Kiper's 'A' Draft for Cowboys

Top needs: DE, DT, S, G, WR

Round 1 (16) DT Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
Round 2 (47) G Xavier Su'a-Filo, UCLA
Round 3 (78) DT Will Sutton, Arizona St.

Analysis: I don't think Dallas can do enough to upgrade along the defensive line. Donald getting past the Bears at No. 14 is a surprise, and I draft him here with the belief that he can come in and start right away. He was the most disruptive defensive player in college football last year. Brent Urban is a tempting player at No. 47, but Su'a-Filo, who can start as a rookie at guard, a position of need, is the pick. In Round 3, I'm going back to the defensive line. Before his senior season, I wouldn't have thought Sutton could fall this far, but he didn't look as explosive in 2013 and lost some ground. Given that the anchor of the interior defensive line is Henry Melton, who's coming off knee injury rehab, adding depth and upside has to be a priority.

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All 32 teams can be found in the link. Let me know if you want any of the teams picks.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draf...draft-mel-kiper-makes-picks-gm-every-nfl-team

Analyzing Kiper's Grade A draft: Cowboys

By Todd Archer

The Dallas Cowboys need defense and a lot of it after what happened in 2013. They have signed three defensive linemen in free agency, but they are not the complete solution for a turnaround in 2014.

In Mel Kiper Jr.’s Grade A draft, he serves as the Cowboys' general manager, which some of you might like with your feelings for Jerry Jones. In it, Kiper understands just how far the Cowboys have to go on the defensive side of the ball.

Who is GM Kiper picking for the Cowboys?

Despite adding Henry Melton in free agency, Kiper selected Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald at No. 16 overall. There might be some overlap between Melton and Donald because they play the 3-technique, but Melton is basically on a one-year deal. If he does not play at a high level, the Cowboys are not likely to trigger the option on the deal to kick in the final three years of the contract.

The Cowboys have liked Donald from the beginning. He showed up well at the Senior Bowl. He tested well at the NFL scouting combine. He seems to be the perfect fit for Rod Marinelli’s defense.

In the second round, Kiper went with UCLA guard Xavier Su’a-Filo, another good pick because he fills a need and brings an attitude to the line. He will not be under pressure to play right away, but he will push last year’s starters Ronald Leary and Mackenzy Bernadeau. The Cowboys have hit on their last two offensive line picks in Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick. Su’a-Filo could be another building block.

Kiper stayed in the trenches in the third round with Arizona State defensive tackle Will Sutton. If Sutton is a 3-technique, then maybe this is a little overkill. He was too heavy for his final year at Arizona State but has slimmed down leading up to the draft. He has pass-rush ability, which is a must for any high pick under Marinelli. He could be a situational interior rusher for the Cowboys in 2014 and grow into a role in 2015 and beyond.

robert70x7 said:

All 32 teams can be found in the link. Let me know if you want any of the teams picks.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draf...draft-mel-kiper-makes-picks-gm-every-nfl-team

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I'm fine with it, 4th rd if there take Jeffcoat.

I am not sure we can afford two high DT picks...I would look for a DE or LB or S in Rd 3 given the first two picks. Why draft Sutton when at his best he would be inferior to Donald and at his worst isn't any better than the 1's we have on the roster?

it would be OK but a huge concern for me would be DE
we have a gaing hole at WDE and crawford is a ? at best at SDE

Fla Cowpoke said:

I am not sure we can afford two high DT picks...I would look for a DE or LB or S in Rd 3 given the first two picks. Why draft Sutton when at his best he would be inferior to Donald and at his worst isn't any better than the 1's we have on the roster?

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What I was thinking. Kiper seems to act like the interior of our DL is the only concern but at this point, DE might be the bigger concern. If you go Donald at 16, I think you have to try to go DE with one of your next 2 picks.

He was certainly kind to the Falcons. Sweet 3 rounds for them:

Atlanta Falcons

Top needs: OLB/DE, OT, TE, S

Round 1 (6) OT Jake Matthews, Texas A&M
Round 2 (37) LB Ryan Shazier, Ohio St.
Round 3 (68) DE Scott Crichton, Oregon St.

Sydla said:

What I was thinking. Kiper seems to act like the interior of our DL is the only concern but at this point, DE might be the bigger concern. If you go Donald at 16, I think you have to try to go DE with one of your next 2 picks.

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It'd be nice, but if OG Su'a-Filo is there at 47 , that would be great value at a position of need.
Of course, in his draft scenario, he has DE Kony Ealy still available there too. Not at all a bad choice at 47 if possible

Sydla said:

What I was thinking. Kiper seems to act like the interior of our DL is the only concern but at this point, DE might be the bigger concern. If you go Donald at 16, I think you have to try to go DE with one of your next 2 picks.

