With the NFL draft inching closer, it felt like time to mosey on over to Fanspeak's On the Clock simulator to crank out a mock draft or seven for the team I cover for Rotowire: the Cowboys. Doing mock drafts may be an exercise in futility when it comes to actually predicting who might go in any particular draft slot, but it's a great way to force yourself to become familiar with the draft class beyond the obvious big names. For instance, last year when doing mocks, I kept running into the name Dezmen Southward (an unheralded safety out of Wisconsin) as available in the late rounds. When I actually looked him up, however, I discovered that he'd torn up the track with a 4.38 40-time at his pro day, and so when he got popped in the third round by the Falcons it was no surprise to me.

This year, the obvious glaring need for the Cowboys is a running back to replace DeMarco Murray. Fortunately for them, this draft class is very deep at running back. If Melvin Gordon isn't available at the tail end of the first round, someone like Jay Ajayi could be a nice consolation prize later on. Their other glaring need, a pass rushing defensive end, could be harder to find, however, both due to draft position and due to the fact that this doesn't look like a great year for them.

That said, here's the first kick at the mock draft can:

Round 1 (pick 27): Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin. Gordon was there, and no one else I particularly valued as a first round pick was, so this was a true no-brainer. You can argue that running backs no longer carry first round value in the NFL, or that it would have been better to go defense here and look for another RB later, and I don't disagree in theory. In the 'reality' of this mock draft though, anyone else I might have taken (Malcom Brown, Shaq Thompson as a 4-3 OLB) was already gone, and given his injury history I just can't rate Owamagbe Odighizuwa as a first round pick despite the Cowboys' need at DE. Need and value both led to the best college running back in the country, and I didn't overthink it.

Round 2 (pick 60): D'Joun Smith, CB, Florida Atlantic. I love this kid. Love love love him. His numbers were down as a senior but only because no one wanted to throw the ball his way, and he absolutely rocked the combine. Smith plays with energy and toughness, and his makeup is off the charts. He also learns from his mistakes: in high school, after getting suspended for illegal hits, instead of sulking about it he rebuilt his tackling technique and stopped getting penalized. Basically, he's a scrapper, with the physical tools and work ethic to back it up on the field. With Brandon Carr getting old and expensive and Mo Claiborne never staying healthy, this is a player the 'Boys should want on their defense.

Round 3 (pick 91): Grady Jarrett, DT, Clemson. He's maybe a little undersized for an interior lineman, but you can get away with that as a 3-technique in the 4-3, and Jarrett gives every indication of being a Rod Marinelli kind of player. His scouting reports are littered with phrases like "squatty ball of power" and "a headache for opposing linemen", with high praise given to his motor, instincts and ability to disrupt the pocket. Oh, and he's got NFL bloodlines and NFL mentoring out the wazoo, so he should be ready for whatever the pros can throw at him. Tyrone Crawford looked good as the 3-technique for the Cowboys last season, but he's versatile enough to move back outside if Jarrett can take his place, helping fill a need that Dallas may not be able to address directly in the draft.

Round 4 (pick 124): Clayton Geathers, S, Central Florida. I'd be surprised if Geathers lasts this long in the actual draft, frankly, but it's not an outrageous drop, so I'll take it. He's one of the biggest hitters in the draft, but he's not completely out of his element in coverage, which makes him very useful to a Cowboys team that lacks a traditional free safety. Geathers has some technique issues to work out, but he can supply plenty of value on special teams as a rookie while he hones his craft. In fact, he could be the guy who steps in for Dwayne Harris' kick coverage duties.

Round 5 (pick 155): Tayo Fabuluje, OT, Texas Christian. This might be a bit high for a player who is a real project, but his upside is huge and since the Cowboys lack a sixth round pick this year, it was probably now or never to pull the trigger on Fabuluje. He's got NFL size with surprising athleticism and nimbleness, plus strength and power, but he barely played in college due to redshirting and transfers, and there are some concerns about his commitment to the game after sitting out 2013. Assuming his interviews go well though, he's exactly the kind of player who could prove to be a huge bargain after a year or two in an organization that can mold his raw tools into game skills. Doug Free is a decent right tackle, but the Cowboys need to groom his eventual replacement now, and a line bookended by Tyron Smith and Fabuluje could be truly scary down the road for opposition pass rushers.

Round 7 (pick 211): Bryce Hager, LB, Baylor: Potential Will linebacker who looks good in coverage and can close on the ball quickly, but Hager may not add much to the pass rush and his smallish size and lack of game strength when it comes to tackling or shedding blocks probably limits how high he can rise in the draft despite a good combine performance. He could easily go a couple of rounds higher if a club takes a shine to him, though. Hager's another guy who should contribute on special teams, but isn't necessarily restricted to that role if he can improve on the weak areas in his skill set.

Round 7 (pick 218): Donatella Luckett, WR, Harding. If Geathers is a potential replacement for Dwayne Harris' kick coverage duties, Luckett is a potential replacement for his kick return and blocking duties. The Division II standout is a former track star who has prototypical modern size for an NFL receiver and the strength to break tackles, as well as a good work ethic, but didn't play in anything close to an NFL-style offense and has a lot to learn before he'll be a useful player on offense. Jeff Janis, last year's Division II standout WR with NFL size, went in the seventh round, so this seems like a good spot for Luckett. Another player who fits the 'smaller contribution now, potentially big payoff later' mold.

Murray replaced with the best possible RB, two important pieces added to the secondary, Marinelli gets another toy for his D-line, and some hungry, high ceiling kids with good motors and work ethics are added to the mix in training camp to push for jobs. The Cowboys could do a lot worse.