If you enjoy NFL Draft content and the countless mock drafts that come with it in the months prior to it, chances are you've heard about "BPA." It's one of the most intriguing discussions surrounding the event and one that we've seen the Dallas Cowboys employ at times.

What do those three letters stand for? Best Player Available.

In other words, it's a way to say that the best draft strategy that front offices can use to build their rosters is to select the best players on the board regardless of the needs of the team. 

I for one believe there's a gray area there. 

Positional value, the team's top needs, and even scheme fit should all play a factor in this whole thing. But some "BPA" enthusiasts will insist the only correct way to go about things is to take the highest name on the board. Period.

It's a controversial strategy yet pretty logical. The idea is to mitigate the risk of missing on players by getting the best of them. 

So today, we put that theory to the test. Using The Athletic's Dane Brugler's famous draft guide (a.k.a. The Beast, which I highly recommend you check out here), we'll run a three-round mock draft for the Cowboys and take the best player available every time. No questions asked.

Here we go.

26. S Brian Branch, Alabama

Would the Cowboys take a safety after recently going against their own status quo by paying Donovan Wilson? I would bet against it. Having said that, Branch would likely thrive on Dan Quinn's defense.

He projects best as a safety/nickel cornerback having played the "star" role on Nick Saban's defense, which is essentially Alabama's nickel defender.  

"Extremely high football IQ," writes A to Z Sports' draft analyst Tyler Browning. "Recognizes what offenses are doing and adapts quickly. "Can be used to man up RBs, WRs, TEs and can be used as a versatile weapon on the back end."

Quinn would likely have a lot of fun with a guy like Branch on his defense. 

58. CB DJ Turner, Michigan

Double-dipping at DB!? 

That's right. Let me remind you, we're taking a "best player available no matter what!" approach here. And Turner is a steal here using Brugler's board. He has him as the 42nd-best prospect overall.

Turner's size might be an issue here considering he weighs 178 pounds (5th percentile) and also lacks ideal height and length. 

While he played primarily as a wide CB for the Wolverines, he'd likely play inside for the Cowboys. 

90. EDGE YaYa Diaby, Louisville

Make that three defensive picks for the Cowboys!

A no-star recruit out of high school, Diaby has worked himself up the draft boards thanks to his explosiveness. He's Brugler's 72nd-best player. He had a career-best season in 2022 and some teams might be intrigued by his size and length. 

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I know, I know. This mock draft might not be hyper-realistic. But consider it a fun exercise putting the "BPA" strategy to the test. The Cowboys would walk away from this scenario with no offensive help and with significant question marks at the offensive line and tight end. 

But Brugler is one of the best draft analysts in the business. I'm betting the Cowboys would be okay with this haul. 

For more on this topic and the Cowboys, check out my nightly live show A to Z Sports Dallas Primetime below!

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