A look at our last 3 drafts is not so good

[Bobhaze]

One of the good things that has happened for this team during the last near decade has been the addition of Will McClay and the improvements he has brought to the Cowboys’ drafts. In fact, Drafts from 2013- 2016 provided not only talent, but also hope that our future would be bright with continued acquisition of quality talent.

But looking at the last 3 drafts- 2017, 2018 and 2019, the cupboard is not looking as stocked. Let’s look at those drafts and what players have been big additions.

2017 (3 players still with team, 2 consistent starters)
1. Taco Charlton- DE- in Miami after proving very little here.
2. Chidobe Awuzie- CB- has been up and down, not having a good year this year.
3. Jourdan Lewis- CB- has shown flashes but also inconsistent
4. Ryan Switzer- WR- drafted as a slot receiver and punt returner, only lasted 1 yr here. Been with two teams since.
6. Xavier Woods- S- another DB who has had some good moments but has not stayed healthy and lacks consistency and big play ability.
6. Marquez White- WR- no longer in NFL- on an XFL roster
7. Joey Ivie- DT- been with 5 different NFL teams- currently on Titans practice squad.
7. Noah Brown-WR- has talent but has twice been on IR including this year.
7. Jordan Carrell- DT- no longer in NFL

2018 (6 players still with the team, 3 starters)
1. Leighton Vander Esch- LB- great rookie season by a injury riddled disappointment in year two. Still think he’s a stud though.
2. Connor Williams- G- IMO, Williams is on bust alert. His rookie year he got manhandled. He has been injured but at best has only shown a few moments of quality. Going into next year, he better start showing something more.
3. Michael Gallup- WR- has been an absolute stud. A future star. Best draft pick of the last 3 years.
4. Dorance Armstrong- DE- has had some good moments but has been inconsistent and hurt.
4. Dalton Schultz- TE- has been competent at best in spot duty. The Witten return may have stunted his development but he hasn’t shown much.
5. Mike White- QB- a complete bust. Perhaps the biggest bust of the last 3 drafts. Is on Jets practice squad.
6. Chris Covington- LB- has twice been on practice squad, after being waived twice.
6. Cedric Wilson- WR- currently on IR. Has shown some potential but has been inconsistent.
7. Bo Scarborough- RB- cut last summer. Bounced around 4 teams before Lions signed him. He’s played ok there in 3 starts including one against us.

2019 (including Cooper gives us only 1 starter and only two more guys on active roster)
1. First round pick trades to acquire WR Amari Cooper which has been a great trade.
2. Trysten Hill- DT- BUST- plain and simple.
3. Connor McGovern- G- been on IR all year. Don’t know what he is yet.
4. TonyPollard- RB- showed great potential in preseason but has been used sparingly and been hurt of late. Best player in this draft for us so far.
5. Michael Jackson- DB- waived in Aug. Currently on Lions practice squad.
5. Joe Jackson- DE- has played in 5 games this year- rarely on game day roster
6. Donovan Wilson-S- played in 9 games this year, making only 2 tackles.
7. Mike Weber- RB- currently on practice squad. Hasn’t played.
7. Jalen Jelks- DE- placed on IR- injured all year.

If we include Amari Cooper as a 2019 first rounder, we have selected 27 players these last three drafts, only 7 are starters, 9 of the 27 have consistently remained on the active roster, 7 are no longer with the team and 3 are no longer in the NFL.

IMO- Our drafts the last 3 years have not produced the quality we needed and have likely contributed to this year’s decline in record.
The upcoming 2020 draft will be very important to helping upgrade this team.

 

[CowboyRoy]

One of the good things that has happened for this team during the last near decade has been the addition of Will McClay and the improvements he has brought to the Cowboys’ drafts. In fact, Drafts from 2013- 2016 provided not only talent, but also hope that our future would be bright with continued acquisition of quality talent.

But looking at the last 3 drafts- 2017, 2018 and 2019, the cupboard is not looking as stocked. Let’s look at those drafts and what players have been big additions.

