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Best, riskiest draft picks of Round 1

Ezekiel Elliott will look good in Cowboys blue. Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports

A lot of really good prospects came off the board on Thursday during the first round of the 2016 NFL draft, and I was impressed with the work of several teams in terms of their ability to draft for need while still getting good value. But there were also a few high-risk picks made -- ones that could pay off big but also represent significant gambles for those teams.

Let's take a look at the best and riskiest picks of Round 1:

Best picks

1. Dallas Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (No. 4 pick)

Of the 31 players drafted on Thursday, Elliott has a chance to make the biggest impact as a rookie. A Day 1 starter and a true three-down back, Elliott is the best blocking RB I've ever studied. That should help keep QB Tony Romo upright after he broke his collarbone twice last season. Remember: The Cowboys went 12-4 in 2014 relying on a dominant run game and an elite offensive line to take pressure off Romo. Elliott has the skill set to help Dallas return to that form.