Redo on 2023 Draft

[DasTex]

Ok, so now that I've had time to digest what Dallas did - here is what I would have done:



26th - Mazi Smith - DT Mich - If you would have asked me just a week ago - I would have chose Avila or Smith. However, this pick has grown on me. Having a difference maker in the middle of a good/great defense lets you take that next step to great/elite. Kinda getting excited about the potential.

58th - Hendon Hooker - QB Tenn - Perfect choice as he likely won't play next year. Gives you leverage on Dak and the extension that appears to be coming. If Dak balls out this next year and they decide to extend him, then you can potentially trade him in a couple years as he should hold value for a team needing a QB with a low cap hit. If Dak goes and plays like Dak, then you cut the cord, take the hit and roll with the next QB of the Dallas Cowboys. IMO, he's going to end up the best of those drafted.

90th - Anthony Bradford - G - LSU - Big LG - allows to you have shore up the left side for years to come with the LT/LG draft in back to back years.

129 - Israel Abanikanda - RB - Pitt - love the Duece pick but he's not someone who could be a 3 down back. Likely not going to pay Pollard an extension next year as that has shown to be a mistake, so you have your starting RB for next year.

169th - Kayshon Boutte - WR - LSU - Playmaking WR that started slow at LSU. If the kid buys in, he could be a star.

212th - Zack Kuntz - TE - Old Dominion - 6ft 7 TE at 260 that runs a 4.5 - worth the chance. Still needs time to develop but there is a very high ceiling, with a low floor however.

244th - D.J. Ivey - CB - Miami - rangy athletic CB - probably a better prospect than our 6th rounder.

I will say the one thing that stands out when going back and looking over the various rounds - TEs went a lot quicker than I thought they would. Was pretty difficult getting one without using that 2nd round pick. Washington obviously has some flags following him, so I didn't go that route either.

Hated not using the 3rd on Overshown as I love that pick - but really wanted either Avila, Bradford or Zavala to lock down the offensive line on the left side. LB would have been a priority in the UDFAs - Cam Jones or Anfernee Orji would have been nice. Maybe look at Zach Cunningham or Kyle Van Noy as vet FAs.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Hooker does not give you leverage on Dak, because if you thought he was good enough to be a starter in two years, you take him in round 1.

I like some of these picks, but Hooker would be an awful choice.

 

[DasTex]

Hooker does not give you leverage on Dak, because if you thought he was good enough to be a starter in two years, you take him in round 1.

I like some of these picks, but Hooker would be an awful choice.

QBs are the biggest assets in the NFL....how can that be an awful choice?

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

QBs are the biggest assets in the NFL....how can that be an awful choice?

Because if you think he is that much of an asset, you get him in the first round. A developmental QB - who is already 25 years old, by the way - is not an asset.

It's an awful choice because you have a 12-win team and just wasted a pick for no reason.

 

[DanA]

An interest question is would you rather Bergeron and Roschon Johnson (KC trade) or Mazi Smith. I think I like what we did but it’s close.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

An interest question is would you rather Bergeron and Roschon Johnson (KC trade) or Mazi Smith. I think I like what we did but it’s close.

Fundamentally I'd rather go with the OL (though probably not RB to follow) than Mazi, but I don't really like Bergeron that much. I don't buy him as a first-round calibre NFL OL, long term. Like Mazi, he's a guy who is higher on the board than he normally would be because of how weak the overall draft class is, but I think Mazi is more of a sure thing, even if the ceiling might be lower.

 

[DasTex]

Because if you think he is that much of an asset, you get him in the first round. A developmental QB - who is already 25 years old, by the way - is not an asset.

It's an awful choice because you have a 12-win team and just wasted a pick for no reason.

I'm of the mind set that you should draft a QB at least every other year.

Now, a 1st, no that's not realistic...but late 2nd and on...yes, especially you have a high enough grade on them.
Use the most valuable position in the NFL as an investment...trade when needed, cash out when needed.

Just my opinion when the average top 10 salary is $40 plus...its good to have that asset.

 

[zrinkill]

Not bad.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

I'm of the mind set that you should draft a QB at least every other year.

Now, a 1st, no that's not realistic...but late 2nd and on...yes, especially you have a high enough grade on them.
Use the most valuable position in the NFL as an investment...trade when needed, cash out when needed.

Just my opinion when the average top 10 salary is $40 plus...its good to have that asset.

There's no point in drafting guys who aren't going to play in the second round, and if you think they are going to play, you take them in the first round so you can get the 5th-year option. In your scenario, if Hooker proves to be a capable starter after taking over in 2024, you're paying him probably $50m in 2027 anyway, working on the extension before the 2026 season. The Cowboys will have no leverage in this scenario.

