The Dallas Cowboys may be coming off a 12-4 season, their first year above .500 since 2010, but they'll need to greatly improve their defense if they hope to do it again. Dallas overachieved by finishing eighth overall in rush defense (103.1 yards allowed per game) last year and even though they are getting linebacker Sean Lee back this year, the team could use some more talent on that side of the ball.
Recently, the Cowboys have been linked to almost every first-round cornerback. UCONN's Byron Jones, Wake Forest's Kevin Johnson, etc. But Jerry Jones could also opt for a space-eating defensive tackle, even Iowa's Carl Davis.
"He is strong. He can lock out his arms to keep blockers at a distance and then slide them out of the way to make a tackle," ESPN Cowboys reporter Todd Archer wrote. "...What the Cowboys need from a tackle to take early is some pass-rush ability. He has some pretty good feet and moves. Did I mention he's strong?"
Davis, 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, is an enticing prospect but is not without his flaws. At times, he put himself in positions that could be easily blocked and he did not always give full effort when pursuing ball carriers. Coaches can instill technique and fundamentals but they can't teach you a high motor.
If the Cowboys are interested in Davis, they may face competition from the New England Patriots. However, neither team may select him in the first-round.
"He can play either defensive tackle spot and there were times I liked him more as a nose tackle then a three technique," Archer wrote. "He has really good quickness off the ball and can split double teams. But I keep going back to whether the Cowboys would take a defensive tackle at No. 27, which might be too high for Davis. The second round might be a better spot but he is likely to be gone by the time the 60th pick rolls around."
