The Daily Score: Dallas Dream Draft 5.0

By Bill Jones | @CBS11BillJones

On this 2015 NFL Draft Day, we've already shown you what we think the Cowboys will do the next three days.

Now, it's time for the "Dallas Dream Draft 5.0" as we empty our 2015 Big Green NFL Draft Scouting Notebook with a couple of trades to maximize our picks.

The Cowboys could benefit from the fact that there should be two QBs, Bryce Petty and Brett Hundley, who teams want to trade up to the late 1st round so they can have their rights for five years, which comes with being a 1st round pick.

• 1st Round - #27 – TRADE

Saints get antsy. They want Baylor QB Bryce Petty. So, New Orleans deals its 1st round pick (31), plus two 5th round picks (148 and 154) to move up four spots.

• 1st Round - #31 – TRADE

Now, the New York Jets, who want UCLA QB Brett Hundley, come calling. The Cowboys move down six more spots in exchange for the Jets' 2nd round pick (37) and early 4th rounder (104). So, Dallas now has 10 draft picks:

• 2nd Round - #37 – SHAQ THOMPSON, LB, WASHINGTON

Let's see, the Cowboys need a running back, linebacker, safety, nickel back, special teams demon, and all around defensive playmaker in this draft? Well, ladies and gentlemen, we found all of those in one player…

Shaq Thompson won the Paul Hornung Award as the most versatile player in college football last year…a 6-foot, 228 pounder outside linebacker, Shaq scored 6 touchdowns last year – 3 fumble returns, an interception return, and 2 TD runs…the National Defensive Player of the Year stepped in at running back late in the year and averaged 7.5 yards on 61 carries…a Parade All-American in high school, he played quarterback and was the #1 safety recruit in the nation, but he also was drafted by the Boston Red Sox and spent the summer of 2012 playing in the Gulf Coast League….a 3 year defensive starter, he says he's most comfortable as a WLB in a 4-3….that's Sean Lee's position in this Dallas defense, so where would Shaq play? I believe you have a plan for him his rookie season that's very similar to the way Arizona used its 1st round pick Deone Bucannan last year…the Cardinals played the 6-1, 211 pound Bucannon as a linebacker in their nickel defense and he made the all-rookie team with 9 starts and 81 tackles…

Thompson alongside Sean Lee as the two nickel linebackers would give the Cowboys two terrific playmakers in the middle of their pass defense…as he develops, Shaq would be used as a Kam Chancellor-like safety in the base defense, but for now, keep it simple Shaq…the ball, the ball, the ball…there is no player in this draft who finds the ball with instincts, closing speed, and innate playmaking ability like Shaq Thompson does…and he simply has that "It Factor" you look for in any player…whatever it is, Shaq has it.

• 2nd Round - #60 – GRADY JARRETT, DT, CLEMSON

Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney says if he was starting his team from scratch (a team that includes probable 1st round DE Vic Beasley and 2nd round LB Stephone Anthony), he'd pick Grady Jarrett first. The son of 5-time Pro Bowler Jessie Tuggle, Jarrett calls Ray Lewis "Uncle Ray". Jarrett says he's known Lewis, his current workout partner, since he was five years old. A 6-1, 304 pounder who has similar athletic ability and intensity as two accomplished 3-technique defensive tackles, Cincinnati's Geno Atkins (3-time Pro Bowler) and St. Louis' Aaron Donald (2014 NFL Defensive Rookie of Year)....permanent team captain, graduated in 3 ½ years, a former high school state champ wrestler…the heart and soul of the Clemson defense.

Dabo Swinney: "If you wanted to build a defensive player, you would use his mentality and relentless effort as a model."

Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables: "There's not a day he wakes up that he believes he's arrived."

If there ever was the "right kind of guy", Grady Jarrett is the guy.

• 3rd Round - #91 – JOSH SHAW, CB, USC

Listed as a CB but could turn out to be a terrific free safety, a position the Cowboys have been searching to fill forever it seems…confident, intelligent, muscular former Parade All American from Palmdale, California who started his collegiate career as a Florida Gator before transferring back home to USC.

