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This weekend's draft is yet another pivotal moment in the current attempt to build the Cowboys into a Super Bowl contender. Last year, the team put together its finest draft weekend in decades, but there is plenty of work to be done.

Their objective is clear: Find difference-makers on defense with the top few picks. Best player available must take a back seat to finding pass rushers and defensive backs who can join the team to contribute -- and likely start -- immediately.

The preference can be flexible on which area to address first, but between edges and defensive backs, the belief is the Cowboys must get at least two important pieces early.

With that in mind, after studying the available players at those spots for a minimum of 200 plays each, I have ranked the top edge rusher and defensive back prospects.

Click/tap here to see edge rushers.

Defensive backs

1. Jamal Adams


School: LSU

Height, weight: 5-11, 214

Projected round: First

Notable: This safety checks all the boxes as the league puts a premium on finding Earl Thomas types.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

2. Malik Hooker


School: Ohio State

Height, weight: 6-1, 206

Projected round: First

Notable: Another elite potential deep safety with corner athleticism who goes to the ball in his small sample size.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

3. Marshon Lattimore


School: Ohio State

Height, weight: 6-0, 193

Projected round: First

Notable: An amazingly gifted corner who can offer press coverage and receiver ball skills. Best corner.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

4. Marlon Humphrey


School: Alabama

Height, weight: 6-0, 197

Projected round: First

Notable: A very physical corner with great speed who plays aggressively and can handle the big receivers.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

5. Kevin King


School: Washington

Height, weight: 6-3, 200

Projected round: First

Notable: He seems capable of playing any coverage and has absurd corner height/speed. Cowboys target it seems.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

6. Tre'Davious White


School: LSU

Height, weight: 5-11, 192

Projected round: First

Notable: A talented corner who plays with confidence and an edge while offering punt return ability.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

7. Jabrill Peppers


School: Michigan

Height, weight: 5-11, 213

Projected round: First

Notable: This safety/linebacker is one of the more polarizing prospects, but I see a difference-making hybrid.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

8. Cordrea Tankersley


School: Clemson

Height, weight: 6-1, 199

Projected round: First

Notable: Tall corner with real top end speed and ball skills to compete on fades, but underneath may be an issue.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

9. Quincy Wilson


School: Florida

Height, weight: 6-1, 211

Projected round: First

Notable: This zone corner has an enormous amount of bulk and size, but does not always play like it.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

10. Jalen "Teez" Tabor


School: Florida

Height, weight: 6-0, 199

Projected round: Second

Notable: Tabor fell down this list with his disconcerting 40 time, but compares to a young Janoris Jenkins.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

11. Chidobe Awuzie


School: Colorado

Height, weight: 6-0, 202

Projected round: Second

Notable: More of a line of scrimmage corner who offers blitz ability, slot coverage, and run support.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

12. Adoree' Jackson


School: USC

Height, weight: 5-10, 186

Projected round: Second

Notable: An electric athlete with some raw talents that need development and size that could be problematic.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

13. Budda Baker


School: Washington

Height, weight: 5-10, 192

Projected round: Second

Notable: Baker is an exciting and playmaking hybrid safety who plays near the line of scrimmage but size a concern.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

14. Gareon Conley


School: Ohio State

Height, weight: 6-0, 195

Projected round: Second

Notable: I'm not a huge fan of finesse defensive corners, and for all of Conley's talents, he doesn't care to be physical.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

15. Desmond King


School: Iowa

Height, weight: 5-10, 201

Projected round: Second

Notable: A candidate to play corner or safety, King is a playmaking ball-hawk who outperforms measurables.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

16. Josh Jones


School: N.C. State

Height, weight: 6-1, 220

Projected round: Second

Notable: Yet another of the hybrid safety/linebacker types who is best in the box but can cover pretty well in space.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

17. Fabian Moreau


School: UCLA

Height, weight: 6-0, 206

Projected round: Second

Notable: A testament to how deep this draft is at DB, but Moreau's durability concerns overshadow his ability.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

18. Marcus Williams


School: Utah

Height, weight: 6-1, 202

Projected round: Second

Notable: This might be the best free safety after Adams and Hooker go off early; he finds the ball and reads QBs.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

19. Obi Melifonwu


School: UConn

Height, weight: 6-4, 224

Projected round: Second/third

Notable: This safety performed amazingly at the combine, but has awareness issues and too much finesse for me.

Read a more comprehensive scouting report on him from Bob Sturm here.

20. Sidney Jones


School: Washington

Height, weight: 6-0, 186

Projected round: Second/third

Notable: Jones is a top 3 corner in this draft for me, but his ruptured Achilles will keep him out until 2018.
 
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