On the Clock: Dallas Cowboys

For the next few weeks leading up to the draft, I am going to assume to roll of each NFL general manager and make draft picks based upon need, scheme, and in some cases wants.  I will not make any trades throughout this process but will chime in when I think one is needed.  Each day leading up to the draft I will make a pick and summarize my thought process of why certain teams will go a particular way.  So put this blog in your favorites section and check back daily to see who I will select for each team.  With the 9^th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…

Tyron Smith, OT, USC (6’5” 307 LBS)

"Tron"

With the top rated offensive tackle still on the board I need to jump at it.  Our offensive line is weak and made life difficult for both Tony Romo and Jon Kitna.  This pick will allow me to have at the minimum a starting right tackle for the next 10 years, and hopefully I can turn him into a blindside tackle, a huge area of need.  He can probably add another 10 lbs and still keep his athleticism on the same level.  He has had some durability issues in the past 6 months but I think it really is exaggerated.  There isn’t much question where our holes are and I doubt that this pick will surprise anyone.

"Tron" is an amazing athlete and doesn’t even look close to the 307 lbs he weighed in at with the combine.  He played right tackle in college but he could eventually move over to the other side with some changes to his technique.

With our 40^th pick I need to get a CB and might even move up to get a CB that slips.  Ras-I Dowling might fall to the beginning of the second round and word is Jimmy Smith might as well.  Brandon Harris is a guy I will consider but will not move up to get.  I’d like to get a safety later in the draft that can help in the middle of the field.  We were abused last year and will not let it happen again.

Washington is on the clock…