A thought at TE

Stash

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But maybe in the draft. Most other teams don't prioritize blocking like we do. Everyone else wants guys more like Eifert. Except for the injury risk tolerance.

I'm against doing anything at TE in the draft before the 4th round at the earliest. I think it's counter-productive to what the team is doing otherwise in 2019.

If you draft a player in the second or third round, he's not playing, or certainly not playing a significant role. This team simply doesn't do that, even when they had a Hall of Famer in Witten. The young guys don't play or contribute quickly. And if he isn't, you may as well just roll with Jarwin and Schultz that you already have in place.

And to me that doesn't make sense for a team trying to go further while at a coaching crossroads on top of that.

A second round TE will be little to no factor in a critical 2019 year.
 

buybuydandavis

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I'm against doing anything at TE in the draft before the 4th round at the earliest. I think it's counter-productive to what the team is doing otherwise in 2019.

If you draft a player in the second or third round, he's not playing, or certainly not playing a significant role. This team simply doesn't do that, even when they had a Hall of Famer in Witten. The young guys don't play or contribute quickly. And if he isn't, you may as well just roll with Jarwin and Schultz that you already have in place.

And to me that doesn't make sense for a team trying to go further while at a coaching crossroads on top of that.

A second round TE will be little to no factor in a critical 2019 year.

But for injury, 2nd round Connor Williams would have started all year for us.

A TE in the 2nd could start for us. Other teams aren't thrilled by blocking. Swaim played 90% of snaps while healthy. There could be a guy better than Swaim in the 2nd. And if not better than Swaim, better than the JV squad of Jarwin, Schulz, and Rico.
 

Pantone282C

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Obviously I'd be down with an upgrade if you can get an Ertz, Kelce type.
Those guys are game-changers.
With that said, there are bigger fish to fry (DT, Safety, WR, DE still).
Swaim was playing pretty well before he got hurt and can probably be had cheap, along with Jarwin's strong finish & Schultz being a fourth round pick that flashed some ability late, too.
Getting the OL back to dominating & continuing to build the defense should be priority one. JMO.
Nice thread as usual, Stash.
Yeah, we have more needs at other positions. BPA is okay for now. Have to see how free agency and trades go. Post training camp is the last resort, but we did very well with Coop. Lucky I think.
 

Pants

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being an ND fanatic, have always loved Eifert, just not the injuries (of course); even if I put aside homerism, IMO, he is the type of vet that you bring in if his price tag is reasonable...things to consider:

1) BLOCKING: can he block? the Dallas TE position is predicated on first blocking and then getting a pass thrown your way on occasion
2) MOORE FACTOR: we just don't know yet how Moore will use the TE position; will he follow in the GArrett/Linehan mold of throwing only to Witten and not with any thought of moving the ball downfield or will he try to use that position a lot with Dak rolling out? who knows - if he DOES want to do that, then a healthy Eifert would make the chains move
 

ufcrules1

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Give me Cook... he would be a stud here. Amari Cooper wasn't doing much on the Raiders either..... bring Cook here and he will do much better.
 

Stash

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But for injury, 2nd round Connor Williams would have started all year for us.

But for injury, he wouldn't have gotten the job back either

A TE in the 2nd could start for us.

No he couldn't. Even the Hall of Famer Witten was brought along slowly, and you're not getting another one of those at the end of round 2 anyway. It was a miracle we got him!

Other teams aren't thrilled by blocking. Swaim played 90% of snaps while healthy. There could be a guy better than Swaim in the 2nd. And if not better than Swaim, better than the JV squad of Jarwin, Schulz, and Rico.

You can keep telling yourself that, but history shows it's not going to happen.[/QUOTE]
 

Rockdoc

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enough TEs in early rounds when we have a plethora of solid TEs
we just need to learn how to use them
save the money on all the resigning we have to do
 

buybuydandavis

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But for injury, he wouldn't have gotten the job back either

No he couldn't. Even the Hall of Famer Witten was brought along slowly, and you're not getting another one of those at the end of round 2 anyway. It was a miracle we got him!

