Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, and Executive Vice President Stephen Jones, have mentioned players who will be cornerstones of the Dallas defense moving forward. That information helps people who follow the draft eliminate prospects the Cowboys might take with early picks.
Christian Parker’s recet introductory press conference might have eliminated some early prospects as well. He mentioned details in his scheme that could raise some prospects on their board, but it will drop or even eliminate others from contention. Parker intends to build the defense around what the players do well, but these are some prospects that might not fit as well as originally believed.
CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
The Cowboys seem to have their two outside cornerbacks in Bland, who was just paid well, and Revel Jr., who was seen as a first-round talent who fell due to his injury. Before hearing Parker talk about the nickel cornerback spot, many believed Mansoor Delane could be drafted to play that role. Now that Parker spoke about the position as a clear safety type, Delane seems less likely. If the team is worried about Bland’s injury history or Revel Jr.’s recovery, Delane could still be an option, but looking for depth at corner with so many holes on defense is a long shot now.
DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
The belief is that Dallas would be more open to drafting Keldric Faulk in a 3-4 defense due to his size and the need for defensive ends who can set the edge, but the roster is full of players who couldhandle that job. Any of the defensive tackles could move outside, and that isn’t just Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, or Osa Odighizuwa, but Solomon Thomas, and even Perrion Winfrey.
Even if he was going to play the outside linebacker role, the team has interest in bringing back Jadeveon Clowney, who would be perfect in that spot, and Parker is known to coach in systems that use lighter, speed rush types on at least one side. The team could look to later picks to add depth players, who are more conventional to the bigger bodies in a 3-4, but they have so many to throw at it that a project to develop could be unnecessary.
Safety A.J. Haulcy, LSU
While Parker wants a safety to be his nickel cornerback spot, he needs one who can cover and play well in space more than a Donovan Wilson type. A.J. Haulcy is a downhill player who packs a big-hitter punch. It isn’t useless, but it makes it difficult for the defense to be multiple, as Parker wants it to be. Haulcy would be tough to trust on third down, covering slot receivers in man, and he lacks the speed to play deep safety in Cover 3.
Opposing offenses could game-plan against him if he is in the slot or playing deep safety in Cover 3. At the correct value, Haulcy could be drafted to Dallas and schemed around, but in a safety class with a lot of depth, Parker will likely look elsewhere at the position.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcast
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 3 draft prospects who no longer fit Cowboys plans after Parker presser