Draft grades are in

[nate dizzle]

And they don't mean diddly-poo until 2-3 years down the road. I've seen everything ranging from A's to C's on this draft. That's a pretty big spread.

There's a lot to be optimistic about with this draft. There's also plenty of room for skepticism/rage induced hissy fits. Neither of which will be validated for at least a couple of years.

I personally loved the way the Parsons pick played out with us being able to pick up an extra 3rd and still get the player we wanted, blocking NY from getting Smith, and sending Smith to a team with a lesser QB talent where I don't think he'll be as much of a factor as he would have been in NY with Golladay playing on the other side. This was a shrewd move by our FO on all of those merits.

The 3rd round was a bit of a head scratcher with Golston and Wright and probably where the team gets a lot of the aforementioned skepticism/rage induced hissy fits. However, these are guys that could surprise and change the perspective of the draft in a couple years, or they could suck and be gone by the end of training camp. OO was a nice get but I preferred McNeill who I feel was more of what we needed in a run stopper, unfortunately so did the Lions...c'est la vie.

Getting Cox in the 4th was a home run and I look forward to seeing what he and Parsons make this defense look like in a couple years.

For the late round guys, I'm excited to see what Mukuamu can do. This team has needed a ball hawk in the secondary since forever ago and the kid looks to be just that. I'll let you experts debate on whether he has the skills to succeed. Bohanna looks like the fatty we've needed to plug up the middle in the run game. Hopefully he will be our version of Snacks Harrison.

Overall, I give it a solid B+

Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of anyone with even a modicum of talent evaluation. Examples of the research and analysis performed within this post are non-existent. These opinions should not be utilized in any way, shape or form. Assumptions made within the analysis are based loosely on ~6 hours of watching college football last year, and the two days prior to the draft of reading about prospects on this board.

 

[JJHLH1]

Time will tell of course.

I’m optimistic overall, as long as character issues don’t hold some of the players back.

 

[Jake]

I think "B" is correct. It's not a home run but it's not "2009", either.

Looking at the various sports sites you see As, Bs, and Cs, so the middle seems most rational to me.

 

[jazzcat22]

GMFB was just having a segment on who won the draft.
One of the Guys, Kyle, said Dallas. As they needed defense and went defense and got players. Especially in Parsons.

Jets and Patriots and Bears were the other teams, as each person picked a team.

 

[atlantacowboy]

The only consistent thing I've seen is that the outlets that gave our draft a B or higher, tended to give everyone good grades. I think we get a participation ribbon for this one.

 

[jazzcat22]

I think "B" is correct. It's not a home run but it's not "2009", either.

Looking at the various sports sites you see As, Bs, and Cs, so the middle seems most rational to me.

I just had a friend text me asking me if I seen the grades yet. He is not a Cowboys fan. I think he was, then started hating them. He is a typical fair weather fan. They win, he will be back.
But he even said he thought they had a decent draft. Which is a shock.

I told him I seen from A- to C-. He said so give them a B.
Again I was shocked coming from him.

 

[jazzcat22]

The only consistent thing I've seen is that the outlets that gave our draft a B or higher, tended to give everyone good grades. I think we get a participation ribbon for this one.

But if they gave them a D, you would all over it and agree. You are looking for a reason to disqualify good grades or so it seems.

I don't really care about grades anyway. I find fans and media comments interesting though. It is like looking at a woman, some will say pretty, some will say cute, some will say...meh...some will say ugly. I guess the woman looking at men do the same.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

The only consistent thing I've seen is that the outlets that gave our draft a B or higher, tended to give everyone good grades. I think we get a participation ribbon for this one.

 

[Scotman]

I give it a C+

Separating us from average is the trade down, picking up the extra third. Further, we actually focused heavily on the defense. And, the number of picks isn't going to hurt, either. On the downside, the order of the picks seems to be in question. The late third should have been the fourth...etc. But overall, I think getting an extra third and focusing so heavily on defense makes this a slightly better than average draft.

I'm hoping we hit on half of these players. I hope we snag 3 starters and another 3 role players.

 

[Doomsday101]

Only grade I care about is impact grade. How many of these young guys can come in and make a positive impact on this defense. I expect a lot of the players with in the first 3 Rounds in Parsons, Joseph, Odighizuwa, Golston and Wright. Regardless of how others feel about these players the organization and coaches put their faith in these guys and I hope to see these guys contribute sooner rather than later.

 

[atlantacowboy]

Welcome stalker to my ignore list with all the other board idiots and morons. You will fit in great.

 

[Avery]

I don't give grades right now, pointless exercise with no one stepping on to a NFL field yet. We can give grades to our 2018 draft if we want which is what I'll do.

Overall Grade - C+

19 - Leighton Vander Esch (C) - Looked like a surefire A/A+ early on, but the last two seasons, neck injuries and lack of a 5th season pickup lend me to think he may not be for long here. His injury history was known before we selected him, but he's got to stay on the field if he wants to stay on this team
50 - Connor Williams (B-) - Connor has been decidedly average. He doesn't look like he's got much more room to develop, but has performed admirably when his engine is running hot. Looks like a career backup/potential starter who will likely be in the league for a good bit, but won't be a Pro Bowler
81 - Michael Gallup (A-) - Great pick overall. Yeah, he routinely drops some easy ones but has had many fabulous catches and games that has kept us in contention. Would be getting an extension if not for Lamb being here and Amari cashing fat checks
116 - Dorrance Armstrong (D) - Has yet to really crack the rotation and the FO has looked into vets to try and solve the issue. Probably a guy that could be on the bubble for cuts this year. Overall, essentially a non-factor and a whiff for trying to find a competent starter
137 - Dalton Schultz (B) - This was looking like a D grade before last year, but with Jarwin out, Schultz performed pretty darn admirably. He has an obvious ceiling and isn't a traditional #1 TE, but he's a valuable rotational piece and a guy that could stick around the league for a while. Overall, someone who seems to be getting better vs. regressing
171 - Mike White (F) - Pretty simple here: was drafted, couldn't hold on to the #2 or even #3 job, he's now on the street. The search for a competent backup continues
193 - Chris Covington (D) - As a 6th round pick, have to be conscious that he was always going to have an uphill journey, but could never crack the rotation. Didn't really have a choice but to move on to greener pastures
208 - Cedrick Wilson (B) - Looked pretty good in first TC before getting injured. Has had some decent opportunities to get some playing time and make some plays, but will always live in the shadow of being a rotational guy with our corps. That said, pretty decent return for a 6th round pick, but is going to have some tough competition this year
236 - Bo Scarbrough (D) - Thought he would be a good second fiddle to spell Zeke, but Garrett staff didn't think so. Was a bit of a surprising cut even though he looked solid, not spectacular. Played decently for DET, but looks like a journeyman who is probably running out of options

 

[atlantacowboy]

I don't give grades right now, pointless exercise with no one stepping on to a NFL field yet. We can give grades to our 2018 draft if we want which is what I'll do.

Overall Grade - C+

19 - Leighton Vander Esch (C) - Looked like a surefire A/A+ early on, but the last two seasons, neck injuries and lack of a 5th season pickup lend me to think he may not be for long here. His injury history was known before we selected him, but he's got to stay on the field if he wants to stay on this team
50 - Connor Williams (B-) - Connor has been decidedly average. He doesn't look like he's got much more room to develop, but has performed admirably when his engine is running hot. Looks like a career backup/potential starter who will likely be in the league for a good bit, but won't be a Pro Bowler
81 - Michael Gallup (A-) - Great pick overall. Yeah, he routinely drops some easy ones but has had many fabulous catches and games that has kept us in contention. Would be getting an extension if not for Lamb being here and Amari cashing fat checks
116 - Dorrance Armstrong (D) - Has yet to really crack the rotation and the FO has looked into vets to try and solve the issue. Probably a guy that could be on the bubble for cuts this year. Overall, essentially a non-factor and a whiff for trying to find a competent starter
137 - Dalton Schultz (B) - This was looking like a D grade before last year, but with Jarwin out, Schultz performed pretty darn admirably. He has an obvious ceiling and isn't a traditional #1 TE, but he's a valuable rotational piece and a guy that could stick around the league for a while. Overall, someone who seems to be getting better vs. regressing
171 - Mike White (F) - Pretty simple here: was drafted, couldn't hold on to the #2 or even #3 job, he's now on the street. The search for a competent backup continues
193 - Chris Covington (D) - As a 6th round pick, have to be conscious that he was always going to have an uphill journey, but could never crack the rotation. Didn't really have a choice but to move on to greener pastures
208 - Cedrick Wilson (B) - Looked pretty good in first TC before getting injured. Has had some decent opportunities to get some playing time and make some plays, but will always live in the shadow of being a rotational guy with our corps. That said, pretty decent return for a 6th round pick, but is going to have some tough competition this year
236 - Bo Scarbrough (D) - Thought he would be a good second fiddle to spell Zeke, but Garrett staff didn't think so. Was a bit of a surprising cut even though he looked solid, not spectacular. Played decently for DET, but looks like a journeyman who is probably running out of options

That draft didn't age well. NFL.com gave us an A- for this one.......which is ironically the same grade they just gave us for this past one.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

Welcome stalker to my ignore list with all the other board idiots and morons. You will fit in great.

 

[CouchCoach]

Wish I could give a second Like to the disclaimer.

 

[nate dizzle]

Time will tell of course.

I’m optimistic overall, as long as character issues don’t hold some of the players back.

Agreed. From what I've read of the character concerns, they seemed to be one off instances and not part of a larger pattern of behavior, but I could be wrong.

 

[ItzKelz]

I give them an A. I think we will better against the run after the draft. Hopefully we don't have to endure any 300 yard rushing efforts given up by the defense. Time will tell.

 

[nate dizzle]

I think "B" is correct. It's not a home run but it's not "2009", either.

Looking at the various sports sites you see As, Bs, and Cs, so the middle seems most rational to me.

Gotta tell you, after that 3rd round I was pretty nervous that we were headed down the path to another 2009. I feel like they turned it around with their later picks but Golston and Wright really felt like those picks should/could have been traded to move up for another 2nd or earlier 3rd. Guess we'll see how it turns out but I see them as picks for backups at best. Hell, I would have preferred them snagging Cox in the 3rd over either of them, even though they got him in the 4th.

 

[nate dizzle]

I give them an A. I think we will better against the run after the draft. Hopefully we don't have to endure any 300 yard rushing efforts given up by the defense. Time will tell.

If nothing else you have to look at this draft and think the run defense will be much improved.

 

[CWR]

I just had a friend text me asking me if I seen the grades yet. He is not a Cowboys fan. I think he was, then started hating them. He is a typical fair weather fan. They win, he will be back.
But he even said he thought they had a decent draft. Which is a shock.

I told him I seen from A- to C-. He said so give them a B.
Again I was shocked coming from him.

Let me guess, he's now a Bucs fans right? Lol

I cant stand a team changer. Its a lack of loyalty.