A roster question worth asking before draft about building our future

[kskboys]

Sadly but truly…the Jones boys literally don’t know how to rebuild. Without either Jimmy or Parcells, they just play a fantasy football game called “Pay the guys we call stars and plug the holes with JAGS.”

There are two ways the Cowboys under JJ as GM have ever “rebuilt” a great roster:

1. Under a strong HC who had an excellent eye for talent and how to put that together with a common purpose. (Jimmy, Parcells)
2. Pure dumb luck

We are currently completely dependent on #2.

Not only do they have no idea, they don't care. Relevance keeps them in the news. As long as they are around .500, they are relevant. If Jerry were to spend 2 of our top 3 picks on DT as he should, that wouldn't make headlines. So he won't do it.

I'm thinking our first 3 picks will be WR/RB/CB. I wish I was kidding.

 

[kskboys]

I don't think he has to do everything. What concerns me is I think he is trying to make the splash play rather than play as a unit.

He has very little talent around him.

 

[kskboys]

I think this is a great write up. I am sure that the future anchors list would deviate slight from person to person. This roster is void of talent at many positions including QB.

This team should have a three year plan of roster building (not a 5 year) simply because guys that you sign today usually don’t last 5 years. Contracts prevent that from happening. But the idea is sound.

Not only does Dak suck as a playoff QB but it puts pressure on the Cowboys to win now and fill holes via the draft to win now instead of acquiring talent.

If the Cowboys would simply follow their draft board (and ignore need) I am pretty convinced that you would see about 75 percent of the players that they draft become very good or better starters. Our record in finding UDFA gems would result in about 10 solid players per year being added and this team would be LOADED in 3 years.

The problem is that we draft based on need far too often. Taco, Bossman Fat, Schoonmaker, etc are all forced picks. When we stick to drafting the BPA we get Zack Martin. Instead we force a pick and end up with a project in Guyton (I’m not totally out yet on Guyton, but he is clearly a project).

Throwing away second round picks year after year is really stupid. Just draft good, solid, intelligent football players. Then come back and fill in the holes you can in the second round of free agency.

That would depend on rating players accurately. We don't.

 

[fivetwos]

Nope. Jerry simply wants to stay relevant. He just built the best 8-9 team you could ask for!!!!

I think it’s worse with the free space on a bingo card division wins going away.

Let’s see how long he can sell that.

 

[Bobhaze]

Not only do they have no idea, they don't care. Relevance keeps them in the news. As long as they are around .500, they are relevant. If Jerry were to spend 2 of our top 3 picks on DT as he should, that wouldn't make headlines. So he won't do it.

I'm thinking our first 3 picks will be WR/RB/CB. I wish I was kidding.

And 75% of Cowboys fans will be excited. Meanwhile the better teams teams will again rush for 150-200 yards against our defense.

 

[Diehardblues]

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.

Unfortunately our plan for the immediate future includes Prescott who we just resigned for 4 more years just like Lamb. I’d argue there’s no future in coming years without him. Not because that’s what we want or believe in.

Now if there’s a way out of his contract before that then I’d be all for drafting a heir apparent . Otherwise I’d expect us only to be drafting a more career backup type QB in middle to late rounds.

And if Overshown can return healthy he appeared to be a star building block . Definitely fitting the need at LB.

 

[Diehardblues]

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.

Unfortunately we just paid him like he’s our best DT.

 

[Diehardblues]

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 seasons we didn’t arguably have a team good enough to win a divisional round playoff game.

Unfortunately that appears to be the immediate goal this era is being a playoff contender not SB contender.

And the looks of the recent signings and core our future is built on I wouldn’t expect that to change. It is what it is.

So, how do we get back to the playoffs .

 

[Verdict]

That would depend on rating players accurately. We don't

I’m not really hell bent on defending this organization because they have ran it so far in the ditch. In my humble opinion I think we do a great job of evaluating players, we just do a horrible job of sticking to our board.

 

[Diehardblues]

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.

Absolutely. Totally over rated.

Cowboys this era have been playoff contenders , not SB contenders. Big difference. But that’s enough for this ownership.

 

[Diehardblues]

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

In cap era when drafts are more vital than ever missing on 4 first round picks which doesn’t include our 1st pick in 2019 ( another bust) that’s 5 bust in 13 picks. That’s almost 40% (38.9) bust rate.

Which doesn’t even include several 2nd round bust and risk which didn’t pan out.

Yes , we’ve had some success in 1st round but the bigger story are the misses which has prevented this franchise from more success, especially defensively.

 

[Diehardblues]

Agree.

And we need coverage CBs. Diggs and Bland are both pick CBs. They'll get some TOs, but don't blanket WRs well enough.

You’re on fire in this thread . No surprise big K. Your defensive analysis are your strength.

Both Diggs and Bland gave up ample yardage . And without one banner year in picks would be average to above average at best .

 

[Diehardblues]

Yup. I actually don't see us taking a DT before the 5th. And that's a maybe.

Top 3 picks I’d bet are CB, WR, RB. Not necessarily in that order.

And DT, LB and OL will follow.

 

[Diehardblues]

Regardless whether we believe in him or not , it’s amazing that fans wouldn’t include our QB who we just made the highest paid after resigning him for another 4 years.

Our immediate future includes him like it or not. So if you don’t believe in him then our future is limited regardless whatever other moves we make.

Our ownership is All In on him. Thats our future Cowboy fans. How do we build a better team around that.

 

[Brax]

Regardless whether we believe in him or not , it’s amazing that fans wouldn’t include our QB who we just made the highest paid after resigning him for another 4 years.

Our immediate future includes him like it or not. So if you don’t believe in him then our future is limited regardless whatever other moves we make.

Our ownership is All In on him. Thats our future Cowboy fans. How do we build a better team around that.

Future doesn’t look very bright, teams play to take away the run and make him beat us, it’s working for 9 years. Jerry will build with more O picks and you folks will be crying about the poor D loaded with jags and the highest paid D player. The highest paid QB in the NFL who needs lots of help on offense and the 85 bears defense to win something meaningful, when the mvp of the team is the kicker says it all.

 

[McKDaddy]

He has very little talent around him.

Don't disagree but IMO he over rushes and let's plays get under him.

 

[Whyjerry]

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.

I am on the Trade Parsons team so he would be the only one on your list I would not include. I would also not include Guyton on any list as I think he is terrible. I would put Overshown on the list because I think that guy plays the right way and can be great IF he stays healthy. I would replace Guyton with Kneeland. I don’t think Kneeland is a star but he is at least a solid reliable player and Lord knows we don’t have many of them. The other guy has to be Osa Odiggyziggydoda. Like Kneeland he isn’t a star but a solid performer that should be counted on for years. Bland to me is a definite top 5. I think he has the dawg in him.

 

[kskboys]

And 75% of Cowboys fans will be excited. Meanwhile the better teams teams will again rush for 150-200 yards against our defense.

Years(and years) ago, someone asked me on the old site: "But, if you have enough talent at WR and CB, you don't really need a good DLine/Oline, right?"

Even thought that idea is blatantly wrong, Jerry might believe it.

 

[kskboys]

Don't disagree but IMO he over rushes and let's plays get under him.

Yeah, don't ask me, I still think he should be playing MLB.

 

[Bobhaze]

Years(and years) ago, someone asked me on the old site: "But, if you have enough talent at WR and CB, you don't really need a good DLine/Oline, right?"

Even thought that idea is blatantly wrong, Jerry might believe it.

I firmly believe Jerry still believes we won those 90s SBs mostly because of the triplets.