jobberone
03-17-2005, 07:22 PM
Props to SBK on DCCentral for this article
Archer - Proven players trump late-round draft picks
Todd Archer: Proven players trump late-round draft picks
IRVING - Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones loves draft picks. He likes to wheel and deal those picks for more picks so he can net more players. It's a perfectly logical move, especially when it comes to the salary cap where you need low-priced talent to balance out the high-priced talent.
But the Cowboys haven't been very efficient with their draft picks.
They do not have a player remaining on their roster from the 2000 draft. They do not intend to re-sign Tony Dixon, which would leave them without a pick from the 2001 draft.
The vaunted 2002 draft was generally hailed as high quality for getting high-rated players in lower spots, like Andre Gurode, Antonio Bryant, Derek Ross. Bryant has been traded. Ross was cut. And Gurode might be in his final days.
Here's the point: the draft has not been kind to the Cowboys, so they shouldn't be so unwilling to deal those picks. What they should do is find some bargains in the restricted free-agent market.
Some players were priced out of the restricted free agent market because they were tendered contracts that would require the Cowboys to give up a first-round pick, like Baltimore's Will Demps.
But they can find some help with the lower tendered free agents with compensation in rounds 4-7.
They certainly can find their running back to help Julius Jones. Green Bay's Najeh Davenport is at the top of the list and all he would cost is a fourth-round pick. He recently had shoulder surgery and is out for two months, but he would be ready well before training camp. The Packers tendered Davenport at $656,000, but they have the right to match any offer to keep the player.
Davenport would be a good mix for Jones. He is big at 6-1, 250 pounds. He can pick up the tough yards inside and is faster than people think. He had 71 carries for 359 yards and two scores as Ahman Green's backup. He could also serve as a return man or cover kicks in a pinch.
Coach Bill Parcells raved about Pittsburgh's Verron Haynes at different times last season. He would cost a fifth-round pick if the Steelers chose not to match the offer. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry behind Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley. He also caught 18 passes. He is the elusive back Parcells would like behind Jones. In the last four years, the Cowboys have picked linebacker Markus Steele, guard/center Matt Lehr, fullback Jamar Martin, cornerback Pete Hunter, linebacker Bradie James, cornerback Bruce Thornton and tight end Sean Ryan in the fourth and fifth rounds.
Would you rather have a somewhat proven commodity in Davenport or Haynes or an unproven draft pick that may or may not turn into a solid contributor?
Go with the young, proven player. It certainly takes the guesswork out of drafting a player.
__________________
Archer - Proven players trump late-round draft picks
Todd Archer: Proven players trump late-round draft picks
IRVING - Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones loves draft picks. He likes to wheel and deal those picks for more picks so he can net more players. It's a perfectly logical move, especially when it comes to the salary cap where you need low-priced talent to balance out the high-priced talent.
But the Cowboys haven't been very efficient with their draft picks.
They do not have a player remaining on their roster from the 2000 draft. They do not intend to re-sign Tony Dixon, which would leave them without a pick from the 2001 draft.
The vaunted 2002 draft was generally hailed as high quality for getting high-rated players in lower spots, like Andre Gurode, Antonio Bryant, Derek Ross. Bryant has been traded. Ross was cut. And Gurode might be in his final days.
Here's the point: the draft has not been kind to the Cowboys, so they shouldn't be so unwilling to deal those picks. What they should do is find some bargains in the restricted free-agent market.
Some players were priced out of the restricted free agent market because they were tendered contracts that would require the Cowboys to give up a first-round pick, like Baltimore's Will Demps.
But they can find some help with the lower tendered free agents with compensation in rounds 4-7.
They certainly can find their running back to help Julius Jones. Green Bay's Najeh Davenport is at the top of the list and all he would cost is a fourth-round pick. He recently had shoulder surgery and is out for two months, but he would be ready well before training camp. The Packers tendered Davenport at $656,000, but they have the right to match any offer to keep the player.
Davenport would be a good mix for Jones. He is big at 6-1, 250 pounds. He can pick up the tough yards inside and is faster than people think. He had 71 carries for 359 yards and two scores as Ahman Green's backup. He could also serve as a return man or cover kicks in a pinch.
Coach Bill Parcells raved about Pittsburgh's Verron Haynes at different times last season. He would cost a fifth-round pick if the Steelers chose not to match the offer. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry behind Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley. He also caught 18 passes. He is the elusive back Parcells would like behind Jones. In the last four years, the Cowboys have picked linebacker Markus Steele, guard/center Matt Lehr, fullback Jamar Martin, cornerback Pete Hunter, linebacker Bradie James, cornerback Bruce Thornton and tight end Sean Ryan in the fourth and fifth rounds.
Would you rather have a somewhat proven commodity in Davenport or Haynes or an unproven draft pick that may or may not turn into a solid contributor?
Go with the young, proven player. It certainly takes the guesswork out of drafting a player.
__________________