Dre Kirkpatrick
Browse more photos »Hot on the heels of yesterday's Mel Kiper mock draft comes Wes Bunting's latest offering, mock draft version 3.0.
Bunting, of course, knows how to deliver a mock draft that gets people talking, and in his third iteration of his mock draft, he offers the third prospect for the Cowboys after having the Cowboys select David DeCastro in v 1.0 and Peter Konz in v 2.0. But what makes this third version highly auspicious is what happened last year:
After mocking Robert Quinn to the Cowboys in his mock v 1.0 and Prince Amukamara in v 2.0, he hit the nail on the head in v 3.0, mocking Tyron Smith to the Cowboys. Will Bunting be able to repeat that feat this year?
The Cowboys have to be thrilled with both Kirkpatrick and Stanford OG David DeCastro still on the board. However, I see them opting for the big corner because of the overall priority of the position.
So this year's mock 3.0 is doubly auspicious, not only because of last year's pick, but also because both Kirkpatrick and DeCastro are available for the Cowboys - and if those two drop that far, other prospects must have taken their place in the top 13. After the break, we look at who those players are.
Earlier this week, our own Tom Ryle took a look at how 12 different mock drafts averaged out and derived the following list of players that could be considered the 'consensus top 13'.
In his conference call with media representatives yesterday, Mike Mayock said that "the first seven to eight picks are pretty solid, then after that comes some questions." Wes Bunting seems to agree, as he has also has the top eight players in the table above in his top 13. After that, the situation gets a little less clear.
At pick #11, the Kansas City Chiefs pick Ohio State OT Mike Adams At pick #12, the Seattle Seahawks draft Southern Cal DE Nick Perry And dropping out of Bunting's top 13 are Kirkpatrick, DeCastro and Stanford OT Johnathan Martin. It seems like every year, the draft sees some late-rising QBs, OTs and DE's. Bunting's mock draft is an indicator that that may happen again this year, and that is a good thing. The Cowboys can only hope that more names rise and push some higher rated prospects their way. The names in the bullet list above will bear watching over the coming weeks and perhaps there will be enough movement in the top ten to even push Quinton Coples the Cowboys' way.
by Frankster_1 on Feb 16, 2012 9:49 PM CST via mobile up reply actions Before the combine and FA these are strictly throwing something at the wall and hope it sticks. And I would think that for the best rating on drafts they use the final one before the real deal happens.
Also IF and a Big IF Cambell dosent get franchised, and IF, IF dallas/jerry pulls the mirricle out and we sign him, No way we can sign Finnegan as well, let alone Fiametta, Hollad, Elam/Elam?s Replacement, or Robinson.
by ary201 on Feb 16, 2012 4:36 PM CST up reply actions Mensa If you suggest taking a Safety in the 4th or 5th who do you suggest?
LSU?s Bradon Taylor or Arkansas? Tramain Thomas? Taylor would be a nice future replacement for Sensabaugh at SS, but Thomas has ballhawk ability.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
As of right now I think Ta?amu is there in the 3rd. Seems more teams are returning to the 4-3. Teams are learning the 3-4 is hard to stock and it?s too easy to make a mistake. Also that you continually have to spend so many picks on linebackers at the expense of other positions.
by Rohpuri on Feb 16, 2012 2:08 PM CST via mobile up reply actions My thoughts 1) If DeCastro is the BPA at 14, the Cowboys should take him. They need to improve that interior oline, otherwise Romo will be a sitting duck again. If the Cowboys establish that DeCastro presents an upgrade over Arkin/Nagy at one of the G spots, they need to take him.
2) Not saying CB isn?t an area of need. I just think the Cowboys want to get a veteran who can hold the fort at CB2 so they aren?t forced to take one in the first rd and pass up the best G prospect.
3) If the Cowboys take Kirkpatrick in the first round, they have to be confident that he?s a shut down corner, someone who?ll hold up well in man/press coverage. Whoever the Cowboys draft at CB has to be able to play man to man really well. Ideally, they don?t want to have one of their CBs on the outside playing 10 yards off the WR.
4) I agree with Nick Perry to Seattle. They need a pass rusher, and if he tests well at the combine, he?ll be Pete Carrol?s first choice. Why? Pete recruited Perry to play for him at USC. Perry?s freshman season, was Carrol?s last season as HC.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
by ChiaCrack on Feb 16, 2012 7:52 PM CST up reply actions Mays was overrated Nick Perry, as a 3 year starter is really good. He would be ranked higher if he didn?t get injured his sophmore season.
