Have the Cowboys turned the corner on their 2nd Round picks?

[Jumbo075]

After the 2013 selection of Gavin Escobar, many were wondering if the Cowboys would EVER turn around their losing streak on 2nd round picks. From 2001 to 2013, there was exactly two 2nd round picks that turned out to be a significant players for the Cowboys - 5 time Pro Bowl Center Andre Gurode, and LB Sean Lee.

2000 - CB Dwayne Goodrich
2001 - QB Quincy Carter
2002 - C Andre Gurode
2003 - C Al Johnson
2004 - RB Julius Jones
2004 - OT Jacob Rogers
2005 - Kevin Burnett
2006 - TE Anthony Fasano
2007 - no pick
2008 - TE Martellus Bennett
2009 - no pick
2010 - Sean Lee
2011 - Bruce Carter
2012 - no pick
2013 - TE Gavin Escobar

Kevin Burnett, Anthony Fasano, and Martellus Bennet went on to have good careers with other teams, but not for the Cowboys. There have been many articles written about the futility of the Cowboys 2nd round picks. But since the ridiculous pick of Escobar, things might be changing.

2014 - DE DeMarcus Lawrence - 1x Pro Bowl, Franchise Tag for 2018
2015 - DE Randy Gregory - Cowboys own his rights through 2020
2016 - LB Jaylon Smith - Cowboys own his rights through 2020
2017 - CB Chidobe Awuzie
2018 - OG Connor Williams.

It is possible, and maybe even likely, that all 5 of the 2nd round picks for the last 5 years will make significant contributions in the coming football season. Because of injury and suspensions, the Cowboys will own the rights to the picks of 2015, 2016 and 2017 through the 2020 season. At least 4 of the 5 players will be starters at the beginning of the season, and 4 of the 5 can be front-line players in a revamped defense.

If Gregory has put his troubles behind him, and Smith really is fully back from his injury, this could be the year the Cowboys 2nd round picks really start paying off.

 

[Stash]

After the 2013 selection of Gavin Escobar, many were wondering if the Cowboys would EVER turn around their losing streak on 2nd round picks. From 2001 to 2013, there was exactly two 2nd round picks that turned out to be a significant players for the Cowboys - 5 time Pro Bowl Center Andre Gurode, and LB Sean Lee.

2000 - CB Dwayne Goodrich
2001 - QB Quincy Carter
2002 - C Andre Gurode
2003 - C Al Johnson
2004 - RB Julius Jones
2004 - OT Jacob Rogers
2005 - Kevin Burnett
2006 - TE Anthony Fasano
2007 - no pick
2008 - TE Martellus Bennett
2009 - no pick
2010 - Sean Lee
2011 - Bruce Carter
2012 - no pick
2013 - TE Gavin Escobar

Kevin Burnett, Anthony Fasano, and Martellus Bennet went on to have good careers with other teams, but not for the Cowboys. There have been many articles written about the futility of the Cowboys 2nd round picks. But since the ridiculous pick of Escobar, things might be changing.

2014 - DE DeMarcus Lawrence - 1x Pro Bowl, Franchise Tag for 2018
2015 - DE Randy Gregory - Cowboys own his rights through 2020
2016 - LB Jaylon Smith - Cowboys own his rights through 2020
2017 - CB Chidobe Awuzie
2018 - OG Connor Williams.

It is possible, and maybe even likely, that all 5 of the 2nd round picks for the last 5 years will make significant contributions in the coming football season. Because of injury and suspensions, the Cowboys will own the rights to the picks of 2015, 2016 and 2017 through the 2020 season. At least 4 of the 5 players will be starters at the beginning of the season, and 4 of the 5 can be front-line players in a revamped defense.

If Gregory has put his troubles behind him, and Smith really is fully back from his injury, this could be the year the Cowboys 2nd round picks really start paying off.

We'll have to wait and see what happens this year, but the arrow us certainly pointing up.

Personally, for several years I felt the second round was the pick they gave to Jerry to "gamble with" and be that "wildcatter" he likes to be. But after some recent misses, it looks to me like those days are over and they're simply going with safer players at positions of need.

Two years in a row now they've made safe, not flashy picks in Awuzie and Connor Williams. And now, if Gregory's return is a success, and Jaylon Smith continues his own recovery and improves, the team could really see some contributions from what has been a series of wasted opportunities for quite some time.

 

[America's Cowboy]

I have a very good feeling these 2nd rounders are going to show up HUGE for our Cowboys this year and for years to come!

 

[Stash]

I have a very good feeling these 2nd rounders are going to show up HUGE for our Cowboys this year and for years to come!

I hope so! Take a look up and down this team's roster, if they start to get the actual return on investment from the resources that they've put in, this team should be a force to be reckoned with. Not only this year, but for several years going forward.

 

[Tangle_Foot]

I sure hope so, it would further enhance their future success if they didn't gamble. Sometimes it's better to stand on 18 or 19 the odds are better

 

[Sydla]

Absolutely not. You want to hope they have but right now, the jury is still out.

Smith, Gregory and Williams have yet to show they are high level players.

 

[Ranching]

If they produce we will have a very good year. If they don't we'll fire Garrett. It's a win win.

