As it stands today, the Dallas Cowboys currently own the No. 17 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. With the 2020 NFL Draft still scheduled to take place in late April, the Cowboys will soon be on the clock with at least a few primary needs still glaring.
With the likes of running back Ezekiel Elliott and wide receiver Amari Cooper already lock up on long-term deals, it appears as though quarterback Dak Prescott will be next. Because the Cowboys have spent the majority of the team's offseason focusing on superstar-caliber players returning to Dallas, the once-heralded NFC East franchise must come away as winners when the 2020 NFL Draft is all said and done. With that in mind, such a process begins with the No. 17 overall pick in the first round.
EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson, LSU Tigers
The Dallas Cowboys could very well throw the team's most glaring need out the window and simply select the best player available come next month. Although the cornerback position should be the primary focus for Dallas in the first round, perhaps the team will take a look at a premiere pass rusher as well. It is no secret that rushing the passer is vital to success in the NFL, while former LSU Tigers edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson could potentially be available at No. 17 overall.
If that is the case, Dallas should probably waste absolutely no time in pouncing on this elite prospect that will no doubt have both a positive and immediate impact for team owner Jerry Jones. If all goes according to plan, Chaisson should be the first edge rusher and third defensive lineman off the board — in no particular order — behind the South Carolina Gamecocks' Javon Kinlaw and Auburn Tigers' Derrick Brown, who are both considered to be interior defensive lineman.
CB C.J. Henderson, Florida Gators
In one of the most notable moves of the offseason this time around, the Dallas Cowboys lost out on the services of unrestricted free agent cornerback Byron Jones, who was promptly scooped up by the Miami Dolphins. Not only did the former Cowboys defender garner a lucrative deal from the Dolphins, but Miami notably made Jones the highest-paid cornerback in the entire NFL.
Jones was originally selected by Cowboys with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of UConn while Dallas should now look to find his replacement in the exact same manner. If Dallas can have its way, the team will be able to select former Florida Gators cornerback C.J. Henderson with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
While former Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Jeff Okudah will be long gone with the former collegiate standout surely coming off the board within the first handful of picks, the Cowboys can still get a pretty good one in Henderson. However, the one key issue that may arise in this scenario if Dallas is currently slotted behind the Atlanta Falcons, who own the No. 16 overall pick. With Atlanta losing out on a top-tier cornerback of their own in current Detroit Lions defensive back Desmond Trufant, who was released by the Falcons earlier this offseason, perhaps the NFC South franchise will also be eyeing a cornerback in the first round in 2020.
CB Kristian Fulton, LSU Tigers
Even if the Atlanta Falcons ultimately manage to swoop in en route to selecting former Florida Gators cornerback C.J. Henderson with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, not all will be lost for the Dallas Cowboys, who are presently slated to pick at No. 17 overall. The Cowboys will still need a cornerback in this position with former LSU Tigers defensive back Kristian Fulton fully expected to still be on the board at this point in the first round.
Luckily for the Cowboys, the Falcons are one of the few cornerback needy teams ahead of them in the middle portion of the first round. In fact, the majority of the teams right ahead of the Falcons and Cowboys will be strongly considering wide receivers as the New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos all fit the description for this group. If each of these three teams select a pass-catcher ahead of the Cowboys' choice in the first round, Dallas will surely be more than thrilled as the defensive aspect of this draft will open up nicely for the mediocre NFC East franchise.
It is worth noting that the Jets pick at No. 11, the Raiders at No. 12 — and No. 19 — and the Broncos at No. 15.
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