday's press conference about how important it is to stop conceding goals and help the defense. So maybe it was a smokescreen, but it might be something worth paying attention to. In any case, we should bring players here who are ready to play right away and help them.
Mickey: of course. The last thing you want, especially in the first round, is for him to be locked into one position in the draft. The Cowboys have a variety of needs, and although they drafted Mazzi Smith with a first-round pick in last year's draft, the Cowboys still have a lot of trouble on defense after losing both starter Jonathan Hankins and rotational tackle Neville Gallimore in free agency. There is still a need for tackles. And if you've been reading my recent columns, I'm sure you'll see him available late in the first round, like Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson. Robinson, 6-5, .285, played defensive tackle his first few seasons with the Tigers and last year as a defensive end. Versatility is special in the draft, and they also need help on defense after losing Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. to free agency, so it could be a great way to kill two birds with one stone.
Nick Harris: One caveat to this idea is that the offensive line class is not very deep, but rather top-heavy. If you don't get your tackle early, you might end up scraping the bottom of the barrel on the third day for guys. Whether it's through the draft or the growth in depth on the current roster, you need two starters up front and don't want to lose a potential starter up front for a defensive lineman who will quickly become a depth option. Make sacrifices a priority that you won't be able to make. That being said, if the offensive line boards are completely gone and you have a talent like Byron Murphy II staring at No. 24, you might pull the trigger. But you need a very specific scenario for that to make sense.