This is all besides the point, which is that Hooker isn't good anyway.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Ok, so now that I've had time to digest what Dallas did - here is what I would have done:

It's clear your goals of what to get out of this draft and the Cowboys were different.

Doesn't mean your wrong and they are right.

 

[DasTex]

There's no point in drafting guys who aren't going to play in the second round, and if you think they are going to play, you take them in the first round so you can get the 5th-year option. In your scenario, if Hooker proves to be a capable starter after taking over in 2024, you're paying him probably $50m in 2027 anyway, working on the extension before the 2026 season. The Cowboys will have no leverage in this scenario.

This is all besides the point, which is that Hooker isn't good anyway.

Your missing the point....unless they are a legit franchise type QB, you don't resign them to the mega deal. You build the around the team, not the QB.

You definitely don't resign the Jones and Daks of the NFL.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Your missing the point....unless they are a legit franchise type QB, you don't resign them to the mega deal. You build the around the team, not the QB.

You definitely don't resign the Jones and Daks of the NFL.

Putting Daniel Jones and Dak in the same conversation is ridiculous lol

 

[Zekeats]

Because if you think he is that much of an asset, you get him in the first round. A developmental QB - who is already 25 years old, by the way - is not an asset.

It's an awful choice because you have a 12-win team and just wasted a pick for no reason.

Not that Dak is a top QB but Green Bay didn't waste a pick on Aaron Rodgers.

 

[DasTex]

Putting Daniel Jones and Dak in the same conversation is ridiculous lol

Both overpaid, middle tier QBs that have to be surrounded with talent to win.
Don't see it being ridiculous. But it's all good...we see things differently and that's fine.

 

[baltcowboy]

Your missing the point....unless they are a legit franchise type QB, you don't resign them to the mega deal. You build the around the team, not the QB.

You definitely don't resign the Jones and Daks of the NFL.

This Dak bs has to stop. Dak is a top 5 Cowboy quarterback of all time that will probably be third best Cowboy quarterback when it is all said in done. Dak has saved the Cowboys franchise multiple time because of his leadership and talent. Not many quarterbacks in the NFL can handle being the quarterback of America’s Team. Comparing Daniel Jones to Dak is embarrassing.

 

[phildadon86]

This Dak bs has to stop. Dak is a top 5 Cowboy quarterback of all time that will probably be third best Cowboy quarterback when it is all said in done. Dak has saved the Cowboys franchise multiple time because of his leadership and talent. Not many quarterbacks in the NFL can handle being the quarterback of America’s Team. Comparing Daniel Jones to Dak is embarrassing.

I still think they should have made a move for Hooker. But comparing Jones to Dak is definitely embarrassing. Some poster here who I wont name actually tried to tell the board that Dak and Daniel Jones were identical passers. LOL.

 

[baltcowboy]

I still think they should have made a move for Hooker. But comparing Jones to Dak is definitely embarrassing. Some poster here who I wont name actually tried to tell the board that Dak and Daniel Jones were identical passers. LOL.

I would understand if the Cowboys took Levis at 26 because of his value as a draft pick. So I am with you on the point of drafting talented quarterbacks. I even understand the hate for Dak by some of the posters. Just don’t compare him to the Cousins, Jones and Carr of the world. Dak is respected around the league more then that.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Not that Dak is a top QB but Green Bay didn't waste a pick on Aaron Rodgers.

They didn't take him in the second round either.

 

[Cowboys22]

I like the real draft 10 times better because the players they took actually fit with the schemes they plan to run. Did you not witness the absolute mess that has gone on in Green Bay since they drafted Jordan Love so high instead of using that draft capital to add a weapon for Rodgers? I want no part of going down that road. When and if they decide to move on from Dak, you just do it. Trade for or sign a veteran and then draft one but drafting one and still keeping Dak around is not how I would approach it. I'd follow what the Rams did, not Green Bay!

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

I like the real draft 10 times better because the players they took actually fit with the schemes they plan to run. Did you not witness the absolute mess that has gone on in Green Bay since they drafted Jordan Love so high instead of using that draft capital to add a weapon for Rodgers? I want no part of going down that road. When and if they decide to move on from Dak, you just do it. Trade for or sign a veteran and then draft one but drafting one and still keeping Dak around is not how I would approach it. I'd follow what the Rams did, not Green Bay!

In general I agree with this, but there is a huge middle ground between GB and LAR lol.

Nothing GB has done in the draft the last decade or so has many any sense at all. That said, I don't hate the Love pick, but they should have moved on from Rodgers well before they did, if that's the angle.