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I think his reasoning is that there is a LOT more talent at DT this year than DE. So if you consider need with BPA then most likely DT is the pick and hope Crawford can hold us over until we get a chance to draft a quality DE next year or pick one up in FA. To be honest, I think we will be much improved on our dline this year but we can't fix every hole we have this year alone. We may not be able to replace Ware in his prime but we can certainly replace 2013 Ware. We might not be able to completely replace Hatcher's production either but if we can get close while at the same time get younger and use the money to help solidify the rest of the defense, and to some extent the offense, then I will consider this an "A" draft and an "A" offseason as well.

He did 3 rounds for EVERY team. Here's ours.

Dallas Cowboys
Top needs: DE, DT, S, G, WR
Round 1 (16) DT Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
Round 2 (47) G Xavier Su'a-Filo, UCLA
Round 3 (78) DT Will Sutton, Arizona St.
Analysis: I don't think Dallas can do enough to upgrade along the defensive line. Donald getting past the Bears at No. 14 is a surprise, and I draft him here with the belief that he can come in and start right away. He was the most disruptive defensive player in college football last year. Brent Urban is a tempting player at No. 47, but Su'a-Filo, who can start as a rookie at guard, a position of need, is the pick. In Round 3, I'm going back to the defensive line. Before his senior season, I wouldn't have thought Sutton could fall this far, but he didn't look as explosive in 2013 and lost some ground. Given that the anchor of the interior defensive line is Henry Melton, who's coming off knee injury rehab, adding depth and upside has to be a priority.

starfrombirth said:

I think his reasoning is that there is a LOT more talent at DT this year than DE. So if you consider need with BPA then most likely DT is the pick and hope Crawford can hold us over until we get a chance to draft a quality DE next year or pick one up in FA. To be honest, I think we will be much improved on our dline this year but we can't fix every hole we have this year alone. We may not be able to replace Ware in his prime but we can certainly replace 2013 Ware. We might not be able to completely replace Hatcher's production either but if we can get close while at the same time get younger and use the money to help solidify the rest of the defense, and to some extent the offense, then I will consider this an "A" draft and an "A" offseason as well.

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I certainly wouldn't be upset if that's how the draft went down......... you could draft a 5-4 tight end in the 3rd and I wouldn't be upset if the first two picks were Donald and Su'a-Filo. Those would be two awesome first two picks that really help solidify the trenches.

Would love the first 2 picks. Not opposed to another DT in the 3rd. I just think Sutton's 30" arms are going to hold him back at the next level

I want no part of Sutton but Donlad and Su'a-Filo would be amazing

tm1119 said:

I want no part of Sutton but Donlad and Su'a-Filo would be amazing

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It would still leave us with what would amount to Selvie, Crawford and Mincey as our outside pass rush unless we got lucky with a fourth round or later DE.

I do not like that idea at all. I would be fine with the first two rounds, but there is no way I think we should draft two defensive tackles in the first three rounds. This looks like a draft that is not counting on Melton at all.

Kiper has never been that great assigning players to team fit. This shows it.

have the cowboys shown any interest in su'a?

DFWJC said:

It'd be nice, but if OG Su'a-Filo is there at 47 , that would be great value at a position of need.
Of course, in his draft scenario, he has DE Kony Ealy still available there too. Not at all a bad choice at 47 if possible

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yep, i like Donald/Ealy/Thomas better than Donald/Suafilo/Sutton

i think Ealy has a chance to be really good with the right coaching

It will be interesting to see how many of these picks Kiper gets right. Not just for the Cowboys, but for the teams.

Neither Donald or Sua-Filo will be on the board at their draft slots.

Fla Cowpoke said:

I am not sure we can afford two high DT picks...I would look for a DE or LB or S in Rd 3 given the first two picks. Why draft Sutton when at his best he would be inferior to Donald and at his worst isn't any better than the 1's we have on the roster?

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I would have no issue with two high DT picks. The reason is that Dallas has no solid depth. Second, Melton may not be with this team next year (due to production, expensive contract in year two and probably new coaching staff) and third selecting another talented DT is not bad especially if there is not a DE, G, S, LB or T that's not worthing of the selection in the third or fourth round.

Dallas Cowboys

Top needs: DE, DT, S, G, WR

Round 1 (16) DT Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
Round 2 (47) G Xavier Su'a-Filo, UCLA
Round 3 (78) DT Will Sutton, Arizona St.

Analysis: I don't think Dallas can do enough to upgrade along the defensive line. Donald getting past the Bears at No. 14 is a surprise, and I draft him here with the belief that he can come in and start right away. He was the most disruptive defensive player in college football last year. Brent Urban is a tempting player at No. 47, but Su'a-Filo, who can start as a rookie at guard, a position of need, is the pick. In Round 3, I'm going back to the defensive line. Before his senior season, I wouldn't have thought Sutton could fall this far, but he didn't look as explosive in 2013 and lost some ground. Given that the anchor of the interior defensive line is Henry Melton, who's coming off knee injury rehab, adding depth and upside has to be a priority.