A roster question worth asking before draft about building our future

[kskboys]

Five years is an eternity in the NFL, and I hate projecting any player out that far. Even when teams sign core players to mega-deals, it's rare that they guarantee more than three years.

The way I see it, we've got at least two years out in the wilderness, just to stockpile enough talent to compete. Then if that fails, we launch another rebuild Cleveland Browns style. Anyway, I think our timelines need to be looked at much more shortly than five years.

Fair enough.

 

[kskboys]

I would have already released him. Sounds “cold” but this front office needs a heavy dose of cold hearted roster evaluation.

We would be hard pressed to find a FO winning SBs these days who uses “we like our guys” as a guiding principle.

We need a huge dose of “No one on this roster is untouchable.”

Beyond any doubt.

Look at it this way. Players beg to be paid as business acquisitions. OK, then what's wrong w/ treating them that way?

 

[CowboyFanInLexKy]

Here’s my problem with using the “Three 12 win season” argument…

Let me use a war analogy: The three 12 win season argument that this validates us from 2021-23 is like saying “we won 12 battles” but we actually lost “the war” in each season with the playoffs being the war.

The regular season is only as good as the playoff results you get with them. And I don’t mean you have to win a SB every year. Just make those regular season wins at least get you a divisional playoff win more than once every 29 years.

I couldn't have said this better myself By no means do I expect us to win a SB every year but to at least make an appearance in the SB every now and then would be nice. A SB win would take care of itself if this happened....

 

[kskboys]

Here’s my problem with using the “Three 12 win season” argument…

Let me use a war analogy: The three 12 win season argument that this validates us from 2021-23 is like saying “we won 12 battles” but we actually lost “the war” in each season with the playoffs being the war.

The regular season is only as good as the playoff results you get with them. And I don’t mean you have to win a SB every year. Just make those regular season wins at least get you a divisional playoff win more than once every 29 years.

Those 12 win teams were not super bowl contenders. Super bowl contenders absolutely cannot afford to get run over in the run game. Until we're smart enough to stop that, we're not going anywhere in the playoffs.

 

[john van brocklin]

And their in lies the problem with this FO. They are always reactive instead of proactive with roster building.

They had to know the run game last season would be an issue so now the talk this season centers around drafting/acquiring RB’s and getting that going.

They’ve been doing this since Jimmy left town.

Just different position groups within different seasons.

And the kicker is there’s no end in sight.

Well, here is my theory/hope:
Jerry lucked into Romo and Dak and got above average QB play.
We were able to be relevant.
Once Dak ages out and we go to below average QB play, we will go back to the 5 and 11 Campo years.
I honestly believe the fans will quit buying merch and coming to the home games.
That will force change, especially of Jerry is gone and Stephen is in charge.
I don't think Stephen will be able to stand the heat like Jerry has.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

I would put Overshown on my list even with his injuries. He is the one guy on this team who plays like I want every guy on the team to play - 100 miles per hour. He hustles, hits, makes plays even if he misses a few.

The fact that you have a kicker in the top 4 say a lot about the state of this roster. The fact that the $60 million QB is not on the list is also a statement.

It is also surprising that Odighizuwa is not on the list. They just re-signed him for $20 million per year. I don't disagree with you omitting him from the list but it makes me wonder about the Cowboys re-signing him for that much money.

I would definitely build the defense around Parsons, but good defenses are 11 guys playing as a unit, not 1 superstar who has to do everything. If the Cowboys don't get Parsons some help on the DL they are just wasting him.

Can't put Overshown on the list, sorry. It's not just that he's injured, he's on his second knee injury, and a very severe one this past season. Just too much chance he'll be another Sean Lee, great when he's in there, just can't stay on the field enough to be a "building block".

But hey! Reasonable minds can disagree....

 

[plasticman]

Right now there are only three players that I would consider foundational and that would be Tyler Smith, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons.

Hopefully, there will be more players to add after this season. Some 2nd and 3rd year players have potential for a breakout season. If the Cowboys do select at pick #12, then that player definitely should have the potential to be added to "the Five".

Any of these players have the potential to state their case in 2025.

Tyler Guyton
Marshawn Kneeland
Cooper Beebe
Marist Liufau
Sam Williams
Mazi Smith
Luke Schoonmaker
DaRon Bland

 

[ArtClink]

Great list. I would take off Overshown. He’s a great player and def an impact player but I’ve seen enough to say he seems to be made of glass. That’s a shame because he never takes plays off and I love players like that.

IMO, we are really weak on the D-Line. I read recently what Minnesota did to fix their D-Line but it required spending decent money in FA, something the Jones boys don’t believe in.

 

[ArtClink]

And their in lies the problem with this FO. They are always reactive instead of proactive with roster building.

They had to know the run game last season would be an issue so now the talk this season centers around drafting/acquiring RB’s and getting that going.

They’ve been doing this since Jimmy left town.

