One of the most fun aspects of the off season is looking at the roster and trying to decide whose stock will rise and whose will fall. There will always be surprises.
With that in mind, here is a list of guys I think will emerge as young stars. In other words, these guys’ stock will be on the rise in 2021:
RISERS (emerging stars)
FALLERS (guys that are diminishing in value- hope I’m wrong)
- Micah Parsons- I expect new DC Dan Quinn to find lots of ways to make the 12th pick in the 2021 draft a real defensive weapon. If he’s healthy all year, Parsons will be our leading tackler and probably the most exciting player to watch on defense. All the disappointed Cowboys fans on draft night are going to have to admit this guy is a beast.
- Trayvon Diggs- after an up and down rookie season, I think Diggs is going to emerge as potential pro bowl corner. Mentally and physically tough, I’m expecting a breakout season from this guy.
- Cedee Lamb- after an outstanding rookie season, Lamb can still improve a lot. He had a ton of drops last year. If he improves on that, look out. He may even become the team’s leading receiver. With Cooper and Gallup drawing some attention from defenses, Lamb could become THE guy at WR.
- Tyler Biadz- He had a decent rookie season in spurts until he got hurt. He’s not yet T- Fred material but if Zack Martin, La’El Collins and Ty Smith are all healthy, Biadz will grow a lot.
- Michael Gallup- so far, he’s easily been the best part of the 2018 draft. He’s become one of my favorite Cowboys. With Cooper and Lamb drawing attention, Gallup can continue his healthy 15.6 yard per reception average- one of the best in football. He’s going to garner a much bigger contract next year.
- Hunter Niswander- this dude was a great midseason addition at punter last year. He avg 47.6 yards a punt and had a whopping 10 punts inside the 20. Having a punter with these kind of numbers helps a defense out a ton.
I left a lot of guys off both lists for brevity sake. Some of the bigger names like Dak, Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, etc, are people I hope will return to prominence. We will see.
- Zeke Elliott- the days of Zeke having 25 carries for 150 yards are in the rear view mirror. He will still have some value for sure. But he’s never going to be 2016 Zeke again.
- Amari Cooper- Coop always has great stats, but he has a bad habit of disappearing in big games. He’s not making $20 mil a year to disappear. He will still be the best route runner in football, but he’s also still carrying those nagging foot and leg injuries that quietly sideline him too often.
- LVE- that nagging neck injury has robbed a very talented guy from being a top NFL LB. If he were healthy, his speed and tackling ability would make him a stud. But he’s had this neck problem since his Boise State days. That’s troubling.
- Jaylon Smith- With that contract and his awful performance last year, he certainly has incentive to get back to decent. But I just don’t have any confidence that he still has that in him. He’s a great story of perseverance but I wonder if that story is winding down. This is probably his last hurrah in Big D.
Who are your risers and fallers?
Let me start with his:What limitations does Dak have?
Biggest drop off - Dak. He has no incentive to excel now. You'll see a big drop off like Zeke after he got paid.
Let me start with his:
STRENGTHS
LIMITATIONS
- Leadership
- Doesn’t throw a ton of picks
- Nice touch on long ball
- Passes well on the move
- Toughness and durability (started every game before his injury last year)
- Good runner, especially near goal line
- Ability to read defenses
Dak’s an excellent QB in my book. But like most QBs, he does have both strengths and limitations.
- Doesn’t have a rocket arm
- Pocket awareness could be better
- Needs to get rid of ball quicker
- Sometimes inaccurate with intermediate routes
What’s your assessment of Dak?
Hope soIf anything, with better players around Lawrence on the line and a better DC, lawrence is more likely to rise and get more sacks.
One of the most fun aspects of the off season is looking at the roster and trying to decide whose stock will rise and whose will fall. There will always be surprises.
With that in mind, here is a list of guys I think will emerge as young stars. In other words, these guys’ stock will be on the rise in 2021:
RISERS (emerging stars)
FALLERS (guys that are diminishing in value- hope I’m wrong)
- Micah Parsons- I expect new DC Dan Quinn to find lots of ways to make the 12th pick in the 2021 draft a real defensive weapon. If he’s healthy all year, Parsons will be our leading tackler and probably the most exciting player to watch on defense. All the disappointed Cowboys fans on draft night are going to have to admit this guy is a beast.
- Trayvon Diggs- after an up and down rookie season, I think Diggs is going to emerge as potential pro bowl corner. Mentally and physically tough, I’m expecting a breakout season from this guy.
- Cedee Lamb- after an outstanding rookie season, Lamb can still improve a lot. He had a ton of drops last year. If he improves on that, look out. He may even become the team’s leading receiver. With Cooper and Gallup drawing some attention from defenses, Lamb could become THE guy at WR.
