2016 NFL mock draft: Carson Wentz is the choice for the Dallas Cowboys

Is using a first round pick on a player who may not play this season or next a smart move?

The Dallas Cowboys haven't picked in the top five of the NFL Draft since 2003. They're picking that high largely because 35-year-old quarterback Tony Romo missed a lot of last season with an injury. Picking this high in the draft puts the Cowboys in a position to draft Romo's eventual successor. But should that stop them from adding a high-impact player who will help the team more immediately?

One.Cool.Customer of Blogging the Boys knows what direction he wants the Cowboys to go in: 

4. Cowboys: Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State

OCC:You do not use the fourth overall pick to plug holes in your roster. At No. 4 you select a transformational talent that sets up your franchise for the next decade and a half.

Despite what they've been saying publicly, privately the Cowboys have been sold on Carson Wentz ever since they coached him at the Senior Bowl. By selecting Wentz, who has all the tools to be a standout player in the NFL, they secure the game's most important position and won't pick this high again for a long time.

It doesn't matter that Carson Wentz might not play (much) in 2016 or 2017. What matters is that by selecting Wentz, the Cowboys secure their QB position until about 2030. In Dallas, Wentz backs up Tony Romo, gets the time he needs to adjust to the NFL, and gives the Cowboys the insurance they need should Romo miss more time due to injuries.

Analysis: In taking a quarterback fourth overall, the Cowboys would be passing on a star defensive players like Joey Bosa of Ohio State or Myles Jack of UCLA. But they'd also be indicting their ability to develop a quarterback. From solely a tools standpoint, Wentz isn't a considerably better prospect than Cardale Jones of Ohio State, for instance. Jones has plenty of issues, but they can be coached up. If the expectation is that a quarterback the Cowboys draft won't play for two seasons, that's plenty of time for the coaching process.

Dan's Top 5 players remaining

1. Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

4. Myles Jack, LB, UCLA

6. DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon

7. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

8. Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

Cowboys picks

1-4: Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State

2-34: (coming April 11)

Coming up at noon is the Jacksonville Jaguars with Big Cat Country making the fifth overall pick in the draft.

Complete draft results:

1. Tennessee Titans - Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss (Link)2. Cleveland Browns - Jared Goff, QB, Cal (Link)3. San Diego Chargers - Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State (Link)4. Dallas Cowboys - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State

Source: 2016 NFL mock draft: Carson Wentz is the choice for the Dallas Cowboys