 

[Jipper]

couple big if's in randy gregory and jaylon still (smaller if for him).....but i can certainly agree that the arrow is pointing up

 

[Blackrain]

The potential is there and Im hoping they come on like gangbusters but it would have been nice to have guys that could have contributed sooner and gotten us over the top in Dak and Zekes rookie yr . Hard to put a price on the time we had to wait and still no real proven commodity . But heck Im excited and hopeful at the prospect of the defense being much improved

 

[Bobhaze]

After the 2013 selection of Gavin Escobar, many were wondering if the Cowboys would EVER turn around their losing streak on 2nd round picks. From 2001 to 2013, there was exactly two 2nd round picks that turned out to be a significant players for the Cowboys - 5 time Pro Bowl Center Andre Gurode, and LB Sean Lee.

2000 - CB Dwayne Goodrich
2001 - QB Quincy Carter
2002 - C Andre Gurode
2003 - C Al Johnson
2004 - RB Julius Jones
2004 - OT Jacob Rogers
2005 - Kevin Burnett
2006 - TE Anthony Fasano
2007 - no pick
2008 - TE Martellus Bennett
2009 - no pick
2010 - Sean Lee
2011 - Bruce Carter
2012 - no pick
2013 - TE Gavin Escobar

Kevin Burnett, Anthony Fasano, and Martellus Bennet went on to have good careers with other teams, but not for the Cowboys. There have been many articles written about the futility of the Cowboys 2nd round picks. But since the ridiculous pick of Escobar, things might be changing.

2014 - DE DeMarcus Lawrence - 1x Pro Bowl, Franchise Tag for 2018
2015 - DE Randy Gregory - Cowboys own his rights through 2020
2016 - LB Jaylon Smith - Cowboys own his rights through 2020
2017 - CB Chidobe Awuzie
2018 - OG Connor Williams.

It is possible, and maybe even likely, that all 5 of the 2nd round picks for the last 5 years will make significant contributions in the coming football season. Because of injury and suspensions, the Cowboys will own the rights to the picks of 2015, 2016 and 2017 through the 2020 season. At least 4 of the 5 players will be starters at the beginning of the season, and 4 of the 5 can be front-line players in a revamped defense.

If Gregory has put his troubles behind him, and Smith really is fully back from his injury, this could be the year the Cowboys 2nd round picks really start paying off.

There is nothing wrong with hope. I certainly hope we have turned a corner with this 2nd round trend, but it still remains to be seen. I hope so.

You started your final paragraph with the most appropriate word: “IF”. That pretty well clocks this subject. We all certainly hope the corner has been turned. We will know it has when we start winning some playoff games.

 

[erod]

Lawrence has had one great season.
Gregory may not make the team.
Jaylon hasn't done much....yet.
Awuzie missed almost the whole season with hamstring issues.
Williams has struggled in mini-camps against our interior linemen.

We ain't out of the woods on this by a long shot. We'll see.

 

[Flamma]

I'm hoping Gregory becomes what the Cowboys expected, but I doubt they wanted to wait 4 seasons for that to happen. Even with Jaylon, he's going into his 3rd season. I can understand him a little more because they were trying to strike oil in the second round. But let's face it, if these two players actually pan out, it's not as a result of good drafting, it's just dumb luck. But I'll take it.

 

[charron]

The bad is that we still don't know about the 2015 and 2016 picks. So far you would have to count them as misses. It's probable that one of them becomes a hit this year, my bet is jaylon. If both become hits....our mediocre defense won't be so mediocre. Teams will actually fear this defense.

 

[Stash]

Lawrence has had one great season.
Gregory may not make the team.
Jaylon hasn't done much....yet.
Awuzie missed almost the whole season with hamstring issues.
Williams has struggled in mini-camps against our interior linemen.

We ain't out of the woods on this by a long shot. We'll see.

Wow! Is that a pessimistic viewpoint!

 

[erod]

Wow! Is that a pessimistic viewpoint!

No, that was just an inventory of the current situation.

That could get a lot rosier soon. Or not. We'll see.

 

[Stash]

I'm hoping Gregory becomes what the Cowboys expected, but I doubt they wanted to wait 4 seasons for that to happen. Even with Jaylon, he's going into his 3rd season. I can understand him a little more because they were trying to strike oil in the second round. But let's face it, if these two players actually pan out, it's not as a result of good drafting, it's just dumb luck. But I'll take it.

I wouldn't classify it as "dumb luck" at all, but more eventual, positive returns on risk.

Keep this in mind, at one point, both Randy Gregory and Jaylon Smith were considered not only first round talents, but top 3-5 overall draft picks. Both fell due to their individual issues and that's how Dallas was able to draft both in the second round at all. And for individual reasons, neither has been able to fully show their talent to this point.

But if either or both can, the Cowboys may not only be looking at return on a second round draft choice, but return on top 5 talent.

 

[Stash]

No, that was just an inventory of the current situation.

That could get a lot rosier soon. Or not. We'll see.

From where I sit, you took the worst case scenario on every one. And in some cases, unsubstantiated worst cases.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Absolutely the answer is YES. Consider the success rate league wide among 2nd round picks and the Cowboys are doing very well. Everyone thinks 2nd rounders are guaranteed hits but the bust rate is obviously bigger than 1st rounders and we know how they can bust out. Overall in comparison, the Cowboys can be proud of their record. Finally!

 

[cern]

I agree the last 5 all have great potential.

 

[CyberB0b]

I think it is hilarious that two of these picks are lauded simply because they are eligible to get on the field this year.