Are we over thinking guard?

[kskboys]

Most of us on the board don’t believe the Cowboys should just draft a guard at 24. The Cowboys should do what has made them successful in the last two drafts. We all remember the last time we reached for a need in the first round and his name is Taco.

Taco was not reaching for a need. He was BPA.

 

[baltcowboy]

Taco was not reaching for a need. He was BPA.

I seem to remember it differently. Taco was the best best pass rusher available (depending on what you thought of TJ Watt) I seem to remember there were a few corners the Cowboys could have drafted.

 

[kskboys]

I seem to remember it differently. Taco was the best best pass rusher available (depending on what you thought of TJ Watt) I seem to remember there were a few corners the Cowboys could have drafted.

Taco was rated over Watt by most scouts.

Don't know of any higher rated CB's who went after Taco. Which players are you referring to?

What's w/ your use of the facepalm thing? Doesn't appear to fit the narrative.

 

[baltcowboy]

Taco was rated over Watt by most scouts.

Don't know of any higher rated CB's who went after Taco. Which players are you referring to?

I think King was ahead of Taco. I remember that after Tak was drafted by Atlanta all the players were second round grades. Taco and Watts had similar grades. Watt was considered an outside linebacker while Taco was a true defensive end. The question about Watts was his ACL injury.

 

[dogberry]

Was the consensus here Watts over Taco?

 

[kskboys]

I think King was ahead of Taco. I remember that after Tak was drafted by Atlanta all the players were second round grades. Taco and Watts had similar grades. Watt was considered an outside linebacker while Taco was a true defensive end. The question about Watts was his ACL injury.

King was all over the board. I saw him rated as low as the 3rd/4th. He was definitely not BPA over Taco.

Watt was mostly rated in the 2nd round.

 

[kskboys]

Was the consensus here Watts over Taco?

No, there was no consensus. A lot of people did like Watt.

 

[BAT]

When was the last time we drafted a good OL outside round 3? Doug Free?

Cowboys have had excellent success signing UDFA for starting OG.

Both Ron Leary and La'el Collins were home runs.

 

[BAT]

King was all over the board. I saw him rated as low as the 3rd/4th. He was definitely not BPA over Taco.

Watt was mostly rated in the 2nd round.

Only by the idiots imo.

 

[kskboys]

Only by the idiots imo.

Not really. Taco had a ton of potential. Just couldn't master the mental part.

Judging draft prospects is a very inexact science. Pretty much everyone had Taco as a first round talent.

 

[Chuck 54]

This is a very strong draft for powerful guards. Naturally, you get the best prospects early, but I think we can find starting guards all 3 days.

 

[xwalker]

Was the consensus here Watts over Taco?

Not really. Taco had a ton of potential. Just couldn't master the mental part.

Judging draft prospects is a very inexact science. Pretty much everyone had Taco as a first round talent.

More people at CZ liked Watt; although, it wasn't a consensus.

Watt was somewhat difficult to evaluate because in college he played a hybrid off-ball LB / pass rusher role.
- Similar to the role Parsons played with the Cowboys in 2021.

Obviously Watt is 1000x over Taco; however, it's still a question mark of his projection to 4-3 DE because the Steelers are a 3-4 team.

 

[xwalker]

This is a very strong draft for powerful guards. Naturally, you get the best prospects early, but I think we can find starting guards all 3 days.

One of the overlooked traits that differentiate early round picks from mid/late round picks is their readiness to play as rookies.

The expectations for OL draft picks is a bit different than DL, WR, etc. because OLinemen generally play 100% or snaps or zero snaps.

The thought process of most NFL teams with OLinemen:
1st: Expected to start as a rookie.
2nd: Hopeful that they can start as a rookie.
3rd: Projected to start in season 2.
4th: Developmental player. Expected to make the roster and hopefully develop into a starter or top backup at some point in time.
5th and later: Developmental player. Either raw with high upside or somewhat ready-now as a game day backup but lower upside.

Summary: If an OLineman is not drafted in the top 2 rounds, then he is unlikely to start as a rookie.

 

[stilltheguru]

Only by the idiots imo.

Yalls boy Brugler had Takk rated above Watt.

 

[kskboys]

Yalls boy Brugler had Takk rated above Watt.

As did everyone.

TJ Watt was widely considered 2nd round talent.

 

[kevinhickey]

When was the last time we drafted a good OL outside round 3? Doug Free?

Steele, and I think he was undrafted.

 

[BAT]

Yalls boy Brugler had Takk rated above Watt.

I had them both rated about same so it wasn't a huge miss imo.

 

[jrumann59]

Personally there are a lot of possible guards, some are tackles at college level. Honestly in rounds 2-4 I think you can find a starting guard. I think you need a dynamic player preferably on the defensive side of the ball at 24.

 

[Creeper]

I might be in the minority but I don't think this draft class is rich in OGs ready to start in the NFL. There are a few OTs that could probably move to LG and do okay but I think all the OLman ready to start day one will be gone before the end of round 2. and probably before the Cowboys pick at 56 in the 2nd. Are there guys with potential that will be there in the 3rd round? Yes, absolutely. But the Cowboys did nothing in the offseason to replace Connor Williams. I think that almost compels them to take an OG in the first round or move up in the 2nd to take one.

 

[CowboyoWales]

Good guards are regularly drafted beyond the top 50 picks and I see a plethora of options in this draft that have a good shot at being good starters.
Salyer, Goedeke, Hayes, Rhyan, Ezeudu, Ingram, Bruss, Parham, Strange, Tom, and I’m sure others will add more they like…

Find the best hardworking kid that is coachable and don’t overthink the difficulty of filling a non-premium position.

A good shot isnt good enough, we need it and need it now....when your offense cant perform due to: an inability to create a running game: inability to block and an inability to give your QB the time that he needs, the non-premium becomes a priority.

Sorry, i'd be more inclined to go 0-Line with 2 of the first three picks.