- Tyler Biadz- He had a decent rookie season in spurts until he got hurt. He’s not yet T- Fred material but if Zack Martin, La’El Collins and Ty Smith are all healthy, Biadz will grow a lot.
- Michael Gallup- so far, he’s easily been the best part of the 2018 draft. He’s become one of my favorite Cowboys. With Cooper and Lamb drawing attention, Gallup can continue his healthy 15.6 yard per reception average- one of the best in football. He’s going to garner a much bigger contract next year.
- Hunter Niswander- this dude was a great midseason addition at punter last year. He avg 47.6 yards a punt and had a whopping 10 punts inside the 20. Having a punter with these kind of numbers helps a defense out a ton.
I left a lot of guys off both lists for brevity sake. Some of the bigger names like Dak, Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, etc, are people I hope will return to prominence. We will see.
- Zeke Elliott- the days of Zeke having 25 carries for 150 yards are in the rear view mirror. He will still have some value for sure. But he’s never going to be 2016 Zeke again.
- Amari Cooper- Coop always has great stats, but he has a bad habit of disappearing in big games. He’s not making $20 mil a year to disappear. He will still be the best route runner in football, but he’s also still carrying those nagging foot and leg injuries that quietly sideline him too often.
- LVE- that nagging neck injury has robbed a very talented guy from being a top NFL LB. If he were healthy, his speed and tackling ability would make him a stud. But he’s had this neck problem since his Boise State days. That’s troubling.
- Jaylon Smith- With that contract and his awful performance last year, he certainly has incentive to get back to decent. But I just don’t have any confidence that he still has that in him. He’s a great story of perseverance but I wonder if that story is winding down. This is probably his last hurrah in Big D.
Who are your risers and fallers?
It will be hard for Dak to drop off much further. As of now he only produces when the Cowboys are behind and the defenses are playing loose. He disappears when the team needs to learn on him.Biggest drop off - Dak. He has no incentive to excel now. You'll see a big drop off like Zeke after he got paid.
It will be hard for Dak to drop off much further. As of now he only produces when the Cowboys are behind and the defenses are playing loose. He disappears when the team needs to learn on him.
Amari Cooper gets a bad rap because Dak disappears and gets erratic in his passing. Cooper may have his best year if Dak is injured and Garret Gilbert has to start.
Zeke could also benefit from a quarterback who doesn't hide until the Cowboys are behind by 20 points. As it is, defenses can key on him early because Dak doesn't move the team against opposing defenses when the game is still being contested.
Jaylon Smith should be cut. He's just not healthy.
And LVE will likely be injured most of the year, too.
Biggest drop off - Dak. He has no incentive to excel now. You'll see a big drop off like Zeke after he got paid.
Another good post. My list...One of the most fun aspects of the off season is looking at the roster and trying to decide whose stock will rise and whose will fall. There will always be surprises.
With that in mind, here is a list of guys I think will emerge as young stars. In other words, these guys’ stock will be on the rise in 2021:
RISERS (emerging stars)
FALLERS (guys that are diminishing in value- hope I’m wrong)
- Micah Parsons- I expect new DC Dan Quinn to find lots of ways to make the 12th pick in the 2021 draft a real defensive weapon. If he’s healthy all year, Parsons will be our leading tackler and probably the most exciting player to watch on defense. All the disappointed Cowboys fans on draft night are going to have to admit this guy is a beast.
- Trayvon Diggs- after an up and down rookie season, I think Diggs is going to emerge as potential pro bowl corner. Mentally and physically tough, I’m expecting a breakout season from this guy.
- Cedee Lamb- after an outstanding rookie season, Lamb can still improve a lot. He had a ton of drops last year. If he improves on that, look out. He may even become the team’s leading receiver. With Cooper and Gallup drawing some attention from defenses, Lamb could become THE guy at WR.
- Tyler Biadz- He had a decent rookie season in spurts until he got hurt. He’s not yet T- Fred material but if Zack Martin, La’El Collins and Ty Smith are all healthy, Biadz will grow a lot.
- Michael Gallup- so far, he’s easily been the best part of the 2018 draft. He’s become one of my favorite Cowboys. With Cooper and Lamb drawing attention, Gallup can continue his healthy 15.6 yard per reception average- one of the best in football. He’s going to garner a much bigger contract next year.
- Hunter Niswander- this dude was a great midseason addition at punter last year. He avg 47.6 yards a punt and had a whopping 10 punts inside the 20. Having a punter with these kind of numbers helps a defense out a ton.