The reason Mays wasn?t drafted by Pete, Pete saw Mays struggle in their last season at USC. They were giving up big plays in the passing game, and could no longer stop the run. Mays couldn?t cover and couldn?t tackle-a bad combination for a safety. He was merely a speedy athletic missile launcher.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
The combine is where you will see Perry move up the board. Really though last season was his best. It would be another projection from de to olb. Dallas does?nt do well in those situations.
by ary201 on Feb 16, 2012 3:05 PM CST up reply actions You know I like Nick Perry too "The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
by ChiaCrack on Feb 16, 2012 7:53 PM CST up reply actions You know I like Nick Perry too "The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
by One.Cool.Customer on Feb 16, 2012 2:43 PM CST up reply actions If Dre and DeCastro are both there. Gimme DeCastro every time. We can get a starting CB in the 2nd or even 3rd round.
by StarloverinWNC on Feb 16, 2012 6:56 PM CST up reply actions The odds are that a D player will be taken with the first pick, since the only O player I?d seriously want is DeCastro, who likely will be gone. I want a potetially true impact player and hope the Cowboys rate guys on that basis. Impact D players would incude Coples, Ingram, Jenkins and possible Upshaw, Perry, Dre.
While I like Dre because of his size and ability to tackle, I don?t think he?s a shutdown corner like Jenkins. I also wonder how you judge someone who clearly played on the best D in college football, with guys like Barron, Lester, Upshaw, Hightower, Chapman, etc, playing with him and arguably making him look better than he might be.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
by Rohpuri on Feb 16, 2012 1:31 PM CST via mobile up reply actions Or maybe DeCastro made Martin look better than he is. I think individual performance improves with better personsel surrounding you. In Dre?s case he had an incredible Alabama D around him with multiple players who will end up in the pros. It?s sort of like having Mantle hitting behind you, they must pitch to you.
by pfloyd1 on Feb 16, 2012 4:47 PM CST up reply actions You could make the same argument about Andrew Luck Two of his linemen, OT Martin and OG DeCastro will be top 15 picks this year, TE Coby Fleener is a second rounder, and WR Doug Baldwin, who went undrafted last year, turned out to be the Seahawk?s best receiver. There was some serious talent around Luck in Stanford. Did that make hime look better than he might be?
Couple that with the fact that he was literally forced to spread the ball around due to mediocracy in his receiving corp and the lack of a star receiver. You?ve got yourself the makings of a guy that will, at very best, take some time to adjust to tne speed of the game.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
Every team has a great gameplan until they get Punched in the Mouth. Sean Lee is a welcomed addition at ILB & Kegabear's prediction about Spencer looks spot on so far.
by Rohpuri on Feb 17, 2012 1:27 AM CST via mobile up reply actions As someone who watched a lot of Andrew Luck the last 3 years I don?t buy into the Luck is overrated argument.
He didn?t play with a single elite WR, as Doug Baldwin was an UDFA in 2011. For Baldwin?s career at Stanford, he had 96 catches, 1360 yards.
If you watch Luck play, you?ll see he does the same things at LOS in his pre-snap cadence that Peyton Manning does in the NFL. Most college QBs aren?t given the opportunity to make their own play calls, and make their own audibles; Andrew Luck showed he could handle that responsibility. If you watch most college games, you?ll the see the entire offense look to the sideline for the play and the adjustment/audibles. That wasn?t occurring at Stanford. Also, he ran a pro-style offense at Stanford.
Trust me, if by sheer stupidity Luck fell to 14, the Cowboys would do a freaking conga line at the Valley Ranch War Room as they would?ve landed their next franchise QB.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
by jazzbo251 on Feb 16, 2012 12:47 PM CST up reply actions I'm a stanford grad and live 2 minutes for Palo Alto Watched Luck?s first game (I think 3 years ago) live. When he came in, it was like a different offense had taken the fieid. There?s no doubt that Luck is a superb pro prospect. If he became a Cowboy, I?d join the conga line.
by Eagles suck on Feb 17, 2012 12:11 AM CST up reply actions Not to mention that one man wrecking crew Owen Marecic?who could forget that guy?dude played LB and FB the entire year before going to Cleveland.
by Noonelikestheeagles on Feb 16, 2012 12:59 PM CST up reply actions i think Luck is the real deal but he had a great OL in front of him, a very good and underrated RB, good WR?
Yes he doesn?t have to be a career FS just temporary next year unless he winds up being Ed Reed. Plus this gives him a double chance not to bust. I watched Barrons tape and sometimes Kirkpatrick looks more like the FS coming into bust people up more so than Barron. Kirkpatrick is in there mixing it up in half of the plays and its not even his tape.
Everyone should watch this 1 minute video of Kirkpatrick busting people up and decide if he couldn?t play both positions. I want him bad.