You can keep telling yourself that, but history shows it's not going to happen.
[/QUOTE]

And you can keep telling yourself what you like.

The fact is, the last 3 years, all of our 2nd and 3rd round picks but Jaylon got significant starts their rookie season. Most of them would have gotten more starts but for injury.
 

Stash

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And you can keep telling yourself what you like.

The fact is, the last 3 years, all of our 2nd and 3rd round picks but Jaylon got significant starts their rookie season. Most of them would have gotten more starts but for injury.[/QUOTE]

Name me the last rookie TE that started significant games.
 

Hadenough

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I hate the way Dallas uses their TEs. They ask them to block way too much and dont take advantage of using them as WRs enough.
 

CowboyRoy

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I've been ruminating about what the Cowboys might do at TE. I really liked how both Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz finished the season, outside of the injury to Jarwin late. Given that, and the youth of both guys, I'm opposed to investing our top pick in the 2019 second round on adding another young player to the mix. Virtually all players take at least a year or two to get fully up to speed with the NFL game.


Jarwin and Schultz are both hitting that point in 2019, and any rookie, however talented, is going to behind either or both in that learning curve. So if you use your top pick there, the odds of proper return in 2019 are slim and none. And I would rather use that pick on improving the trenches anyway. Give me a defensive tackle or offensive guard.

But, if the team felt they needed to improve, I'd go with a veteran.

Now, this idea is fraught with risk, but also with huge reward. My idea would be to sign former Bengals TE Tyler Eifert.

Now, the obvious risk. Eifert has been hurt - a lot - these past three seasons. And has never been the picture of health during his entire NFL career. He's suffered a myriad of injuries, including coming off of a gruesome ankle injury that ended his 2018 season. That's where the huge risk comes in, and that's why a player this good is even available. High risk, high reward.

And it's the Jarwin and Schultz factors that actually make me feel OK with taking that risk. Even if or when Eifert does get injured again, you would have not one, but two backup options in place, continuing to gain experience. The Cowboys would have great insurance

But when Eifert has played? He's been a Pro Bowl caliber player and regarded as one of the best in the league in 2015. He's a willing blocker, if not a great one, but he's a matchup nightmare in the passing game. Fast enough to force teams to cover with a defensive back, big enough at 6'6" to tower over them and make plays. Versatile enough to line up outside as well.

Eifert was signed tyo a one year, $5 million range prove it deal in Cincinnati last year. And given he had another injury, he didn't prove it. So, his cost should be in that same area, or possibly even cheaper. I don't see anywhere else that you might be able to find a veteran, Pro Bowl talent near that cost.

Oh, and did I mention that his college roommate and brother-in-law is our own Zack Martin? I'd consider that to be a big plus in the equation as well.

So rather than spending out\r best draft asset and hoping that a guy develops in a year or two, I'm rolling the dice on a proven talent and injury risk. I think we have the youth and depth to do that.

I'm curious to see what everyone's thoughts are on this idea?

BPA with the picks. And stop worrying about early returns or short term. Jarwin and Shultz were horrid in the blocking game. Horrid. You need a stable of TE's. This offense desperately needs a great all around TE. I am all for signing a guy like Cooks of the Raiders. Eifert was good, but always hurt.
 

Stash

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BPA with the picks. And stop worrying about early returns or short term.

That's where this team is. They either advance further than they did this year or there are wholesale changes. There's not another team in the league in a more win now mode than this one.

Jarwin and Shultz were horrid in the blocking game. Horrid.

To start the season? Sure. But both got much better as the season progressed and they got more opportunities.

You need a stable of TE's. This offense desperately needs a great all around TE. I am all for signing a guy like Cooks of the Raiders.

I don't know why people keep bringing him up. First, he's not a good guy and despite his talent, he's bounced around the league. Second, Gruden and the Raiders want him back and have much more cap room to do it than we do.

Eifert was good, but always hurt.

No argument there. But that's why he's available to sign. He was a top 5 TE when he played.
 