I left a lot of guys off both lists for brevity sake. Some of the bigger names like Dak, Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, etc, are people I hope will return to prominence. We will see.
- Zeke Elliott- the days of Zeke having 25 carries for 150 yards are in the rear view mirror. He will still have some value for sure. But he’s never going to be 2016 Zeke again.
- Amari Cooper- Coop always has great stats, but he has a bad habit of disappearing in big games. He’s not making $20 mil a year to disappear. He will still be the best route runner in football, but he’s also still carrying those nagging foot and leg injuries that quietly sideline him too often.
- LVE- that nagging neck injury has robbed a very talented guy from being a top NFL LB. If he were healthy, his speed and tackling ability would make him a stud. But he’s had this neck problem since his Boise State days. That’s troubling.
- Jaylon Smith- With that contract and his awful performance last year, he certainly has incentive to get back to decent. But I just don’t have any confidence that he still has that in him. He’s a great story of perseverance but I wonder if that story is winding down. This is probably his last hurrah in Big D.
Who are your risers and fallers?
And he's one of those college players that set his sights on being a Cowboy so everything was there for him.That’s going to be a very interesting situation this year with Connor Williams. He’s never lacked ability. He’s just never been consistent enough IMO. Some weeks he plays well, the next he’s on skates. CW is one of the more mystifying players on this team. He certainly has the incentive to be at his best this year. We will see.
Im a well known ANTI DAKER , but that is stupid post of the day material right thereBiggest drop off - Dak. He has no incentive to excel now. You'll see a big drop off like Zeke after he got paid.
I agree with your opinions on these players , but I do have hope that LVE can come back and play well this year. I wouldn’t say he is a faller until another injury comes up, if it comes up. I think Jaylon has already become as as good as his foot will allow and I think he has hit his peak and is in decline now.One of the most fun aspects of the off season is looking at the roster and trying to decide whose stock will rise and whose will fall. There will always be surprises.
With that in mind, here is a list of guys I think will emerge as young stars. In other words, these guys’ stock will be on the rise in 2021:
RISERS (emerging stars)
FALLERS (guys that are diminishing in value- hope I’m wrong)
- Micah Parsons- I expect new DC Dan Quinn to find lots of ways to make the 12th pick in the 2021 draft a real defensive weapon. If he’s healthy all year, Parsons will be our leading tackler and probably the most exciting player to watch on defense. All the disappointed Cowboys fans on draft night are going to have to admit this guy is a beast.
- Trayvon Diggs- after an up and down rookie season, I think Diggs is going to emerge as potential pro bowl corner. Mentally and physically tough, I’m expecting a breakout season from this guy.
- Cedee Lamb- after an outstanding rookie season, Lamb can still improve a lot. He had a ton of drops last year. If he improves on that, look out. He may even become the team’s leading receiver. With Cooper and Gallup drawing some attention from defenses, Lamb could become THE guy at WR.
- Tyler Biadz- He had a decent rookie season in spurts until he got hurt. He’s not yet T- Fred material but if Zack Martin, La’El Collins and Ty Smith are all healthy, Biadz will grow a lot.
- Michael Gallup- so far, he’s easily been the best part of the 2018 draft. He’s become one of my favorite Cowboys. With Cooper and Lamb drawing attention, Gallup can continue his healthy 15.6 yard per reception average- one of the best in football. He’s going to garner a much bigger contract next year.
- Hunter Niswander- this dude was a great midseason addition at punter last year. He avg 47.6 yards a punt and had a whopping 10 punts inside the 20. Having a punter with these kind of numbers helps a defense out a ton.
I left a lot of guys off both lists for brevity sake. Some of the bigger names like Dak, Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, etc, are people I hope will return to prominence. We will see.
- Zeke Elliott- the days of Zeke having 25 carries for 150 yards are in the rear view mirror. He will still have some value for sure. But he’s never going to be 2016 Zeke again.
- Amari Cooper- Coop always has great stats, but he has a bad habit of disappearing in big games. He’s not making $20 mil a year to disappear. He will still be the best route runner in football, but he’s also still carrying those nagging foot and leg injuries that quietly sideline him too often.
- LVE- that nagging neck injury has robbed a very talented guy from being a top NFL LB. If he were healthy, his speed and tackling ability would make him a stud. But he’s had this neck problem since his Boise State days. That’s troubling.
- Jaylon Smith- With that contract and his awful performance last year, he certainly has incentive to get back to decent. But I just don’t have any confidence that he still has that in him. He’s a great story of perseverance but I wonder if that story is winding down. This is probably his last hurrah in Big D.
Who are your risers and fallers?