FRISCO, TEXAS – The 2018 NFL Draft is a week away. The three-day event at AT&T Stadium April 26th-28th will include all seven rounds of selections by the 32 teams in the League, player autograph sessions, musical guests who will perform, a variety of food on the menu, interactive exhibits, and a multitude of games outside the Stadium.
The home of the Dallas Cowboys has been transformed to represent the largest festival NFL Draft experience ever created by the League spanning the size of nearly twenty-six football fields. This year’s NFL Draft experience is presented by Oikos Triple Zero inviting families and fans of all ages to take part in this three-day festival as they watch their favorite prospects walk the red carpet and the future of the NFL change before their eyes.
Some of the special guests who will be in attendance:
Miles Austin, Cole Beasley, Todd Heap, Dak Prescott, Josh Rosen, Tyron Smith, Darren Woodson, Byron Jones, Travis Frederick, Charles Haley, and Zack Martin.
The first round will take place on Thursday April 26th, rounds 2-3 will be on Friday April 27th, and rounds 4-7 will take place on Saturday April 28th.
The Cowboys’ biggest needs going into the 2018 NFL Draft are:
Linebacker
Wide Receiver
Defensive Back
Pass Rusher
Offensive Line
Linebacker: Former Cowboys’ LB Anthony Hitchens signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. Hitchens often took veteran Sean Lee’s place when he was out with injury. However, Hitchens did not have the same instincts on the field and dominance on defense. Sean Lee is always around the ball, sees a play develop, and stops the run from being successful. Rookie Jaylon Smith had a slow start, but once he found his rhythm, he was everything the Cowboys hoped he would be. Smith is learning from the best at his position in Lee, but the Cowboys need better depth for the future at the LB position when injuries occur. Cowboys are looking at Draft prospects LB Leighton Vander Esch from Boise State, LB Rashaan Evans from Alabama, and LB Roquan Smith from Georgia.
Wide Receiver: During the off-season, the Cowboys have made several changes to this position. The Cowboys signed Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson, and released long-time receiver number 88 Dez Bryant. The Cowboys offense struggled during the 2017 season. There was no chemistry between quarterback Dak Prescott and the receivers. They had to rely on their running game, which was hindered by the absence of their star rusher RB Ezekiel Elliott, during his 6-game-suspension. The Cowboys need a playmaker that will perform at an elite level and make receptions on big plays. The Cowboys are looking at Draft prospects WR Calvin Ridley from Alabama, WR Courtland Sutton from SMU, and WR D.J. Moore from Maryland.
Defensive Back: The Cowboys went through a transitional period during the 2017 season with a young secondary- Jourdan Lewis, Xavier Woods, Chidobe Awuzie, and Kavon Frazier. At the end of the 2016-2017 season the Cowboys lost Barry Church, Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, and J.J Wilcox. They had to re-create their defensive backs from scratch within the 2017 NFL Draft. The young rookies all dealt with hamstring injuries during the season, but once they were fully healthy and back on the field, their performance proved their ability. Their efforts played a significant contribution to the Cowboys’ wins against the Redskins, Giants, and Raiders late in the season. Cowboys’ safety Jeff Heath also stepped up and broke up a pass in the end zone during the final minute of the Cowboys-Raiders game to secure a Cowboys win. Cowboys new defensive backs coach Kris Richard has switched Byron Jones to CB to create depth at that position and the Cowboys will continue looking at the prospects going into the draft. Cowboys are looking at Draft prospects S Derwin James from Florida State and CB/S Minkah Fitzpatrick from Alabama.
Pass Rusher: The Cowboys need defensive players to disrupt a pass play at the line of scrimmage and create pressure on the opposing team’s quarterback. The Cowboys singed defensive end Kony Ealy to a one-year deal. In Super Bowl 50 Ealy had an explosive game for the Panthers sacking quarterback Peyton Manning 3 times and had an interception. If the Panthers had won the Super Bowl that day, Ealy would have been the game’s MVP. Head Coach Jason Garrett sees a lot of potential in Ealy playing for Dallas, and the Cowboys are looking for more breakout players like Ealy in the Draft to make a difference in the Cowboys defense at the line of scrimmage. Cowboys are looking at Draft prospects DT Da’Ron Payne from Alabama, DT Maurice Hurst from Michigan, DT Vita Vea from Washington, and DE Harold Landry from Boston College.
Offensive Line: The Cowboys need strength in creating space for the ball carriers to run on running plays and stopping defensive players from advancing and tackling the quarterback on passing plays. In the 2017 season, QB Dak Prescott was sacked a total of 32 times. The O-Line has got to do a better job at protecting their quarterback from injury. In the game against the Falcons, All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith was out due to injury and Dak Prescott was sacked 6 times by Falcons’ defensive end Adrian Clayborn. The Cowboys need better depth at the O-Line positions so that never happens again. Dak is more susceptible to injury because he is a running QB. If he does not see an open man on a pass, he has no problem scrambling to gain the needed yardage for his team. The O-Line has to do a better job protecting their leader. The Cowboys also need to look into the tight end position. Veteran TE Jason Witten has been with the Cowboys since 2003, and the Cowboys need to be grabbing talented men at that position as they come along to train and transition into the role for when Witten retires. Cowboys are looking at Draft prospects at G Will Hernandez from UTEP and G Quenton Nelson from Notre Dame.
