Ajayi was 5th round target?

[Galian Beast]

If running back fell to them, I think they would have taken running back. I think they weren't in love with a lot of the running backs in this draft after Gordon and Gurley. I think they might have thought about taking a running back like Coleman in the 2nd, but Gregory was there and was the obvious choice. I think by the 3rd round they weren't enamored with any of the running backs anymore.

I think they made a huge error in not getting CJ Spiller early in free agency. I think they also miscalculated the calculus on Adrian Peterson being available. Perhaps they logically believed that Minnesota would have cut him (as I assure you they would have had he played all of last year).

 

[mattjames2010]

I'm sure if we really wanted Ajayi we would have taken him instead of Wilson in the 4th.

And I'm ready for this to be a mistake. I liked Hitchens in the 4th, I'm not seeing anything that I like from Wilson in the game film that I've watched of him.

 

[AzorAhai]

If running back fell to them, I think they would have taken running back. I think they weren't in love with a lot of the running backs in this draft after Gordon and Gurley. I think they might have thought about taking a running back like Coleman in the 2nd, but Gregory was there and was the obvious choice. I think by the 3rd round they weren't enamored with any of the running backs anymore.

I think they made a huge error in not getting CJ Spiller early in free agency. I think they also miscalculated the calculus on Adrian Peterson being available. Perhaps they logically believed that Minnesota would have cut him (as I assure you they would have had he played all of last year).

I think they would taken Duke in the 3rd, Allen in 4th and Ajayi in the 5th if any of those were there, but weren't inclined to trade up for one because they didn't like them enough or didn't feel it was a glaring need that had to be addressed.

 

[Galian Beast]

I think they would taken Duke in the 3rd, Allen in 4th and Ajayi in the 5th if any of those were there, but weren't inclined to trade up for one because they didn't like them enough or didn't feel it was a glaring need that had to be addressed.

That might be the case, but I don't think they would have been looking for running backs in round 1 if they really didn't think it was a glaring need.

Nothing will convince me that they don't realize they've screwed up at running back, and ran out of credible options in the draft.

 

[AzorAhai]

That might be the case, but I don't think they would have been looking for running backs in round 1 if they really didn't think it was a glaring need.

Nothing will convince me that they don't realize they've screwed up at running back, and ran out of credible options in the draft.

It would have been a value pick in the 1st for RB. Most pre draft boards had Gurley and Gordon top 15 overall, so at 27 they would almost assuredly be bpa and fill a need. Everything said leading up to the draft was telling us they thought CB, DL and defense in general was the bigger need to them and most people, including me, blew it off for blowing smoke, but their actions show exactly what their priorities were. They're probably a little disappointed a RB didn't line up for them, but I don't get the impression they are losing any sleep over not getting one. Only time will tell if they were justified in not moving up to get one.

 

[percyhoward]

I think they would taken Duke in the 3rd, Allen in 4th and Ajayi in the 5th if any of those were there, but weren't inclined to trade up for one because they didn't like them enough or didn't feel it was a glaring need that had to be addressed.

Or because they went in with the philosophy of letting the draft come to them.

 

[mattjames2010]

Or because they went in with the philosophy of letting the draft come to them.

I see no reason why they couldn't have done both. I understand letting the draft come to you in the first three rounds, but after that? There is nothing wrong with moving up in the fourth and fifth, you don't give away the house to do so.

 

[AzorAhai]

Or because they went in with the philosophy of letting the draft come to them.

If they liked them enough they would have went up to get one. Letting the draft come to you is a dumb idea if it just means sit on your hands and hope it lines up for you. The best drafting teams like Baltimore and Green Bay maneuver around routinely but don't do stupid things like when the Seahawks paid through the nose to go get Lockett. I don't want a FO that "let's the draft come to them". I want one with a clear plan who can adjust on the fly to move up, down or stays put because they know exactly what they want to happen. I want a FO that is proactive, not reactive and I think that the FO is becoming more proactive.

 

[percyhoward]

Letting the draft come to you is a dumb idea if it just means sit on your hands and hope it lines up for you.

There is nothing wrong with moving up in the fourth and fifth, you don't give away the house to do so.

