The Cowboys will have a plethora of options at positions of need when the NFL draft kicks off on April 28. Most noticeably, the offensive line and linebacker spots need bodies.

While those are key areas, one person feels the Cowboys going a different route with the 24th pick might be something to consider. ESPN's Mike Tannenbaum, a former NFL executive, put out a mock draft on Wednesday. He has the Cowboys taking a cornerback early in the draft for the third consecutive season in LSU's Derek Stingley Jr.

Tannenbaum's reason for the Cowboys taking Stingley:

"Imagine Trevon Diggs and Stingley covering up opposing receivers. There is incredible potential there. Stingley is an intriguing yet confusing prospect. At his best, he's one of the top three or four players in the entire class. But his injury history and uneven play create a lot of risk. But at No. 24 overall, Dallas could get a steal if he plays anywhere near his ceiling."

Stingley scouting report via NFL.com's Lance Zeirlein:

"Uniquely gifted cornerback with rare blend of size, speed and explosiveness that will have teams willing to judge his upside off of tape from two seasons ago. Stingley played in just 10 games over the last two years, offering flashes of his upside rather than sustained play. Regardless of season, he's long, loose and extremely athletic. Elite speed and ball skills give him a chance to thrive as a bump-and-run corner capable of shadowing top talent around the field. He allows some separation from off-man but bursts to close distance instantly. He's well-suited for a variety of zone coverages but needs to play with much better zeal and toughness in run support. Stingley will likely measure and test like Marshon Lattimore, Patrick Peterson and Antonio Cromartie (depending on his weight), but he needs to find that breakthrough 2019 form in order to reach his potential as a lockdown cover talent."

Although he was a freshman, Stingley was an important link on the chain for LSU in winning the National Championship in 2019. He finished with six interceptions and 15 passes defended which were tops in the SEC. Stingley's best stretch came from the end of September until the end of October when he registered 4 interceptions, five passes defended, and 17 tackles.

Stingley would go on to receive First-Team All-SEC and Consensus All-American honors for his play, but his final two collegiate seasons were a struggle. In 2020, Stingley was named First-Team All-SEC again, but he appeared in just seven games due to a non-COVID-related illness and a leg injury. Last season, Stingley appeared in only three games after having surgery in September to repair a torn ligament in his foot.

After such a blazing start to his collegiate career, Stingley didn't have the consistent production over his last seasons, and being on the injury report for periods of time didn't help. These factors are why it's possible that even with his elite straits, Stingley could fall in draft and be on the board in the first round when the Cowboys pick in round one.

How does Stingley fit with the Cowboys?

Trevon Diggs was unbelievable in 2021 with a league-leading 11 interceptions. Stingley, if selected, would push Anthony Brown and likely best him out for the CB2 spot with his loaded tool bag. Also, Kelvin Joseph, the Cowboys' second-round pick last year, showed great promise towards the end of the season and can play the slot. That's a potential three-headed monster at cornerback, a youthful one at that, and you can never have too many cornerbacks in today's NFL.

This idea of Stingley falling to the 24th pick isn't likely despite the injury and consistency concerns. However, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was available for the Cowboys at 17 in 2020 which seemed impossible, and the rest is history.

Feature image via Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports