Who is your ‘must have’?

[Stash]

Do you have one player in this upcoming draft that you feel that the Cowboys just have to draft in order for it to be a success in your mind?

Obviously it’s just a matter of personal preference, but mine would have to be Ole Miss edge Sam Williams.

I have several other pet cats that I would love to have that I typically take in my mock drafts like:

1. Tyler Smith
2. Calvin Austin III
3. Jelani Woods
4. Dohnovan West

But for me, we have to get another edge player for now and the future and Williams keeps looking like the best value.

But I’m not getting cute and I’m taking him in round 2 if he’s still there and not risking losing out.

I’m curious to hear if anyone else has a ‘must gave’ player or two?

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Dont really have a must get but have some pet cats. I like Zion a lot. I really like Elam. Williams is up there too for me.

 

[Cowboyny]

Travis Jones who potentially could be the final major piece for rebuilding the defense

 

[visionary]

I’m taking Travis Jones at 24

We need a real difference maker at DT desperately and he could alter our defense. There is a significant drop off after him and apparently Titans and Bucs want him at 26 and 28

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I like Jones a lot but not sure the front office would pull the trigger even if he was there.

 

[Risen Star]

Not really. Just cornerbacks in general.

 

[Aven8]

I’m with you on Sam Williams. That’s who I covet as well.

I do know we need to come out of the draft with another LB that can play whomever that is.

 

[ghst187]

Travis Jones who potentially could be the final major piece for rebuilding the defense

this. Most impact for the pick.

 

[morasp]

Realistically I think Green would make a huge improvement on both the run game and passing game and by extension would help the defense by keeping the offense on the field. But If he got close to pick 24 I wouldn't mind Jordan Davis.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I like Jones a lot but not sure the front office would pull the trigger even if he was there.

I was rewatching the DL workouts at the Combine. Travis Jones is just a put together athlete; really like the way he moves. Conversely, Neil Farrel (DT/LSU) was awful....almost cartoonish.

 

[RS12]

How bout no projects and no high bust potential first three picks.

 

[cowboyec]

og kenyon green texas a&m
ot tyler smith tulsa
c tyler linderbaum iowa
rb hassan haskins michigan
wr treylon burks arkansas
te jalen wydermyer texas a&m
de travon walker georgia
dt jordan davis georgia
lb christian harris alabama
cb kaiir elam florida
s jaquan brisker penn st

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

og kenyon green texas a&m
ot tyler smith tulsa
c tyler linderbaum iowa
rb hassan haskins michigan
wr treylon burks arkansas
te jalen wydermyer texas a&m
de travon walker georgia
dt jordan davis georgia
lb christian harris alabama
cb kaiir elam florida
s jaquan brisker penn st

Lot of guys in that list I would love to have. Haskins is kind of a pet cat too.

 

[Risen Star]

I want a boom or bust, risky player in the 2nd round.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

If Dallas doesn’t have a DE after day 2, something went really, really wrong

 

[Carson]

If Dallas doesn’t have a DE after day 2, something went really, really wrong

I think Quinn is confident in the combinations of Lawrence/Golston on one side and Armstrong/Fowler on the other

I think if it’s not Sam Williams, they will wait to pull the trigger

 

[Killerinstinct]

I want to use a high 2nd rounder on a player that never starts an NFL game. Might have to package the 3rd with 56.

 

[beware_d-ware]

You read my mind on Sam Williams. It nukes my mind how a guy that athletic and that productive is being graded in the third round.

Do a blind test of his stats, measurables, grades, etc, vs Mafe, Ojabo, and Ebitabake. They're all close to identical, but the former 3 are getting like 25-40 type grades and Willams is like 90.

 

[visionary]

If Dallas doesn’t have a DE after day 2, something went really, really wrong

don’t agree at all
We need a real DT way more than a DE
A great DT will make our current DEs way better
If there is a DE in rd 3 worth it, fine, otherwise I’d rather go TE in rd 3

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

I think Quinn is confident in the combinations of Lawrence/Golston on one side and Armstrong/Fowler on the other

I think if it’s not Sam Williams, they will wait to pull the trigger

IMO, you were needing pass rush before you lost Gregory. Your pass rush last year wasn’t bad, but it’s not where it needs to be to seriously contend. DBs, WRs, RBs, LBers… these are all secondary position groups to the Oline and Dline. Those win you games, those create the hierarchy in the NFL between the top teams and everybody else.

Look at the 8 teams in the divisional round last year: they all made it through dominant pass rushers. Cincinnati’s pass rush is nasty, the singular strength of that team. Aaron Donald, Von Miller, Leonard Floyd…. Rams know what they’re doing. Green Bay hit a FA home run when they signed the 2 Smiths a few years ago. We all know what TB has on the Dline, and the pass rushing LBs they have. Tennessee, SF both made it where they did because of their Dlines. Buffalo, KC! Chris Jones is quietly going down as the greatest pass rushing DT in NFL history.

I don’t think that was a coincidence. Going into the season with Demarcus Lawrence, some middling DT’s, and a laundry list of backup-caliber DE’s on rotation I don’t think will be the factor necessary for Dallas to be something more than they have been.

A rookie DE isn’t going to change the world, but you’ll draft for the future. It’s been a long, long time since Dallas had a scary Dline. You don’t need guards and receivers and corners as badly as you need that.