I'm not defending the idea, I just think it's the reason we came out of the draft without a RB.

"We tried not to push for a particular need,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “We kind of let the draft come to us in a good way and were able to solve a lot of things, take care of a lot of things that we felt like we were short in."

“Running back did not come our way,” Jerry Jones said. “We would have liked to have drafted a running back, but by the same token we didn’t think at any given time we should pass on the player that was there with the running back there.”

 

[AzorAhai]

I'm not defending the idea, I just think it's the reason we came out of the draft without a RB.

"We tried not to push for a particular need,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “We kind of let the draft come to us in a good way and were able to solve a lot of things, take care of a lot of things that we felt like we were short in."

“Running back did not come our way,” Jerry Jones said. “We would have liked to have drafted a running back, but by the same token we didn’t think at any given time we should pass on the player that was there with the running back there.”

I believe them. I don't think any of the RBs available before thei picks in each Rd would have been worth the trade up. There were other players I valued more that I would have been in favor of a trade up, but none of the RBs were good enough or weren't close enough to trade up for. Yeldon and Coleman were out of reach, Duke and David Johnson, Mike Davis and Buck Allen weren't worth trading for unless they got a deal imo. The only thing I didn't like was passing on Ajayi in the 4th. He was worth the risk at that point, but I will just have to trust the board they assembled there.

What I would have liked to see was a trade up for OO in the 3rd, for a 4th. That or a slight move up for Carl Davis is the kind of moves I want the FO to make.

 

[percyhoward]

I believe them. I don't think any of the RBs available before thei picks in each Rd would have been worth the trade up.

If I believe what they actually said, it isn't that they thought there weren't any RB trading up for -- it's that they weren't going to reach or trade up ("push") for any position of need. Which means I also believe they consider RB a position of need, and would like to have drafted one.

 

[AzorAhai]

If I believe what they actually said, it isn't that they thought there weren't any RB trading up for -- it's that they weren't going to reach or trade up ("push") for any position of need. Which means I also believe they consider RB a position of need, and would like to have drafted one.

I'm sure they would have liked to upgrade the position, but weren't going to reach. My best guess is they didn't consider either the need for a RB big enough, or the ones within striking range weren't worth the cost of trading up. I think they probably would have taken Buck Allen if Baltimore didn't and passing on Ajayi baffles me. It's enough to make me wonder if they had removed him due to medicals. I'd also be curious to know if they would have taken Coleman at 60 if Gregory wasn't available.

 

[AsthmaField]

I'm sure if we really wanted Ajayi we would have taken him instead of Wilson in the 4th.

Word.

And Wilson is going to make this team, no doubt. He is too solid a player to not make it. He is fast, physical, smart, instinctive and loves to play. He is the epitome of a Marinelli LB.

If he was an OT, CB or edge rusher, he wouldn't have made it anywhere near the 4th round. Unfortunately for him, he is a 43 LB (34 ILB) and those just don't go very high unless they're special.

 

[casmith07]

Jerry said in the pre-draft presser that RB was not a pressing need.

Some combination of McFadden, Randle, and Williams is going to do just fine this year.

 

[CCBoy]

Jerry said in the pre-draft presser that RB was not a pressing need.

Some combination of McFadden, Randle, and Williams is going to do just fine this year.

Hoooah, Sir! And top of the evening for you...and Ann says hello. When are you settled in Texas was Ann's question?

 

[percyhoward]

I think they probably would have taken Buck Allen if Baltimore didn't.

It's also conceivable that we stayed at 127 thinking that if the Ravens didn't take Allen (who visited), we could still get Davis. Then suddenly they're both gone. Good luck finding value at a position that the two teams in front of you both just picked.

Bal 125 Allen RB
SF 126 Davis RB
Dal 127 Wilson LB

 

[AzorAhai]

It's also conceivable that we stayed at 127 thinking that if the Ravens didn't take Allen (who visited), we could still get Davis. Then suddenly they're both gone. Good luck finding value at a position that the two teams in front of you both just picked.

Bal 125 Allen RB
SF 126 Davis RB
Dal 127 Wilson LB

Yeah that was really unfortunate. I'm sure they thought at least one of them would be there and it just didn't work out that way.