The NFL draft is less than five months away, and the homework has already begun.

Typically, when a team is underwhelming on the field, the reward is a high pick in the draft. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they can’t even underwhelm right. Despite going 3-7 in their past 10 games, they still sit atop the comically bad NFC East, meaning if the draft started today, the Cowboys would be picking 21st (assuming they got bounced in the wild-card round).

But if the Cowboys continue their downward spiral to the point where the Eagles are able to limp by and win the division, then picks 12-18 become a possibility based on how other teams finish their seasons.

Whether they’re picking in the early 20s or the mid-teens, be assured that there will be plenty of talent available when the Cowboys go on the clock in Round 1. With the idea that they would pick somewhere between 15-21, let’s take an early look at five prospects who could be available when it’s Dallas first goes on the clock.

For the purpose of this article and to make things easier, we are going to assume Dallas’ scheme stays the same even if the current coaching staff is gone shortly after the end of the regular season. And to keep things as realistic as possible (it’s still really early in the draft process for those of us outside the Cowboys organization), we are going to use The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Machine as a means to see who could still be available for the Cowboys (sorry, no Chase Young).

Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

After getting routinely gashed on the ground, due in large part to poor play from the defensive tackles, maybe 2020 is the year the Cowboys finally invest real resources in the nose tackle position?

Going from not valuing the position at all to selecting a nose tackle in Round 1 may be wishful thinking, but if Auburn’s Derrick Brown is available, Dallas would be stupid to not consider him.

Brown has been dominant in his senior season, accumulating 49 total tackles, an absurd 11.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and two forced fumbles -- an impressive stat line for a defensive tackle.

Listed at 6-foot-5, 318 pounds, Brown has the size, girth and power to occupy space and eat double-teams at the line of scrimmage. He uses his heavy hands and explosive hips to consistently reset the line of scrimmage against zone runs. Brown isn’t just a big space-eater in the middle of the defense, he still can penetrate and make plays in the backfield when the situation calls for it.

Most importantly, he expertly reads and defeats blocking schemes while staying disciplined with his gap control -- the area where Dallas’ defensive tackles have struggled most.

Brown isn’t going to get mistaken for Aaron Donald anytime soon, but he does bring much more pass-rush ability than your typical 315-plus-pound defensive tackle. Like most defensive tackles his size, Brown possesses a potent bull rush that he uses to collapse pockets and walk defenders back into the quarterback’s face, but he’s no one-trick pony.

Despite his size, he has enough quickness to attack the edges of an interior lineman, using his powerful hands to shorten corners and attack the pocket. If a lineman sits on his power, Brown can use finesse to beat the block, as evidenced by the sublime spin move he used to generate pressure against Alabama (above clip).

Brown is exactly the kind of draft pick who could immediately be a high-impact starter for the Cowboys. His ability to maintain his gap discipline while occupying double-teams would make life easier on Dallas’ linebackers. His pass-rush prowess gives him even more value because he’s viable on all three downs.

It’s been a long time coming, but if the Cowboys finally want to invest in a nose tackle, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better fit than Brown.

Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

If the Cowboys are going to give $30-plus million per year to Dak Prescott, then it makes sense to add more weapons around him. Dallas has become one of the most prolific deep-passing teams in the NFL (20-plus yards downfield) thanks to Prescott’s improvements, as his 53.7% adjusted completion rate ranks second in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.

In an effort to continue the deep-passing game renaissance, Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III would be an outstanding pick. Unfortunately for Ruggs, he’s not the only first-round talent in Alabama’s receiving corps, so his production is slightly compressed when compared to most first-round talents. Still, 38 catches for 719 yards and seven touchdowns isn’t too shabby for a guy who’s sharing the spotlight with Jerry Jeudy (a likely top-10 pick), Jaylen Waddle (a potential first-rounder in 2021) and DeVonta Smith (a likely Day 2 selection in 2020 if he declares).

At 6 feet, 190 pounds, Ruggs is an electrifying talent with legitimate world-class speed, as there are reports of NFL scouts having timed his 40-yard dash in the 4.2s. Yeah, the Cowboys could use that.

Ruggs’ speed makes him a touchdown threat every time he touches the ball. He can easily outrun pursuit angles, leaving even the fastest defensive backs in his wake. His ability to outrun pursuit angles makes him a dangerous weapon on jet sweeps, something Dallas has used this season but hasn’t quite optimized.

Same play.. watch Henry Ruggs III shake this poor CB twice, first w/the release & then at the break w/the bench route.. embarrassment of riches - pic.twitter.com/phjquwRBFX — Michael Kist (@MichaelKistNFL) December 7, 2019

But don’t get it twisted, Ruggs isn’t purely a speed merchant who stretches the field with go and post routes, though he can obviously do that. He displays very good route running that is buoyed by his ability to accelerate out of his breaks to create separation.

Ruggs displays great ball skills and an ability to play through contact, dropping just four of the 100 catchable passes in his career, according to PFF. That is incredibly important for a lightweight like Ruggs.

Given his size, he can get bullied a bit early in routes if he doesn’t gain initial separation. Still, he can run the full gambit of routes and is extra deadly from the slot, where he’s given a two-way release by alignment. This makes him the ideal Randall Cobb replacement in the slot while his speed and return ability (25 career kick returns) can replace Tavon Austin on special teams and as a gadget weapon on offense.

Sometimes the first round isn’t about shoring up weaknesses, but rather solidifying strengths. In that vein, Ruggs would be a great option.