Those aren't scrub WR's he is tackling against the Hogs either. is Joe Adams and #4 is Jarius Wright. They are both projected atm to go in the 2-4th round range.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
by Rohpuri on Feb 16, 2012 9:41 PM CST up reply actions Lol Ro that's a low blow The reasoning behind that pick still boggles my mind smh, u never ever take a complimentary back in the 1st.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
by DarkKnight88 on Feb 16, 2012 9:49 PM CST up reply actions Luck had average WRs If his receivers were good they?d be touted as first and second round picks.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
by Rohpuri on Feb 16, 2012 1:50 PM CST via mobile up reply actions I honestly don't think he had all that talent around him and even if he did, we can?t fault him for having a team around him. Instead, he excelled in every situation while there have been QBs who have had talent around them but haven?t been able to produce.
by ChiaCrack on Feb 16, 2012 1:33 PM CST up reply actions Take him, yes! fix the pass rush! "There are no traffic jams along the extra mile."
by Rat-Pack on Feb 16, 2012 1:43 PM CST up reply actions Poor Ryan Tannehill If he gets drafted in the top 15, he?s my QB candidate to become a bust.
The kid has ?potential? but needs time to develop. Ideally, he needs to go a team that won?t be under public pressure to play him right away.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
by wtshaolin on Feb 16, 2012 1:47 PM CST via mobile up reply actions Matt Flynn made himself a ton of money starting that last game of the year for the Pack. Hey Washington... D.C.
by Rohpuri on Feb 16, 2012 12:43 PM CST via mobile up reply actions It wasn't just that one game. It was also the game vs the Pats year before last on Sunday night football. Pack darn near won that game with him at qb.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
Flynn has done well in spot duty. But without that last game of the season, people would just be throwing his name around as a nice backup or MAYBE a sleeper as a starter. He definitely made a bunch of money from one game. I?d stay away.
by BigDumbFace on Feb 16, 2012 1:05 PM CST up reply actions Also, it was a Patriots lineman that had the big return. Dan Connolly, if I remember correctly.
That the one for a TD? Loved that play. He had both arms wrapped around the ball running as fast as he could looking around for someone to tackle him. Then he got up after scoring and lined up for the extra point.
I'm not sure. The one with Connolly, he got caught around the 20 or so. You may be talking about a different play, I don?t know. It was a lot of fun to watch, for sure.
by BigDumbFace on Feb 16, 2012 5:06 PM CST up reply actions I think it will be alot different when DCs have weeks and weeks of game tape on him but maybe it works out for the team that gets him. I?m glad we don?t have to be one of those teams rolling the expensive dice on him right now.
by dmagikwand on Feb 16, 2012 2:18 PM CST up reply actions I agree he?s got talent and was coached by a pro coach, but he?ll need some pro work. If he?s a day 1 starter I fear he?
by AustonianAggie on Feb 16, 2012 1:21 PM CST up reply actions Tannehill at 9 is a bust waiting to happen. The only prefect science is hindsight............
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
by ratware on Feb 16, 2012 4:28 PM CST up reply actions Crick is average. Coples is the best of the lot but he is more of a true 4-3 player. I only want Coples if we go strictly 4-3.
Someone will be that guy. There is always one every draft. It may take a while for it to manifest itself. Fletcher Cox is who I would put my money on at being a good 3-4 de.
by football mensa on Feb 16, 2012 12:46 PM CST reply actions Does anyone know the bust rate of Guards, drafted as guards, in the first round? I remember that Tackles do really well, but I can?
by AustonianAggie on Feb 16, 2012 1:22 PM CST reply actions very few guards are taken in the first so it is hard to figure. However I cannot remember any that were that were busts.
by AustonianAggie on Feb 16, 2012 1:31 PM CST up reply actions Steve Hutchinson is who you're talking about "The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
by Rohpuri on Feb 16, 2012 1:47 PM CST via mobile up reply actions we were fortunate enough to have maybe the greatest Guard of all time in Larry Allen. Hell, my favorite jersey to wear is his.
by wtshaolin on Feb 16, 2012 1:53 PM CST via mobile up reply actions Bruce Matthews and Mike Munchak. Both first rounders.... Both hof?ers and both played for the Oilers at the same time.
In summary: Of the 13 interior linemen taken in the first round between 1998-2007 only one was a bust. Of the 28 first round tackles, only two were busts.
If we define ?draft hits? as guy who made the Pro Bowl, more than half (7 of 13) of the interior linemen were hits and a third (8 of 28) of the tackles were hits.
Really the only first round interior lineman I found who was a bust was OG Matt Stinchcomb, drafted 18th overall by the Raiders in 2000.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
by Rohpuri on Feb 16, 2012 8:42 PM CST up reply actions Probowl is murky? Interior Oline players require name recognition to get in the Probowl, and once there they are there for life. I remember how Andre Gurode turned getting stomped on his face in to Name Recognition and his 1st Probowl. I even called it on this message board during the game.
