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Seconds, anyone? Cowboys to unleash Revenge of the 2nd-Rounders
"Newsy'' and "risky,'' of course, are not necessarily synonyms for "wise.''
But the 2018 Cowboys roster offers up a chance to fit both adjectives.
First, a glance back at history, with an assist from old friend KD Drummond:
In 2010, Dallas' second-rounder was Sean Lee, who'd torn his ACL at Penn State.
In 2011, Dallas' second-rounder was Bruce Carter, who'd torn his ACL the previous November.
In 2012, Dallas traded its second-rounder to move up in the first to select Morris Claiborne.
In 2013, Dallas "reached'' for tight end Gavin Escobar.
In 2014, Dallas traded a third-rounder in a package to move up to make DeMarcus Lawrence its second-round pick.
In 2015, Dallas' second-rounder was Randy Gregory, who'd failed a drug test at the Scouting Combine.
In 2016, Dallas' second-rounder was Jaylon Smith, who'd sustained a potentially career-ending knee injury months before.
In 2017, Dallas' second-rounder was Chidobe Awuzie, the centerpiece of a decision to take a defensive end earlier and hope a quality corner was left as the Cowboys hurried to remake their entire secondary.
In 2018, Dallas' second-rounder was Connor Williams - but only after Dallas pulled back (at least temporarily) from the idea of trading for Seattle safety Earl Thomas, something for which the Cowboys had "earmarked'' this slot.
There is obviously a trend, though owner Jerry Jones is fond of saying, in general defense of his philosophy, "We're not buying bonds here. Risk takes on a lot of different forms, be it financial, the draft slot, something physical.''
This year, Cowboys Nation would love if "risk-taking'' takes on the form of Sean Lee and each and every one of the last five second-rounders paying huge dividends.
*Lee had a first-round grade on him in the Dallas war room in 2010, sliding because of it. And while he has continued to battle injury issues, the team captain has also become a Pro Bowler and Dallas' top consistent defensive difference-maker.
*Lawrence was labeled a "QB hunter'' in the war room by personnel boss Will McClay, and Tank is now coming off a 14.5-sacks season and a Pro Bowl while earning the $17.1 million franchise tag.
*Jaylon Smith will be in a playing-time duel with first-round rookie Leighton Vander Esch once we get to training camp in Oxnard on July 24. But before his devastating injury, he was considered a top-five player in his draft class. Smith tells me (in a Video Visit over coffee?!) he's planning to begin camp without the dropfoot-correcting ankle brace he wore last season while starting at middle linebacker. Even if he moves to strong-side, he projects to be a starter and a possible major force this year.
*Awuzie is a starter and is scouting guru Gil Brandt's pick off the Cowboys roster to become a "breakout Pro Bowler.''
*Williams is penciled in as an immediate starter at left guard on the NFL's "Football Heaven'' best offensive line. ... and of course, there can still be ways to acquire "Cowboys wanna-be'' Earl Thomas in trade.
(Photo: Getty Images)
*And now along comes the Randy Gregory reinstatement news. His story is far from complete, his impact far from known. But my man Landon McCool, reacting to Gregory joining this collection of guys, calls this, "The Revenge of the Second-Rounders.''
What might Jerry Jones call it? "Newsy'' and "risky'' and "wise.''
- By Mike Fisher
- 2h ago • 2 min read
"Newsy'' and "risky,'' of course, are not necessarily synonyms for "wise.''
But the 2018 Cowboys roster offers up a chance to fit both adjectives.
First, a glance back at history, with an assist from old friend KD Drummond:
In 2010, Dallas' second-rounder was Sean Lee, who'd torn his ACL at Penn State.
In 2011, Dallas' second-rounder was Bruce Carter, who'd torn his ACL the previous November.
In 2012, Dallas traded its second-rounder to move up in the first to select Morris Claiborne.
In 2013, Dallas "reached'' for tight end Gavin Escobar.
In 2014, Dallas traded a third-rounder in a package to move up to make DeMarcus Lawrence its second-round pick.
In 2015, Dallas' second-rounder was Randy Gregory, who'd failed a drug test at the Scouting Combine.
In 2016, Dallas' second-rounder was Jaylon Smith, who'd sustained a potentially career-ending knee injury months before.
In 2017, Dallas' second-rounder was Chidobe Awuzie, the centerpiece of a decision to take a defensive end earlier and hope a quality corner was left as the Cowboys hurried to remake their entire secondary.
In 2018, Dallas' second-rounder was Connor Williams - but only after Dallas pulled back (at least temporarily) from the idea of trading for Seattle safety Earl Thomas, something for which the Cowboys had "earmarked'' this slot.
There is obviously a trend, though owner Jerry Jones is fond of saying, in general defense of his philosophy, "We're not buying bonds here. Risk takes on a lot of different forms, be it financial, the draft slot, something physical.''
This year, Cowboys Nation would love if "risk-taking'' takes on the form of Sean Lee and each and every one of the last five second-rounders paying huge dividends.
*Lee had a first-round grade on him in the Dallas war room in 2010, sliding because of it. And while he has continued to battle injury issues, the team captain has also become a Pro Bowler and Dallas' top consistent defensive difference-maker.
*Lawrence was labeled a "QB hunter'' in the war room by personnel boss Will McClay, and Tank is now coming off a 14.5-sacks season and a Pro Bowl while earning the $17.1 million franchise tag.
*Jaylon Smith will be in a playing-time duel with first-round rookie Leighton Vander Esch once we get to training camp in Oxnard on July 24. But before his devastating injury, he was considered a top-five player in his draft class. Smith tells me (in a Video Visit over coffee?!) he's planning to begin camp without the dropfoot-correcting ankle brace he wore last season while starting at middle linebacker. Even if he moves to strong-side, he projects to be a starter and a possible major force this year.
*Awuzie is a starter and is scouting guru Gil Brandt's pick off the Cowboys roster to become a "breakout Pro Bowler.''
*Williams is penciled in as an immediate starter at left guard on the NFL's "Football Heaven'' best offensive line. ... and of course, there can still be ways to acquire "Cowboys wanna-be'' Earl Thomas in trade.
(Photo: Getty Images)
*And now along comes the Randy Gregory reinstatement news. His story is far from complete, his impact far from known. But my man Landon McCool, reacting to Gregory joining this collection of guys, calls this, "The Revenge of the Second-Rounders.''
What might Jerry Jones call it? "Newsy'' and "risky'' and "wise.''