Shaw had 4 interceptions his junior year splitting time between CB and FS…6-0, 201 pounder who plays a physical game and competes….red flag from his senior year when he fabricated a story about how he sprained his ankles in an off field incident, claiming he was injured making a heroic pool rescue…but after admitting he lied, he's handled the aftermath of the incident and 10-game suspension admirably…he was even chosen to speak at the USC graduation ceremony…earned a sociology degree…sources say he interviewed very well with teams…intelligent player who played in five different defensive schemes at his two college stops.

Next 3 picks are why we call this a "Dream Draft" because all of these players should be drafted before the 3rd day but might slide for one reason or another.

• 4th Round - #104 – DANIELLE HUNTER, DE, LSU

Hunter may be the most intriguing player I've come across in this draft. A freak athlete, and the big thing to keep in mind about him is, he is only 20 years old and is six months away from his 21st birthday. Think Tyron Smith, who didn't turn 21 until December of his rookie season. If this Katy Morton Ranch product had stayed in school, I believe he would have been a 1st round draft pick next year.

This is a 6-5, 251 pounder with 34 inch arms, 10 ½ inch hands who, even with those long arms, was able to put up the 225 pound bar 25 times. Compare Hunter's combine numbers with those of DeMarcus Ware ten years ago, keeping in mind that Ware was nearly two years older than Hunter when he entered the NFL:

Ware had 27 bench reps, ran a 4.65 forty (1.56 split) with a 38 ½ vertical, 10-2 broad jump, 4.07 shuttle, and 6.83 cone drill. Hunter had 25 bench reps, ran a 4.57 forty (1.57 split) with a 36 ½ vertical, 10-10 broad jump, 4.35 shuttle, and 6.95 cone drill.

Nicknamed Hercules, Tarzan, Terminator and Robocop by former LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis, who says, "If you're going to draw up what a defensive end is supposed to look like, this is it."

Hunter led all SEC defensive linemen in stuffing the run and had 13 tackles for loss among his 73 total tackles. However, he only registered 1 ½ sacks and has little to no pass rush moves. That is the reason he might still be sitting there in the 4th round.

Just to try to confirm what I'm seeing, I talked with Hunter's high school coach, Dave Meadows, at Katy Morton Ranch. Meadows says Hunter is a workout freak. "He lives in the weight room. We had to chase him out of there at the end of the day. Somebody will name a weight room after him some day."

When asked about Hunter's potential, Meadows replied, "All Pro…or better."

• 4th Round - #127 – DAVID JOHNSON, RB, NORTHERN IOWA

This guy reminds me of DeMarco Murray more than any other RB in this draft -- maybe its because he wore #7 in college, but he's built like Murray, and has terrific receiving ability like Murray…

Johnson had 5,621 yards rushing and receiving on 1,019 touches and 64 TDs in college. Murray had 5,256 yards on 959 touches with 65 TDs

At 6-1, 224 pounds…strong (25 bench reps), 4.46 speed (1.54 split), 41.5 vertical, 10-7 broad jump, 4.27 shuttle, 6.82 cone…Murray: 6-0, 213…21 bench reps, 4.41 speed, 34.5 vertical, 10-4 broad jump, 4.18 shuttle, 7.28 cone.

Some project Johnson to go as early as the late 2nd round, but as deep as this running back class is, it would not be surprising if a small school back like Johnson was still available in the middle rounds. He will immediately contribute on special teams; averaged 36 yards on 12 kickoff returns as he led team to FCS semifinals. I believe he will excel in a zone based blocking scheme and can be used as a slot receiver his rookie season while the RB inventory gets sorted out this year.

• 5th Round - #148 – IFO EKPRE-OLOMU, CB, OREGON

Veteran Oregon secondary coach John Neal says Ekpre-Olomu is the best football player he's ever coached. John Neal coached Jairus Byrd. Ekpre-Olomu was considered the top CB prospect in this draft until he suffered an ACL injury in December. Doctors believe he will be available by September, but even if he misses half the season, this is too good a talent to pass up (with off the chart intangibles).