2017 (3 players still with team, 2 consistent starters)
1. Taco Charlton- DE- in Miami after proving very little here.
2. Chidobe Awuzie- CB- has been up and down, not having a good year this year.
3. Jourdan Lewis- CB- has shown flashes but also inconsistent
4. Ryan Switzer- WR- drafted as a slot receiver and punt returner, only lasted 1 yr here. Been with two teams since.
6. Xavier Woods- S- another DB who has had some good moments but has not stayed healthy and lacks consistency and big play ability.
6. Marquez White- WR- no longer in NFL- on an XFL roster
7. Joey Ivie- DT- been with 5 different NFL teams- currently on Titans practice squad.
7. Noah Brown-WR- has talent but has twice been on IR including this year.
7. Jordan Carrell- DT- no longer in NFL

2018 (6 players still with the team, 3 starters)
1. Leighton Vander Esch- LB- great rookie season by a injury riddled disappointment in year two. Still think he’s a stud though.
2. Connor Williams- G- IMO, Williams is on bust alert. His rookie year he got manhandled. He has been injured but at best has only shown a few moments of quality. Going into next year, he better start showing something more.
3. Michael Gallup- WR- has been an absolute stud. A future star. Best draft pick of the last 3 years.
4. Dorance Armstrong- DE- has had some good moments but has been inconsistent and hurt.
4. Dalton Schultz- TE- has been competent at best in spot duty. The Witten return may have stunted his development but he hasn’t shown much.
5. Mike White- QB- a complete bust. Perhaps the biggest bust of the last 3 drafts. Is on Jets practice squad.
6. Chris Covington- LB- has twice been on practice squad, after being waived twice.
6. Cedric Wilson- WR- currently on IR. Has shown some potential but has been inconsistent.
7. Bo Scarborough- RB- cut last summer. Bounced around 4 teams before Lions signed him. He’s played ok there in 3 starts including one against us.

2019 (including Cooper gives us only 1 starter and only two more guys on active roster)
1. First round pick trades to acquire WR Amari Cooper which has been a great trade.
2. Trysten Hill- DT- BUST- plain and simple.
3. Connor McGovern- G- been on IR all year. Don’t know what he is yet.
4. TonyPollard- RB- showed great potential in preseason but has been used sparingly and been hurt of late. Best player in this draft for us so far.
5. Michael Jackson- DB- waived in Aug. Currently on Lions practice squad.
5. Joe Jackson- DE- has played in 5 games this year- rarely on game day roster
6. Donovan Wilson-S- played in 9 games this year, making only 2 tackles.
7. Mike Weber- RB- currently on practice squad. Hasn’t played.
7. Jalen Jelks- DE- placed on IR- injured all year.

If we include Amari Cooper as a 2019 first rounder, we have selected 27 players these last three drafts, only 7 are starters, 9 of the 27 have consistently remained on the active roster, 7 are no longer with the team and 3 are no longer in the NFL.

IMO- Our drafts the last 3 years have not produced the quality we needed and have likely contributed to this year’s decline in record.
The upcoming 2020 draft will be very important to helping upgrade this team.

Pollard might be one the leading RB's if he got the carries that Zeke did.

 

[Future]

Your evaluations of Connor Williams and Trysten Hill are way off.

 

[Alexander]

I sense disrespect for the great Will McClay. Repent!

 

[ChronicCowboy]

Yep...poor drafting for sure.

2017 was the worst one, mostly because it’s hard to judge 2019 fully but both years look bad.

2018 was good. Three starters out of the first three picks is solid. Williams is a little disappointing and Gallup looks like a steal. LVE will determine if it’s a great draft. Last season he looked like the best young LB in the game. This year he looked awful and injury prone.

 

[75boyz]

One of the good things that has happened for this team during the last near decade has been the addition of Will McClay and the improvements he has brought to the Cowboys’ drafts. In fact, Drafts from 2013- 2016 provided not only talent, but also hope that our future would be bright with continued acquisition of quality talent.

But looking at the last 3 drafts- 2017, 2018 and 2019, the cupboard is not looking as stocked. Let’s look at those drafts and what players have been big additions.

