The Dallas Cowboys hold the No. 28 pick in the NFL Draft, and they are hoping to add several impact players - particularly on the defensive side of the ball - to help them take another step forward and compete for the Super Bowl again next year. Here are all the latest Cowboys news & rumors you need to know:
Dallas targeting T.J. Watt?
The Cowboys are expected to add a pass rusher in the first round of the draft, and Fansided's Randy Gurzi writes that Wisconsin's T.J. Watt is the best fit:
While the younger Watt is not as highly regarded as his famous brother, he is still a very good player.
He also is still a player with room to grow. Watt played in just two seasons for the Badgers, while starting in just 2016. He wound up with 63 tackles, 11.5 sacks and one interception in that season and now looks to make his mark in the NFL...Dallas is reportedly bringing Watt in as an official visitor before the draft.
The question about Watt is where does he play. He was an outside linebacker in college, but played as an edge rusher. In Dallas, that’s what they need is an edge rusher, but one who can also line up with his hand on the ground.
Weighing in at over 250 pounds at the combine helps a team like Dallas feel much better about putting Watt on the line. He would be the type of player to cause fits for offensive tackles thanks to his speed and burst.
Watt had 63 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks this past season.
Cowboys looking to trade up in first round
Though Dallas is currently evaluating prospects with the No. 28 pick in the draft, owner Jerry Jones say they are still looking to trade up and acquire a higher pick, according to Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
With the 28th pick in the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys won't be able to target an impact player as they did last year when they took running back Ezekiel Elliott with the fourth overall pick.
But owner Jerry Jones says it doesn't prevent the Cowboys from being aggressive in trying to move up or down to maximize the most out of a draft in which they must come away with several plug-in starters and day-one contributors.
"Near the bottom of the first, moving toward the top ... this sets up for a little potential trade action to try to gain some value or try to hit an opportunity," Jones said. "I have never looked at where we were when we started a draft and thought we are not going to get a very good player right there. The assumption being that is where you are going to be when you have to make a decision. All that plays out as it unfolds. There are some opportunities (for trades up or down).”
The Indianapolis Colts are among the teams that are looking to trade back in the draft.
List of 18 prospects visiting the Cowboys this week
All NFL teams get 30 visits per year and the Cowboys are using 18 of them this week. All 18 players are listed below in no particular order, via Albert Breer.
Kevin King, CB, Washington
Obi Melifonwu, S, UConn
Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA
Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson
Xavier Woods, S, Louisiana Tech
Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
Treston DeCoud, CB, Oregon State
Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC
Teez Tabor, CB, Florida
Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado
Tedric Thompson, S, Colorado
Tarrell Basham, DE, Ohio
Takkarist McKinley, DE, UCLA
Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC
If it wasn't already clear, the Cowboys will clearly target defense in this year's draft. They obviously won't end up with all of these players, but it's a good guess the Cowboys will end up with one or two.
RELATED: 4 DEs The Cowboys Could Take In Round 1 Of The NFL Draft
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