Just different position groups within different seasons.

And the kicker is there’s no end in sight.

Agreed and this FO drafts flashy players who will increase jersey sales rather than team building.

 

[ArtClink]

I would have already released him. Sounds “cold” but this front office needs a heavy dose of cold hearted roster evaluation.

We would be hard pressed to find a FO winning SBs these days who uses “we like our guys” as a guiding principle.

We need a huge dose of “No one on this roster is untouchable.”

This!

 

[Bobhaze]

Beyond any doubt.

Look at it this way. Players beg to be paid as business acquisitions. OK, then what's wrong w/ treating them that way?

100%! Well said.

 

[Chasing6]

One of the most common blind spots we all have as fans is over-valuing too many players on our team. It’s understandable. We love the Cowboys, so we end up being attached to certain players. Even if they aren’t as good or important as we think they are.

So imagine looking at this roster now before the upcoming draft and asking the question, “If you can only keep five players to build for the future…for the next five years, who would they be?” Or put it another way, “Which five current Cowboys players would you value the most for the rebuilding the future of this team?”

For me, it would be these five:

• Micah Parsons - personally I don’t like this guy; he talks way too much and acts like he’s a junior in high school but he’s the most talented player on this roster, he’s only 25, and could be packaged for a great trade or hopefully become the second best player on the defense.
• Cedee Lamb - only 25, clearly one of the best 5 WRs in the NFL. And he’s under contract for 4 more years. Worth building around.
• Tyler Smith - a beast at G and has already been a 2nd team All Pro. And he will be 24 next season. An anchor for another decade.
• Brandon Aubrey - he’s the best kicker in the NFL and is a legit weapon. Kickers are fickle and can get the yips at any time. But imagine this team without him.
• This one I struggled with…Deron Bland. He’s only 25 and has had an All Pro season before his foot injury. I still think he’s worth keeping.

Honorable mentions: Cooper Beebe, with great hesitation Tyler Guyton (if he can develop), DeMarvion Overshown (if he can recover)

Folks that’s about it. Those are the only guys I see on this current roster that should could be the better part of a roster rebuild. Frankly, this team is in desperate need of:

• Talent at DL. Especially talented DT. Not some washed up JAG or a 3 year rookie project.
• Young upgrade at RB. We need at least one impactful RB in this draft.
• Upgrade at WR. Other than Lamb, the cupboard is bare.
• A young LB that can immediately contribute.
• Could use a S that isn’t washed up.
• A QB for the future.

This team is in dire need of talent at multiple positions. I hope this FO is not playing fantasy football and has an actual plan for building a much better roster.

The problem with our team is we have a small middle class.

The Highest paid in the league - Dak, CD, Turpin and soon to be Micah.

The Poor with 20+ 1 year contracts.

The Rookie Class - 25+ players in year 1,2,3 or 4.

The Middle Class - what do we have maybe 5 of these players?

I don't believe this is a winning formula.

 

[Chasing6]

One of the most common blind spots we all have as fans is over-valuing too many players on our team. It’s understandable. We love the Cowboys, so we end up being attached to certain players. Even if they aren’t as good or important as we think they are.

So imagine looking at this roster now before the upcoming draft and asking the question, “If you can only keep five players to build for the future…for the next five years, who would they be?” Or put it another way, “Which five current Cowboys players would you value the most for the rebuilding the future of this team?”

For me, it would be these five:

• Micah Parsons - personally I don’t like this guy; he talks way too much and acts like he’s a junior in high school but he’s the most talented player on this roster, he’s only 25, and could be packaged for a great trade or hopefully become the second best player on the defense.
• Cedee Lamb - only 25, clearly one of the best 5 WRs in the NFL. And he’s under contract for 4 more years. Worth building around.
• Tyler Smith - a beast at G and has already been a 2nd team All Pro. And he will be 24 next season. An anchor for another decade.
• Brandon Aubrey - he’s the best kicker in the NFL and is a legit weapon. Kickers are fickle and can get the yips at any time. But imagine this team without him.
• This one I struggled with…Deron Bland. He’s only 25 and has had an All Pro season before his foot injury. I still think he’s worth keeping.

Honorable mentions: Cooper Beebe, with great hesitation Tyler Guyton (if he can develop), DeMarvion Overshown (if he can recover)

Folks that’s about it. Those are the only guys I see on this current roster that should could be the better part of a roster rebuild. Frankly, this team is in desperate need of:

• Talent at DL. Especially talented DT. Not some washed up JAG or a 3 year rookie project.
• Young upgrade at RB. We need at least one impactful RB in this draft.
• Upgrade at WR. Other than Lamb, the cupboard is bare.
• A young LB that can immediately contribute.
• Could use a S that isn’t washed up.
• A QB for the future.

This team is in dire need of talent at multiple positions. I hope this FO is not playing fantasy football and has an actual plan for building a much better roster.

