Cowboys Mock 6.0: The Senior Bowl Edition

George Iloka

Earlier today, I posted my anticipated blueprint for the spring, with Dallas looking for a center and a pass rusher in free agency, and playing to the strengths of the draft, cornerback and guard.

Here are three mini-mocks, each going 3 rounds deep and using Wes Bunting's notes from Senior Bowl workouts.

Mock 1:
1.  David DeCastro, G, Stanford,
2.  Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia
3.  George Iloka, S, Boise State

Most every Cowboys fan knows DeCastro by now.  Boykin ran a close second to Janoris Jenkins among the corners in the Senior Bowl workouts, according to several observers, and looks tough in press coverage.  Iloka is my new pet cat, a big safety who played a lot of cornerback for Boise State. He had strong workouts in Mobile and showed range and instincts playing centerfield.  He helped himself as much as any player this week.

Mock 2
1.  Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
2.  Kelechi Osememe, G, Iowa State
3.  Alameda Ta'amu,  NT, Washington

Jenkins will have to convince all his potential employers that he can stay on the field. There's no question he can play.  He was the top corner at Mobile and should be the 3rd corner selected.  Osemele's tackle game split observers.  Some think he lacks the feet to play on the edge.  Some liked him.  The Sporting News' Russ Lande tweeted this:

Everyone agreed that Osemele was dominant as a guard, and has the skills to play the pulling guard.  He may have played himself into the late 1st. Ta'amu lists in the 2nd-3rd range.  He may be gone by Dallas' 3rd, but he's a central-casting 3-4 nose.

Mock 3
1.  Dre Kirkpatrick, CB,  Alabama
2.  George Iloka, S, Boise State
3.  Bruce Irvin, OLB/DE, West Virginia

The Cowboys brass probably wouldn't mind at all if Kirkpatrick fell to 14.  I put Iloka in the 3rd round of mock 1.0, but he may not last that long after his Senior Bowl week.  He's running with Markelle Martin to be the second safety off the board.  Iloka's size, cover skills and match-up versatility make him my choice.  Irvin was missed at Mobile (much more on this later).  Unless Irvin wows people at the Combine and at his pro day, the draft board take off Wes predicted for him won't occur. That means some team could get a 3rd round steal.

Why not follow the Giants plan and load up on rushers?