2) I have to be satisfied the guy can be a lockdown cover corner, who we can trust in man/press coverage. I don?t want a CB who we need to scheme around and have him play 10 yards off the LOS.
3) Along the lines of number 2 above, he?d better a run 4.3-4.4 forty and blow Chase Minnifield out of the water in combine testing: if these guys are close, I?ll try and get Minnifield.
4) David DeCastro can?t be on the board because, without a healthy Romo standing upright, this team won?t make the playoffs regardless of our CBs.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
I wonder how lockdown Revis is. I think if Dez would?ve had his legs under him in the first game of the year.. it might?ve been pretty interesting. Dez was doing some nice things against him early on.
by BigDumbFace on Feb 16, 2012 3:03 PM CST up reply actions Here I am trying to question whether or not ANY corners are ?lockdown? anymore. You focus on me using the word IF. Great.
You aren't good at this. I see you said, ?no cb is total lockdown? just a few comments down. So, we agree. You just wanna play tough guy, though.
by BigDumbFace on Feb 16, 2012 3:45 PM CST up reply actions hilarious discussion between you two "The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
This is what happens when you think an oline coach can coordinate a defense. And this is why the Eagles will never win a SB with Andy Reid, he?s an idiot when it comes to things like this.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
Cruz and Nicks were damn good vs the Eagles. I agree they finally let Namdi do his thing. But no cb is total lockdown. Revis and Namdi are the best. Those guys don?t fall out of trees every draft.
by football mensa on Feb 16, 2012 8:04 PM CST up reply actions LaDarius Webb from the Ravens 2011 was his first season as a starter: 55 tackles, 5 INTs, 20 Passes Defensed.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
Chase Minnifield, a second round CB, and Leonard Johnson 2nd-4th rd prospect are better than Scandrick, and either one could start at CB2. We don?t need to blow our wad in the first rd on CB if we don?t have to.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
by DarkKnight88 on Feb 16, 2012 8:21 PM CST up reply actions Cowboys have to take the O lineman, unless DeCastro is gone The most important area for the Cowboys to improve in the offseason is the interior of the offensive line. We didn?t lose most of our games last year because of defensive breakdowns. We lost most of them because our Oline couldn?t protect Romo or open holes for our running backs. This was especially true late in the season when our old guards and weak center were overwhelmed.
Sign Nicks and Myers and draft DeCastro. This will maximize the value of all the skill players we have on offense, and give Tony Romo the chance to do something for the rest of his career. (Sign Robinson too.)
Put whatevfer resources are left into the defense, including some free agent signings to protect us at CB, ILB, and FS. It?s doable.
I agree with signing Nicks and Robinson but I would rather just get a veteran C like Saturday for about 1.5 a year x 2 years to hold the fort at C and teach. Cap room gets tighter with Myers. I think we got a C from the Steelers that was near the end of his career and he gave us a couple of solid years awhile back. Veteran leadership a C would be a big plus.
I would rather use the cap room room from myers a get just a good CB? then draft Kirkpatrick on top of that. But if Dre is gone and DeCastro is there I say take him but then nothing but defense the rest of the way out of the draft unless somebody beyond wildest dreams offensively is still on the board later down.
by burmafrd1944 on Feb 16, 2012 4:14 PM CST up reply actions Rob Ryan is a strong personality and so is Jerry. If RR says DBs, DBs, DBs and DeCastro and Kirkpatrick are both on the board I see Kirkpatrick getting picked. JJ seems more enamored over the years with DBs than OL and I don?t think JG would override both of them. I hope we leave Spencer be and take the cash to sign a DB and OL in FA.
I don?t think the drop off will be that great without Spencer and we may even get lucky and it will improve with Victor Butler. I wouldnt even address SOLB in the 2nd if Poe is still on the board in the mid 20?s I would dump our second and third to move back in to the first to get him?.all of this being contigent upon getting the OL and CB in FA.
You mean Stephan voting with JG? I know RR will get a strong voice, and a vote. But I thought the actual ?votes? that counted were 3, JG, JJ and Stephan.
by Crimsoncaller on Feb 16, 2012 5:22 PM CST reply actions If DeCastro and Kirkpatrick are on the board at 14 Hard to pass up DeCastro. Won?t complain if the pick is either guy, but my first preference is DeCastro.
"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."
by Rohpuri on Feb 16, 2012 8:48 PM CST reply actions a month ago my wish was for decastro first ?and minnifield second. Now I don?t think either will be available when we pick.
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