Dominant trench players on both sides of the ball make all the perimeter players better.

Dominant perimeter players do not make the trench players better.

Perimeter players typically get paid more as well. We are building this team completely backwards.

It is really not that hard to understand.

 

[Chasing6]

The problem with Bland is we have to see if he's a flash in the pan. Last year in the games he played, he was just an average NFL CB. So, I would go with Beebe here.

But overall, the cupboard is bare and we have zero depth anywhere on the field. We aren't hitting on enough draft picks for a team that relies almost exclusively on the draft to acquire talent.

When your DB's have to focus on the run, they will not be good DB's. I don't care who you are.

 

[CCBoy]

The big bull in the china cabinet is this:

Dallas Cowboys First Round Picks Since 2011 CBA​

Year Drafted	Player	Year Extended
2011	Tyron Smith	2014
2012	Morris Claiborne	Not Extended
2013	Travis Frederick	2016
2014	Zack Martin	2018
2015	Byron Jones	Not Extended
2016	Ezekiel Elliott	2019
2017	Taco Charlton	Not Extended
2018	Leighton Vander Esch	Not Extended
2019	N/A	N/A
2020	CeeDee Lamb	2024
2021	Micah Parsons	TBD
2022	Tyler Smith	TBD

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ound-picks-first-year-eligibility-last-decade

Gregg Rosenthal

@greggrosenthal


it should be embarrassing for the Cowboys that the 2022 draft class picks are starting to get their extensions before Parsons.Micah is now the only star 2021 first rounder without one

 

[kskboys]

Dominant trench players on both sides of the ball make all the perimeter players better.

Dominant perimeter players do not make the trench players better.

Perimeter players typically get paid more as well. We are building this team completely backwards.

It is really not that hard to understand.

Unless you're a non-football guy who refuses to watch tape. Or take on any football duties for that matter.

 

[deerhunter11]

I thought about Osa Odighizhua too. He could also be on this list as a cornerstone. He’s only 26. I didn’t include him because I think he’s good but not enough of what we need.

We need Osa to become e the second or third best DT on this team.

Totally agree ,and that can be achieved in this draft .Dallas needs to draft 2 big defensive tackles and they can completely rebuild their defensive line.If Dallas does this all the sudden their depth on the D line is deep.Kenneth Grant in a trade down in the 20's he would be the best tackle on this team.

 

[stilltheguru]

Bland is overrated. name 1 legit wr he ever strapped up. Just 1

 

[kskboys]

Totally agree ,and that can be achieved in this draft .Dallas needs to draft 2 big defensive tackles and they can completely rebuild their defensive line.If Dallas does this all the sudden their depth on the D line is deep.Kenneth Grant in a trade down in the 20's he would be the best tackle on this team.

Correct, but it cannot be more JAG DT's. Some dude in the 5th is not going to accomplish this.

 

[JoeKing]

One of the most common blind spots we all have as fans is over-valuing too many players on our team. It’s understandable. We love the Cowboys, so we end up being attached to certain players. Even if they aren’t as good or important as we think they are.

So imagine looking at this roster now before the upcoming draft and asking the question, “If you can only keep five players to build for the future…for the next five years, who would they be?” Or put it another way, “Which five current Cowboys players would you value the most for the rebuilding the future of this team?”

For me, it would be these five:

• Micah Parsons - personally I don’t like this guy; he talks way too much and acts like he’s a junior in high school but he’s the most talented player on this roster, he’s only 25, and could be packaged for a great trade or hopefully become the second best player on the defense.
• Cedee Lamb - only 25, clearly one of the best 5 WRs in the NFL. And he’s under contract for 4 more years. Worth building around.
• Tyler Smith - a beast at G and has already been a 2nd team All Pro. And he will be 24 next season. An anchor for another decade.
• Brandon Aubrey - he’s the best kicker in the NFL and is a legit weapon. Kickers are fickle and can get the yips at any time. But imagine this team without him.
• This one I struggled with…Deron Bland. He’s only 25 and has had an All Pro season before his foot injury. I still think he’s worth keeping.

Honorable mentions: Cooper Beebe, with great hesitation Tyler Guyton (if he can develop), DeMarvion Overshown (if he can recover)

Folks that’s about it. Those are the only guys I see on this current roster that should could be the better part of a roster rebuild. Frankly, this team is in desperate need of:

• Talent at DL. Especially talented DT. Not some washed up JAG or a 3 year rookie project.
• Young upgrade at RB. We need at least one impactful RB in this draft.
• Upgrade at WR. Other than Lamb, the cupboard is bare.
• A young LB that can immediately contribute.
• Could use a S that isn’t washed up.
• A QB for the future.

This team is in dire need of talent at multiple positions. I hope this FO is not playing fantasy football and has an actual plan for building a much better roster.

That's all good but with that said this ship is still without a rudder. BS can't lead this team anywhere.