2017 (3 players still with team, 2 consistent starters)
1. Taco Charlton- DE- in Miami after proving very little here.
2. Chidobe Awuzie- CB- has been up and down, not having a good year this year.
3. Jourdan Lewis- CB- has shown flashes but also inconsistent
4. Ryan Switzer- WR- drafted as a slot receiver and punt returner, only lasted 1 yr here. Been with two teams since.
6. Xavier Woods- S- another DB who has had some good moments but has not stayed healthy and lacks consistency and big play ability.
6. Marquez White- WR- no longer in NFL- on an XFL roster
7. Joey Ivie- DT- been with 5 different NFL teams- currently on Titans practice squad.
7. Noah Brown-WR- has talent but has twice been on IR including this year.
7. Jordan Carrell- DT- no longer in NFL

2018 (6 players still with the team, 3 starters)
1. Leighton Vander Esch- LB- great rookie season by a injury riddled disappointment in year two. Still think he’s a stud though.
2. Connor Williams- G- IMO, Williams is on bust alert. His rookie year he got manhandled. He has been injured but at best has only shown a few moments of quality. Going into next year, he better start showing something more.
3. Michael Gallup- WR- has been an absolute stud. A future star. Best draft pick of the last 3 years.
4. Dorance Armstrong- DE- has had some good moments but has been inconsistent and hurt.
4. Dalton Schultz- TE- has been competent at best in spot duty. The Witten return may have stunted his development but he hasn’t shown much.
5. Mike White- QB- a complete bust. Perhaps the biggest bust of the last 3 drafts. Is on Jets practice squad.
6. Chris Covington- LB- has twice been on practice squad, after being waived twice.
6. Cedric Wilson- WR- currently on IR. Has shown some potential but has been inconsistent.
7. Bo Scarborough- RB- cut last summer. Bounced around 4 teams before Lions signed him. He’s played ok there in 3 starts including one against us.

2019 (including Cooper gives us only 1 starter and only two more guys on active roster)
1. First round pick trades to acquire WR Amari Cooper which has been a great trade.
2. Trysten Hill- DT- BUST- plain and simple.
3. Connor McGovern- G- been on IR all year. Don’t know what he is yet.
4. TonyPollard- RB- showed great potential in preseason but has been used sparingly and been hurt of late. Best player in this draft for us so far.
5. Michael Jackson- DB- waived in Aug. Currently on Lions practice squad.
5. Joe Jackson- DE- has played in 5 games this year- rarely on game day roster
6. Donovan Wilson-S- played in 9 games this year, making only 2 tackles.
7. Mike Weber- RB- currently on practice squad. Hasn’t played.
7. Jalen Jelks- DE- placed on IR- injured all year.

If we include Amari Cooper as a 2019 first rounder, we have selected 27 players these last three drafts, only 7 are starters, 9 of the 27 have consistently remained on the active roster, 7 are no longer with the team and 3 are no longer in the NFL.

IMO- Our drafts the last 3 years have not produced the quality we needed and have likely contributed to this year’s decline in record.
The upcoming 2020 draft will be very important to helping upgrade this team.

Outstanding Post as is your normal standard, Bob. Hard to disagree with any of it.

 

[MojaveJT]

Good post. Drafting isn’t as amazing as some make it out to be around here. It’s not terrible but not great either.

 

[snapper]

Reactionary post. Given the way the season has turned out so far, though, one can understand.

At least the draft position will be better this year!

 

[Bobhaze]

Your evaluations of Connor Williams and Trysten Hill are way off.

You may be right. What’s your evaluation of them?

 

[Bobhaze]

I sense disrespect for the great Will McClay. Repent!

I like McClay a lot. He’s the only thing standing between this team becoming the bengals the last decade.

 

[Jake]

Pollard might be one the leading RB's if he got the carries that Zeke did.

Tony Pollard wouldn't survive 300+ carries along with 60+ receptions. He's never had more than 78 carries in a season.

He is what he is, a change of pace back. He's not built to carry the load no matter how many people fantasize about it.

 

[sunalsorises]

Maybe it's coaching not developing the talent. Maybe it is harder to make the team as a lower round pick when the team has good talent ahead of you. Maybe the drafts just aren't as good.