If this player is still available in the 5th round, that means his knee injury didn't check out well and this might be a redshirt year for him, but with 10 picks in this trade intensive draft, it's worth taking a flyer on this talent.

• 5th Round - #154 – KENNY BELL, WR, NEBRASKA

LOVE this player…highly competitive, athletic, energetic, enthusiastic, charismatic team leader who might have the best sports afro since Oscar Gamble…highly doubt he will still be available in the 4th round but you never know since, once again this year, the wide receiver pool is very deep…

6-1, 197 pounder who set Nebraska's career receptions record (181) despite suspect QB play…great blocker as evidenced by this de-cleater vs Wisconsin…

Also was a gunner on special teams and clearly loves that aspect of the game…team captain, academic honor roll, college grad, son of a former NFL player, he checks off all the boxes…and check out his numbers: 4.38 forty (incredible 1.47 split), 41 ½ vertical, 10-9 broad jump, 6.66 cone drill…my Big Green NFL Draft Scouting Notebook entry on Kenny Bell:  explosive run after catch, light on feet, tough, great attitude, leader, committed, reliable, team guy, very well spoken, high character…only problem with this player is finding a helmet large enough for the hair.

As a receiver, Bell reminds me of another #80: former Cowboys 3-time Pro Bowler Tony Hill, who had similar size, smarts, and explosive big play ability, and Bell has the charisma and showmanship of a Butch Johnson…as if we haven't seen enough earthquakes around lately, get ready for this Denver native's Colorado Quake TD celebration.

• 5th Round - #163 – JUSTIN COLEMAN, CB, TENNESSEE

Three year starter who played for current Cowboys assistant Derek Dooley at Tennessee…5-11, 185 pounder with great quickness (3.98 shuttle/6.61 cone drill)…Coleman can play outside but may make his living in the NFL in the slot (Orlando Scandrick's heir apparent?).

Four interceptions his senior season, Coleman plays with confidence and good instincts….coaches rave about how smart he is…will be an immediate contributor on special teams. Remember, Scandrick was a 5th round selection in 2008.

• 7th Round - #236 – JAMON BROWN, OT, LOUISVILLE

With the loss of swing tackle Jermey Parnell in free agency, the Cowboys need to find a replacement. This 6-4, 323 pounder with 34 inch arms just might be the man. A three year starter at Louisville, Brown started 13 games at right tackle as a sophomore before moving to the left side to protect Teddy Bridgewater's back side as a junior.

Not sure why Brown is being projected as a late round pick…maybe because he wasn't invited to the combine, but he tested very well at his pro day: 5.08 forty (1.74 split) with a 4.61 shuttle and 7.36 cone drill, which are very similar to what Doug Free did at the combine (4.53ss/7.38c)…probably the reason scouts haven't rated him high is because he's had a weight issue, tipping the scales at 348 pounds in January.

He says he got down to 323 by his Pro Day by avoiding Burger Boy, a popular Louisville burger joint….earned a justice administration degree in 3 ½ years…an accomplished singer, as evidenced by his impromptu rendition of John Legend's "Ordinary People" at the Russell Athletic Bowl luncheon.

• 7th Round - #243 – BLAKE BELL, TE, OKLAHOMA

The Bell Dozer comes to Big D -- converted from QB to TE his senior season and showed so much promise at his new position that Mike Mayock ranked him as high as the #5 TE in what is a weak class.

Some project Bell to be a 4th or 5th round pick, but with just one year's experience at the position and with little special teams value, I suspect he'll go later. Prototype size (6-6, 252), he had 16 receptions and 4 TD grabs last year…big game experience as a QB…good athleticism having run a 4.8 forty at the combine with an 11.81 60 yard shuttle…father, Mark Bell, was a 4th round draft pick of the Seahawks, and uncle, Mike Bell, was the #2 overall selection of the Chiefs, starting 100 NFL games.

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