(AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)

Jalen Ramsey catches a pass during Florida State’s NFL football pro day in Tallahassee, Fla., Tuesday, March 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)

“Fill an immediate need,” some will say. “Protect the future of the franchise and select a quarterback,” others will insist. Another angle to possibly consider: “Pick the player who will prolong Tony Romo’s career.” So, what exactly should the Dallas Cowboys do with the fourth overall pick of April’s NFL draft?

If the right way to proceed is to “draft the player who is perfect for the modern NFL,” then ESPN’s Matt Bowen has a list of names to focus on.

Bowen wrote about some draft prospects (at different positions) whose skills are valued more than ever because of the nature of today’s NFL, and while his story is not about pinning certain prospects to certain teams, he does start with Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey — a player who is among the options many believe the Cowboys will be choosing from.

Now, the question: What makes a prospect like Ramsey essential? Bowen wrote:

“With the amount of nickel and dime packages in today’s league, defensive backs who can cover, play with range and tackle at the point of attack are the key to generating a positive game plan. Think of Tyrann Mathieu with the Arizona Cardinals. He has natural ball skills, the coverage ability to play outside (or in the slot) and he can also blitz. That allows the Cardinals to use Mathieu as a creative piece and also cater to specific matchups. This guy is a Swiss-army knife with Pro Bowl talent. And, from a coaching perspective, defensive backs with this level of versatility allow NFL clubs to counter the wide-open spread offenses in today’s game.”

As Jon Machota has touched on previously, Ramsey would immediately provide Dallas with options on how to utilize him. Special contributor Bob Sturm went as far as suggesting Ramsey could be the best player in the Cowboys’ secondary if the team selected him. Here’s Machota, on Ramsey:

“Ramsey is arguably the most talented player in this class. He can basically play any defensive back spot on the field. In a league that continues to pass more and more frequently, Ramsey is certain to bring immediate value. He has the ideal size, speed, athletic ability and ball skills to instantly upgrade the Cowboys’ secondary. He’d likely start at [cornerback], but a future safety combo of Ramsey and Byron Jones is also very intriguing.”

Bowen, on Ramsey: “As a free safety, he can close on the seam and the post. Outside the numbers, he’s going to find the ball and support the run. Plus, when he does line up inside as a nickel/dime back, he has the footwork to mirror the release of the slot receiver and stay close to the hip.”

Here are Ramsey’s numbers from the NFL combine: 6-foot-1, 209 pounds; 33 3/8-inch arm length, 9 1/2-inch hands; 4.41-second 40-yard dash; 14 reps on the bench press (225 pounds); 41.5-inch vertical jump; 135-inch broad jump; 6.94-second three-cone drill; 4.18-second 20-yard shuttle and 11.10-second 60-yard shuttle.

Ramsey, however, isn’t the only possible Cowboys draft pick whose game is tailor-made for the NFL of today, writes Bowen.

UCLA linebacker Myles Jack is another. A pair of recent mock drafts (from NFL.com’s Chad Reuter and CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin) predicted a Jack-to-Dallas scenario.

Bowen’s inclusion of Jack in his piece has to do with the linebacker’s ability to cover, and how important an aspect that has become. He wrote:

“Luke Kuechly, Lavonte David, Bobby Wagner. What do they have in common? They’re all [linebackers] with the speed, flexibility in the hips and range to make plays in the passing game. Plus, they’re tackling machines with the lateral agility to find the ball versus the run. The days of the big boy linebackers with the neck rolls are over. It’s all about athleticism and production in the defensive sub-packages now. Today’s linebackers have to carry the seam, cover ground in their zone drops and match up with tight ends or running backs outside the box. You can’t hide a linebacker who lacks speed and change-of-direction ability anymore. They will get eaten up versus the three-[wide receiver] personnel that has taken over the NFL.”

Dallas should know how important such players are — see: Sean Lee. Earlier in the draft process, experts were high on Jack as the Cowboys’ pick at No. 4, with five of 10 picking the athletic linebacker for Dallas. Here’s Machota, from that roundup, on Jack:

“Jack, who was picked by half of the experts in this roundup, would be Dallas’ middle linebacker of the future. Jack, also a running back for the Bruins, fits perfectly with today’s pass-happy style of pro and college football. His athleticism allows him to stay with running backs and tight ends in the passing game, meaning he’ll be on the field for all three downs.”

Jack, who tore the meniscus in his right knee during a practice last September, was limited at the NFL combine and has yet to run a 40-yard dash in the draft process. Here are some of his measurements: 6-1, 245 pounds; 33 5/8-inch arm length, 10 1/4-inch hands; 19 reps on the bench press.

Right now, Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa appears to be the most popular pick for Dallas among top draft experts. No worries, Cowboys fans — Bosa, Ramsey or Jack figures to be a good selection.

Other notable prospects from Bowen’s analysis include Oklahoma’s Sterling Shepard and Ohio State’s Braxton Miller (“wide receivers who can win in the slot”), and Houston’s William Jackson III (“cornerbacks with length”).

Click here to read Bowen’s full story, which features more in-depth looks at Ramsey, Jack and other prospects.

— Check out our Cowboys Mock Draft Tracker to see who experts are picking. —