 

[RodeoJake]

You may be right. What’s your evaluation of them?

Connor was coming into his own before getting injured. Hill needs time to develop before writing him off. I admit I didn't care for either when we drafted them. Let's see what Hill looks like in camp next year and see how Connor comes back.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Tony Pollard wouldn't survive 300+ carries along with 60+ receptions. He's never had more than 78 carries in a season.

He is what he is, a change of pace back. He's not built to carry the load no matter how many people fantasize about it.

You are speculating. However, I wouldn't give him 360 touches. I would have used a RB by committee and given the kid 10-15 touches a game. Go with the hot hand.

And no doubt Pollard wouldnt just put his head down and run into people like Zeke does up the middle.

 

[Bobhaze]

Connor was coming into his own before getting injured. Hill needs time to develop before writing him off. I admit I didn't care for either when we drafted them. Let's see what Hill looks like in camp next year and see how Connor comes back.

I aggressive that It’s certainly too early to write off a player one year after they were drafted.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Connor was coming into his own before getting injured. Hill needs time to develop before writing him off. I admit I didn't care for either when we drafted them. Let's see what Hill looks like in camp next year and see how Connor comes back.

Conner missed all of TC, however, I like him and the pick.

Hill I didn't like the pick and after a years seems a waste. But I will give it another year before I pull a Taco on him.

 

[kskboys]

Tony Pollard wouldn't survive 300+ carries along with 60+ receptions. He's never had more than 78 carries in a season.

He is what he is, a change of pace back. He's not built to carry the load no matter how many people fantasize about it.

Yeah, I love Pollard, but in no way has he shown that he's a bellcow type RB.

 

[kskboys]

Maybe it's coaching not developing the talent. Maybe it is harder to make the team as a lower round pick when the team has good talent ahead of you. Maybe the drafts just aren't as good.

Hard to conclude that when all these undeveloped players are team hopping and not working out elsewhere either.

 

[Risen Star]

Just imagine how bad it would be if we didn't have Will McClay.

 

[Creeper]

I don't agree with this premise at all. I think we all agree that picking Taco Charlton in the 1st round in 2017 was a mistake. I am sure the Cowboys wish they had that one back too, but otherwise that was a pretty good draft. Considering the Cowboys were picking 28th. They could have taken Watt that's pretty obvious now. Awuzie is a much better player than people are giving him credit. I think the system hurts him more than anyone. He started the season looking a bit shaky but he has been much better the last few games.

Looking at the 2018 draft, maybe it would have been smarter to draft Calvin Ridley and not trade for Cooper, but I can;t really quibble with whast the Cowboys were trying to do. LVE was a pretty good pick considering who was left on the board.

You are underrating Connor Williams. He looks a lot better in 2019. But I do wonder if the Cowboys would have drafted Dallas Goedert if the Eagles didn't trade up to take him first. Again, the guy I wanted was DJ Chark and he was available. But if they were looking for offensive line help, Williams was rated highly by a lot of pundits. Gallup is a good pick and I think you are right about Schultz being hampered by Witten's return. But overall, this was not a bad draft either.

Its too early to evaluate 2019. I think the Cowboys were drafting depth and not looking for starters. Hill is not a bust. He has played 22 plays has 3 tackles and 1 for a loss. He is not that bad. If the Cowboys were looking for DL help, there were not a lot of guys available when they picked. He was picked 58th so to expect him to be an immediate impact tackle is silly. Look at the guys available on the board after him. Maybe you like Juan Thornhill, but keep in mind, 2 safeties were taken after the Cowboys drafted Hill and before the Chiefs drafted Thornhill. Pollard looks like a good pick, someone thought enough of Mike Jackson to pilfer him off the Cowboys practice squad and McGovern may still pan out. No one could have predicted his injury when he was selected.

In short, I don't think the Cowboys have been drafting poorly in recent years. But what they have done poorly is develop some of these players to meet their potential. They have also done a poor job of augmenting the players they draft with quality free agents. Look at the difference Cooper made to the offense. Imagine picking up one free agent equal to Cooper on the interior of the defensive line. Or an impact safety. This is where they have failed in my opinion.