JPostSam
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picks based on:
1) need for players at that position,
2) assumption of which alternative players at that position would be available in the next round(s),
3) reasonable assumption the player assigned to the pick will be available at that pick, and
4) no trades.
without further ado:
round 1, #18: OT dj fluker
round 2, #47: FS phillip thomas
round 3, #80: DT brandon williams *or* OC brian schwenke
round 4, #114: RB christine michael
round 5, #151: CB terry hawthorne
round 6, #185: OG garrett gilkey
reasons for selections:
of the team's two most glaring needs, it is the one at free safety that has lots of people assuming we'll draft kenny vaccaro with our first pick. i wouldn't be upset with that pick, considering how difficult it is to defend the pass these days.
however, our second glaring need is at right tackle, and it looks like the options for free safety in the second round are better than the options for tackles. add to that the fact that safeties are valued much less than tackles are (tackles are the third-highest paid players on nfl teams, behind quarterbacks and defensive ends, while safeties are the ninth-highest paid players, on average) and the first-round pick is much more likely to be spent on revamping our terrible o-line.
so, i have us going right tackle in round 1, and free safety in round 2. our need is so great at those two positions that passing on either one in the first two rounds would have to mean some amazing player falling into our laps... or a trade offer we can't refuse. but since i established a no-trades rule for this mock, i'm sticking with right tackle and free safety, in that order. fluker is gargantuan and thomas can cover, so, they're my picks.
now, a lot of people seem to think we'll use the first-round pick on a defensive tackle, but i don't see it. we have a lot of money tied up in veteran starters at that position, as well as a bunch of young players whom the team seems to like a lot. that said, i could see dallas using the third-round pick on a stout d-tackle to groom, in case a vet goes down and the young pups don't pan out. brandon williams looks the part here.
notice, though, that i also allowed for the possibility of taking a center in round 3. there are already at least two centers on the roster (costa and cook), along with two guards who can play the position if necessary (bernadeau and kowalski). the team insists that it likes costa, and it may seriously intend to start him there next season. drafting a guy like schwenke, a highly rated center who very well could be available when the cowboys go on the clock at #80, would likely mean the team prefers to use costa as a backup, and that it will be cutting one or more of those other alternatives.
moving on...
everyone knows our running game needs help -- not just from the o-line, but in terms of ball carriers. with felix jones likely on the way out and demarco murray having already missed several games due to injury, the cowboys can not afford to place the fate of their ground game in the hands of phillip tanner and lance dunbar. pencil in a running back in round 4. christine michael's got some moves, speed and toughness to fit the bill.
with just two picks left, i think dallas has to add another corner back to a secondary that has been depleted by injuries and player cuts, and it has to take a flier on an offensive guard. you have to treat your third corner back almost as a starter these days, and three corners is really all we have right now. on the o-line, it remains to be seen whether we'll keep livings and/or bernadeau, as well as whether guys like kowalski and ron leary can step up and earn a starting spot. hawthorne and gilkey get a chance to fight for a roster spot.
flame away!
:starspin
1) need for players at that position,
2) assumption of which alternative players at that position would be available in the next round(s),
3) reasonable assumption the player assigned to the pick will be available at that pick, and
4) no trades.
without further ado:
round 1, #18: OT dj fluker
round 2, #47: FS phillip thomas
round 3, #80: DT brandon williams *or* OC brian schwenke
round 4, #114: RB christine michael
round 5, #151: CB terry hawthorne
round 6, #185: OG garrett gilkey
reasons for selections:
of the team's two most glaring needs, it is the one at free safety that has lots of people assuming we'll draft kenny vaccaro with our first pick. i wouldn't be upset with that pick, considering how difficult it is to defend the pass these days.
however, our second glaring need is at right tackle, and it looks like the options for free safety in the second round are better than the options for tackles. add to that the fact that safeties are valued much less than tackles are (tackles are the third-highest paid players on nfl teams, behind quarterbacks and defensive ends, while safeties are the ninth-highest paid players, on average) and the first-round pick is much more likely to be spent on revamping our terrible o-line.
so, i have us going right tackle in round 1, and free safety in round 2. our need is so great at those two positions that passing on either one in the first two rounds would have to mean some amazing player falling into our laps... or a trade offer we can't refuse. but since i established a no-trades rule for this mock, i'm sticking with right tackle and free safety, in that order. fluker is gargantuan and thomas can cover, so, they're my picks.
now, a lot of people seem to think we'll use the first-round pick on a defensive tackle, but i don't see it. we have a lot of money tied up in veteran starters at that position, as well as a bunch of young players whom the team seems to like a lot. that said, i could see dallas using the third-round pick on a stout d-tackle to groom, in case a vet goes down and the young pups don't pan out. brandon williams looks the part here.
notice, though, that i also allowed for the possibility of taking a center in round 3. there are already at least two centers on the roster (costa and cook), along with two guards who can play the position if necessary (bernadeau and kowalski). the team insists that it likes costa, and it may seriously intend to start him there next season. drafting a guy like schwenke, a highly rated center who very well could be available when the cowboys go on the clock at #80, would likely mean the team prefers to use costa as a backup, and that it will be cutting one or more of those other alternatives.
moving on...
everyone knows our running game needs help -- not just from the o-line, but in terms of ball carriers. with felix jones likely on the way out and demarco murray having already missed several games due to injury, the cowboys can not afford to place the fate of their ground game in the hands of phillip tanner and lance dunbar. pencil in a running back in round 4. christine michael's got some moves, speed and toughness to fit the bill.
with just two picks left, i think dallas has to add another corner back to a secondary that has been depleted by injuries and player cuts, and it has to take a flier on an offensive guard. you have to treat your third corner back almost as a starter these days, and three corners is really all we have right now. on the o-line, it remains to be seen whether we'll keep livings and/or bernadeau, as well as whether guys like kowalski and ron leary can step up and earn a starting spot. hawthorne and gilkey get a chance to fight for a roster spot.
flame away!
:starspin
rolleyes