Curtis Weaver, EDGE, Boise State

With Robert Quinn and Michael Bennett scheduled to become free agents, and Randy Gregory’s return next season not guaranteed, defensive end will be a huge need for the Cowboys in the offseason. They need to find DeMarcus Lawrence a permanent running mate off the edge, much like how they drafted Anthony Spencer to buoy DeMarcus Ware in 2007.

Enter Boise State’s Curtis Weaver.

Weaver doesn’t provide the same kind of speed as Quinn, but he’s more well-rounded in terms of his ability to play the run and pass and brings plenty of pass-rush ability to the table.

Weaver has been a monster and one of the most dominant players in college football this year, posting 47 tackles, 18 for loss(!!!), 13.5 sacks, three pass deflections and a forced fumble.

He isn’t a special athlete by any means, but he understands how to maximize his get-off by timing the snap. Weaver is astounding when cornering at the apex of his rush, displaying the type of bend that gets D-line coaches to perk up in their seats (above clip).

At 6-foot-3, 265 pounds, Weaver combines that cornering ability with developed hands, deceptive footwork and an all-around impressive pass-rush repertoire.

He has also shown the ability to change his plan mid-rush to take advantage of an opening he sees. A great example is his counter spin, when he can beat the offensive tackle with speed and bend around the edge (above clip).

Weaver has some bad habits against the run. His pad level will swell as he tries to peek into the backfield, but his sublime hand technique and quickness enable him to penetrate and disrupt runs there.

He is exactly the kind of pass rusher who can take advantage of all the attention Lawrence receives on the opposite edge, which is why he deserves consideration from the Cowboys.

Ashtyn Davis, S, Cal

With Jeff Heath scheduled to become a free agent, the Cowboys will finally be pushed to upgrade the safety position alongside Xavier Woods.

While he’s floating under the radar right now, don’t be surprised if Cal’s Ashtyn Davis works himself into first-round consideration by April.

Listed at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, Davis was recruited for track and field -- he was an All-American hurdler last season -- but quickly earned a spot on the football team. He’s become a stud safety for the Golden Bears’ defense, posting 55 tackles, one tackle for loss, four pass deflections and an interception.

Given his track background, you can probably guess that Davis is an elite athlete on the field, which is demonstrated by his impressive range from center field and ability to contest passes above the rim (above clip).

oh HELLO Ashtyn Davis. Makes a plus-break and ranges from the opposite hash to make a play on this pass down the seam. pic.twitter.com/YyNdcM1f4z — John Owning (@JohnOwning) December 8, 2019

His range makes him an ideal center fielder (free safety) in Cover 1 and 3 because his speed and fluidity allow him to cover a ton of ground and limit big plays deep. More importantly, Davis’ football intelligence enables him to make plus-breaks on the ball -- meaning he breaks on the pass before the quarterback lets it go -- so he’s able to cover impressive distances to contest the catch point (above clip).

Watching #Cal safety Ashtyn Davis this morning. Range and physicality are two of his best traits. He plays every position on the back end as well. pic.twitter.com/cZyrbGiIjB — Jordan Reid (@JReidNFL) November 20, 2019

Despite his lack of size, Davis isn’t afraid of contact, often looking like a guided missile with the way he attacks blocks and ball carriers.

Unfortunately, a lot of his physicality is due to the momentum he can create when coming downhill or filling from space. So, it would be unwise to play him down in the box because he lacks the size to take on blocks in tight spaces, where he can’t use his speed to generate momentum. He also struggles to read and decipher blocks when aligned near the line of scrimmage, and his tendency to launch himself at ball carriers can cause him to miss tackles if he’s off target even a little. He will need to play more controlled in run support in the NFL.

Davis brings a lot of special teams value, as he’s capable of playing on each unit to go with his ability as a return man (finished second in the Pac-12 last season in yards per kick return with 26.2).

Take the good with the bad in regard to Davis because “the good” is stuff that can’t be taught, while “the bad” is easily correctable as long as he is amenable to coaching (which is hard to know without going through the bevy of interviews teams put prospects through).

The Cowboys love to play Woods down and around the box because of his ability to take away crossers and read the quarterback’s eyes from a robber role. Heath’s issues in coverage, however, have limited Dallas’ ability to do that. Adding Davis to the mix would give Dallas the ability to play Woods in the box more while also giving the team two extremely rangy safeties when they opt to play split-safety coverage (Cover 2, Tampa 2, Cover 4).

Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

If Kris Richard is still on the Cowboys’ coaching staff in 2020, get ready for him to stand on the table for Alabama’s Trevon Diggs, who happens to be the brother of Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

With Byron Jones and Anthony Brown set to become free agents -- and Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis scheduled to hit free agency the year after -- cornerback is a sneaky need, and Diggs fits the Cowboys’ scheme to a T.

Listed at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, Diggs has the ideal size and length that the Cowboys value in the cornerback position. This season, Diggs has accumulated 37 tackles, three interceptions and eight pass deflections.

Playing in cornerback whisperer Nick Saban’s defense, Diggs is an incredibly smart player who understands how to decipher and pass off route combinations given the context of the coverage. The scheme at Alabama is more complex than those of many NFL teams, including the Cowboys, so Diggs should have no problem transitioning to the league as far as playbooks are concerned.

Because of his size and length, which is buoyed by patience and athleticism, Diggs thrives in press-man coverage. Even if he’s beat initially, he has the elite athleticism to recover and contest at the catch point.

Diggs has the rare ability to slide down in the slot while maintaining his effectiveness. He certainly is better utilized outside, but his ability to play in the slot would give the defense a ton of flexibility with its coverage scheme.

If the Cowboys do lose Jones is free agency, Diggs is the perfect candidate to replace him.