FRISCO, Texas -- ESPN's Todd McShay has put out his second mock draft and he has stuck with the same position for the Dallas Cowboys: pass-rusher.

McShay has the Cowboys taking Alabama's Tim Williams with the 28th overall pick. In his first mock draft, he had them taking Stanford's Solomon Thomas, but in Mock No. 2, Thomas went No. 9 to the Cincinnati Bengals, which speaks to how much movement there will be throughout the draft process.

2017 NFL DRAFT Round 1: April 27, 8 p.m. ET

Rds. 2-3: April 28, 7 p.m. ET

Rds. 4-7: April 29, noon ET

Where: Philadelphia NFL draft home page » • 2017 NFL draft order »

• Mel Kiper Jr.: Mock 3.0 »

• Todd McShay: Mock 3.0 »

• Todd McShay's Top 32 »

• Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board »

• McShay: Top prospects by position »

• Mel Kiper Jr.: Top 10 by position »

• Pro day schedule for prospects »

• Underclassmen who have declared »

• NFL draft player rankings »

There are plenty of reasons why Williams would make sense for the Cowboys and at the top of the list is 19.5 sacks the last two seasons, plus 29.5 tackles for loss. Because of the Crimson Tide's loaded defense, he does not have a lot of wear and tear, which is sometimes a knock on Alabama players coming into the NFL.

The Cowboys have a need for an improved pass rush. Williams might be one of the best pass-rushers available. So how would he be there at No. 28?

And this is what's not to like about him. McShay acknowledged a misdemeanor gun charge and there are other reported off-the-field concerns, too.

Two years ago the Cowboys were willing to take a chance in the second round on Randy Gregory. At about this time in the 2014 draft process, Gregory was seen as a top-10 pick because of his pass-rush skills, but there were concerns about his off-field habits. He flunked a drug test at the scouting combine and the Cowboys were able to take him with the 60th pick.

They gloated about getting three first-round talents in Byron Jones, Gregory and La'el Collins despite having just one first-round pick (that was Jones, by the way.) The off-field worries that many had have come to fruition, much to the chagrin of the Cowboys. He was suspended the first 14 games of the 2016 season and will miss at least the entire 2017 season with another suspension.

We can argue about the NFL's drug policy being more about punishment than rehabilitation, but the facts is, unless there is some legal change that has yet to take place, Gregory will play in 14 of the first 48 games of his career.

The chance the Cowboys took just hasn't been worth it.

So would they take a chance on Williams after what they have gone through with Gregory?

It's the Cowboys, so you never rule anything out. They will do their investigations into every player's background. Jason Garrett's history with Nick Saban should mean they will know all they need to know as well.

Risks can turn into assets, but the Cowboys need more of a sure thing, even at the bottom of the first round.