Here' my 2 cents response:
2(58) Trysten Hill DT UCF
A traits selection. A Marinelli special. A reach on what they think he can become and not for what he was in college, which was a surprisingly mediocre player production wise. This guy scares me. He seems immature and overrated by the Cowboys. I have no faith in him being worth this pick. Yes, I do see the movement and quick first step but it never led to anything.
I think this FO deserves the benefit of the doubt after picks like LVE, Jaylon, Gallup, etc. While I take your point that these three had great college production, and Hill did not, the draft to me is more about NFL projection than college production. As Bill Parcells used to say (paraphrasing), there are only so many people in this world that can do what Hill does at 6'3" 308. As I posted elsewhere, Hill's explosiveness tests (vert, broad, 10 yard split and short shuttle) were top 1-2 of all DT's tested, better than Quinnen Williams and Christian Wilkins. That shows on tape. Had Scott Frost not left UCF (or Hill's transfer to Nebraska not been blocked), I think Hill's junior year would have gone far differently. He would have had better production (and not been relegated to second team by the new coach Heupel who has a reputation as a control freak). And Hill would not have been available at 58. Ultimately, Frost (who recruited Hill and knew him best & also played for Marinelli) gave him a ringing endorsement. I value that a lot more than the media narrative about him being immature or uncoacheble. Only time will tell, but I believe we got a steal here.
3(90) Connor McGovern G Penn St.
It's like once Marinelli was out of the room the scouts could go back to drafting good football players. I knew the second his name was announced that it would be an unpopular pick. I think it's great value and exactly the kind of thing you do in the draft, collect talent. He's the starting LG in 2020. He could start at C too but lets hope that's not necessary. You just fortified your strength.
Agree 100%. They drafted their board. And nothing would make me happier than to see this guy starting at LG in 2020 (or later this year) and C Will at RT (where he might actually be an upgrade over Lael in OC Moore's system which (from watching him at Boise State for 4 years) likely will value OL that can move and play in space over OL with brute strength.
4(128) Tony Pollard RB Memphis
Words can't express how much I hate this pick. It is a direct reflection of the soy boy mindset of society today. If you like this pick you must like less Zeke Elliott. It's really that simple. Tony Pollard waters down Ezekiel Elliott. You just made your best skill position player, by a mile in fact, less of a factor. I'm not even addressing the player specifically, who I think is okay and a 5th-6th rounder. It doesn't matter who you would take to fill this role I would hate it. We do not need a Lance friggin Dunbar in this offense. Only the Cowboys would covet this kind of crap. We needed a backup RB not a complementary RB. Hate it. Hate the Pollard family. Their BBQ sucks.
Don't get the hate, at all. Don't know why you think more Pollard necessarily means less Zeke. I believe the FO picked him to play as much in the slot as at traditional RB. Just look at Memphis tape. He coexisted extremely well with Darrell Henderson as the traditional RB and Pollard playing wildcat QB, jet sweeper, slot WR, etc. He will likely do the same here. Maybe you have a point that a "gadget" player should not be picked until 5-6 round. But, as he proved at the senior bowl, he can run very well between the tackles and blitz pickup. If Zeke goes down (#knockonwood), Pollard would be a very important part of the committee with Weber that replaces him. Finally, this guy is a breakaway threat that this offense has lacked for a long time (oft-injured Tavon Austin notwithstanding). It's hard to put a price on that. But a 4th round pick is plenty cheap enough for me. Again, time will tell.
5(158) Michael Jackson CB Miami
He's intriguing. He would have gone higher coming off of 2017 (and even higher before 2009 when he died). He certainly fits the template for the overrated Kris Richard, who can't use quality cornerbacks unless they have teh length. It's a little concerning that he took a step back this past year but in the 5th round it makes sense. He fits the defense.
I would have preferred Isaiah Johnson, but this guy is a pretty good consolation prize. In the 5th round, you're drafting incomplete players, but with NFL caliber traits. Jackson has elite size, speed, and jumping ability. I'd like to see him make the team as CB5. But he'll have to beat out Westry, who has similar traits.
5(165) Joe Jackson DE Miami
I can see him potentially filling the Tyrone Crawford role for this team. A tweener who can move around when needed. He's got the size and physicality to play inside should the Cowboys go that route. He could be a very useful player on the roster with that kind of versatility. Probably my second favorite pick after McGovern but I think there's more of an opportunity for his son Michael to make the roster. Just a numbers game. Hopefully he can have a big summer and force this coaching staff to go young with that roster spot.
