Five players Dallas Cowboys must target in 2016 NFL Draft

DeAndre Houston-Carson (S, William & Mary)

Safety play wasn’t a huge weakness on defense for Dallas this season, but it wasn’t a strength either.  Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox were serviceable but rarely impacted games in terms of producing big plays.  If the Cowboys want their defense to get to the next level, they have to find somebody who can take the offensive from the back end rather than just letting the opponent dictate the tempo.

With DeAndre Houston-Carson, it looks like an SEC player was put on a small school team.  He’s a vocal leader and intelligent safety who is confident in what he can do, which is a lot.  Good size at 6’0″ and with a cornerback background he’s shown he can handle himself well in pass coverage.  He’s rarely late to plays and can often limit yards after the catch.  His seven interceptions his final two seasons prove his nose for the ball.

Topping it off is an extensive background on special teams, enabling him to help in more than just one phase of the game.  It’s the best kind of value pick.