CowboyRoy

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That's where this team is. They either advance further than they did this year or there are wholesale changes. There's not another team in the league in a more win now mode than this one.



To start the season? Sure. But both got much better as the season progressed and they got more opportunities.



I don't know why people keep bringing him up. First, he's not a good guy and despite his talent, he's bounced around the league. Second, Gruden and the Raiders want him back and have much more cap room to do it than we do.



No argument there. But that's why he's available to sign. He was a top 5 TE when he played.

Win now mode? They are the youngest team in the league. Dak is only entering his 4th year. This is a young up and coming team. Win NOW decisions are never good decisions.

Our TE's were horrid blocking all season long.

Cooks is the best TE out there in FA. He is a beast. Finally got a chance to showcase it last year. Doesn't have injury issues. I am sure they want to retain him. I would make an offer. Nothing crazy mind. 7 million. That would solve our #1 TE issue big time. He was on my fantasy team this year and I watched every game he played. The guy can ball. He is EXACTLY what we need.
 

Stash

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Win now mode? They are the youngest team in the league. Dak is only entering his 4th year. This is a young up and coming team. Win NOW decisions are never good decisions.

I'm not advocating being reckless, but given the do or die situation for the coaching staff, they don't have the luxury of waiting seven year for a TE to develop.

Our TE's were horrid blocking all season long.

Keep saying it, maybe eventually you'll believe it.

Cooks is the best TE out there in FA. He is a beast. Finally got a chance to showcase it last year. Doesn't have injury issues. I am sure they want to retain him. I would make an offer. Nothing crazy mind. 7 million. That would solve our #1 TE issue big time. He was on my fantasy team this year and I watched every game he played. The guy can ball. He is EXACTLY what we need.

For knowing so much about him, it's funny that you can't seem to get his name right.

He's a talented guy, but a bonehead. And a malcontent. Another Martellus Bennett. And that's exactly why he's bounced around through four teams already. It's not a conincidence that he quickly wears out his welcome, despite his talents.
 

CowboyRoy

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I'm not advocating being reckless, but given the do or die situation for the coaching staff, they don't have the luxury of waiting seven year for a TE to develop.



Keep saying it, maybe eventually you'll believe it.



For knowing so much about him, it's funny that you can't seem to get his name right.

He's a talented guy, but a bonehead. And a malcontent. Another Martellus Bennett. And that's exactly why he's bounced around through four teams already. It's not a conincidence that he quickly wears out his welcome, despite his talents.

Never could get the name right. Cooks, cook? Whatever. Dont know him personally. Cooper would know so if they dont sign him, maybe that is why.

And as far as blocking I watched the games and replays and they were terrible at blocking. And despite the one big game they didnt catch much either.
 

OmerV

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Never could get the name right. Cooks, cook? Whatever. Dont know him personally. Cooper would know so if they dont sign him, maybe that is why.

And as far as blocking I watched the games and replays and they were terrible at blocking. And despite the one big game they didnt catch much either.
You must have skipped the last quarter of the season. Between games 13, 14 and 16 Jarwin and Schultz collectively average almost 100 yards per game, and while the big game was a big part of that, it was far from all of it. The reality is the Cowboys didn’t start targeting those guys until late in the season, and when they finally did those guys produced. Obviously we can’t yet know what that will mean for the future, but there is certainly reason for optimism.

As for blocking, since when has that been considered Cook’s strong suit? Obviously Schultz and Jarwin need to improve, but this was the first year for either to play in the NFL. They should get better in all facets of the position.
 

OmerV

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xwalker

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And you can keep telling yourself what you like.

The fact is, the last 3 years, all of our 2nd and 3rd round picks but Jaylon got significant starts their rookie season. Most of them would have gotten more starts but for injury.

Name me the last rookie TE that started significant games.[/QUOTE]

I'm not gung-ho to draft a TE in the 2nd, but...

Shultz started 7 games.

MartyB started 7 as a rookie.

In terms of all rookie TEs there have been many games started by rookies.
 
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