This is probably my most disappointing pick, but it's the late 5th round, so I wasn't that disappointed. I love the character, physicality, and production, but I cannot get over the measurables. Really good college player, but slow as molasses. Just cannot see him ever beating an NFL tackle around the edge, nor being quick enough to penetrate from the inside. I hope I am wrong, but he looks like a more physical, but far less fast and athletic Taco.
6(213) Donovan Wilson S Texas A&M
A box safety and special teams player. That's what the Cowboys thought they needed, by the way. They were fine at FS in their mind with Xavier Woods (which could be true but I wouldn't rely on it) They think they needed a SS upgrade. Their evaluation at this position, both their own and others, is odd to say the least. If it comes down to Frazier and Wilson for the final spot at this position, Wilson is going to have to be a pretty special special teams player to make the team. Frazier is one of the better ones we've had here in a long time. There are like 10 different ways I would have went with this pick but it's a 6th round pick and he's got a litter box at the McClay's.
Liked this pick a lot. He may be S5 or be on the practice squad, but his passion, energy, hitting ability, and ability to force turnovers is a plus for any team. If he can learn to cover, and not get completely exposed at the NFL level, he could make the team and contribute.
4(128) Tony Pollard RB Memphis
Posted twice because I want to rant a little more. I can't wait to not convert critical 3rd downs in key situations this season because we're all smart and clever and safe and stuff by having our elite back on the sidelines so an inferior player can play. Zeke is a volume RB. A true workhorse every bit in the mold of Emmitt Smith. Imagine Emmitt Smith being taken off the field in the 90's for Tony Pollard. Screw this guy. Star/Pollard, UFC 150. Book it. I will spark him.
Pollard & Weber combined wont take any more downs than Rod Smith took from Zeke. Pollard will play primarily jet sweep/slot/kick returner role. Book it.
7(218) Mike Weber RB Ohio St.
This was the kind of back I was looking for, though not specifically Weber. Someone who can come in and handle Zeke's role when that glorious bastage can't play but not someone who will have his own role in the offense when Zeke is healthy. I'm not a real big fan of Weber but at this stage of the draft it's value. He might be able to fill in for a game or two and not kill the team. A lengthy Zeke absence would doom the team no matter who is back there from day 3 of this draft.
A great pick in the 7th round. 5'11, 214, 4.49 with college production in Big 12? Sold. Again, he will form a very solid 1-2 committee with Pollard if Zeke misses any time
7(241) Jalen Jelks DE Oregon
The Cowboys started and ended this draft with a selection driven by traits. Very similar to Trysten Hill. He looks the part, he's got attributes that tell you he should be good but he's never played like it. The difference here is the Cowboys took that kind of player at the right portion of the draft not 58th overall. I like the flyer even though I don't think Jalen Jelks has any chance whatsoever to make the team this year. He will get molested by NFL OTs right now. He needs a really sweet nickname and a year on the practice squad. Maybe even a 3 day motel stay with Marinelli next offseason.
I don't see a role for this guy until he gets bigger and stronger. Practice squadder with some upside. To me, his tape was very mediocre, even though he plays hard. Lacks a NFL position right now.
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Overall I want to give this class a C but you must factor in Amari Cooper. A draft that gives you a top 15 WR and a quality starting OG can't be graded too harshly but I also can't give it a high grade when they reached at 58 and also prioritized phasing their best skill player out of the offense to some degree. So a C+ seems like a fair grade.
Speaking of draft grades, I find it comical to read every year (especially years when the grades aren't kind) how you can't grade drafts right after they happen. Sure you can. The same way you can grade players before that draft. The same way you can have your own value board and put together your own mocks and have your opinions of which players are good and bad and where their value is in the draft. If you can do all that you certainly can put a grade on a just completed draft and you're not enlightening anybody that that grade can change years down the road. This isn't a revelation. Shut the pie hole about draft grades. What you really mean is you can't grade my team's draft unless you're willing to give them an A.
I thought the Commanders nailed this draft. They get an A.
I think the Giants have been graded too harshly based on the QB reach at 6. That was bad but they added so much talent after that. They get a B.
The Eagles had a short class of 5 selections. After having only 5 last year too. It's tough to replenish the roster with young talent that way. I get it, they're arrogant over Wentz but this is something that can cost you down the road. I liked the picks enough to give them a B-.
You guys are my bros. Let's turn the page to the 2020 draft and see the Cowboys back in those 1st round mocks. (Put them in the top 15 in the order)
