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Cowboys Eyeing Justin Blalock

I had Justin Blalock pegged as our first round draft choice in our mock draft, and there's reason behind it. Blalock is at the NFL Combines and has turned in some impressive measurables thus far in addition, he managed to bench press 40 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at the NFL Combine Friday, Feb. 23, just five short of the event record.

The FWST has this small blurb on Blalock as well:

INDIANAPOLIS - Texas offensive lineman Justin Blalock's experience and versatility are expected to get him drafted in the first round. His 51 starts are the most by any player at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he can play guard or tackle.

"Anytime they can find someone that is capable of playing four or five positions on the line, it's just an added bonus," said Blalock, who measured a shade over 6-foot-3 and weighed in at 320 pounds Thursday.

Some mock drafts have the Cowboys taking Blalock with the 22nd selection. It's not a bad guess. Though the Cowboys haven't drafted an offensive player in the first round since 1997 when they selected LSU tight end David LaFleur, they have concerns about right guard Marco Rivera's future. Rivera recently had a second surgery on his back in two years to repair a ruptured disk.

Blalock, a Plano native, wouldn't be sad if Dallas is where he ends up.

"Being from Dallas, it's hard not to like the Cowboys," Blalock said. "I've been a lifelong fan."

History would say we probably won't draft offense in the first round, but this may finally be the year where we do. The last offensive first rounder was LSU's David LaFleur - a certified bust, and while we're at it, can we please not blow anymore picks on LSU players...

Marco Rivera's status is still in the air, and how confident are you in Procter's ability to take over for Rivera? What we do know is that Blalock can come in and start immediately and provide solid blocking for years to come. We need more youth and more beef on the line and Garrett knows this - this could be the pick at #22 from an offensive needs standpoint.