silverbear
Semi-Official Loose Cannon
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I was talking online with a friend just yesterday, he made a remark about how he'd been enjoying my draft spreadsheets for some fifteen years now. That guesstimate sounded on the high side, so I got to thinking; I got my first PC in May of 1998, so my first draft analysis online was in 1999.
That means that this edition is my 13th annual exercise in guesswork; my, time flies when you're having fun.
At the risk of sounding immodest, I do think these exercises have become a bit more accurate, a bit more relevant as the years went on, but I can't claim any credit for that. I've just gradually started getting better and better input. For example, this year my spreadsheets include a hundred prospects that we know the Boys have met with, brought in for a workout or generally shown any kind of interest in. When you have that kind of quality input, if you're a serious fan of the team (meaning you have a fair grasp on the team's offseason needs), you can start to make some fairly educated guesses.
Complicating the guesswork this year is the newness of Jason Garrett and his system. I just need another draft or two to get a better feel for what kind of players he targets. This is particularly true with the offensive line, where it appears that Bill Callahan is bringing the Boys back to the mold they enjoyed in their glory days, i.e., big drive blocking maulers. Just last year, we were all looking for smaller, quicker linemen, but 325 pounders seem to be back in vogue at Valley Ranch.
Before commencing the guesswork, one note about the methodology-- I am heavily focusing on the players the Cowboys are known to like, though I will sprinkle in a few pet cats that I hope they like but have managed to keep their interest private.... and now, on to the draft...
FIRST ROUND (stay at pick 14)
Fletcher Cox, DE, Mississippi... 6-4, 300 lbs., 4.8 second 40
David DeCastro, OG, Stanford... 6-5, 316 lbs., 5.35 second 40
Mark Barron, S, Alabama... 6-1, 216 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40 (ran while not fully healthy)
I believe the Cowboys' plan A is to sit tight at 14 and hope one of these three players falls to them. I don't think which one particularly matters to them, and it doesn't matter to me; all 3 offer a talent upgrade at a position of need, and all 3 could contribute as rookies. Cox would work his way right into the DL rotation, DeCastro would start at one OG, and Barron would vie to start ahead of Brodney Pool, and would still play in most of the sub packages if he failed to win the starting job.
A few weeks ago, the smart money would have said the most likely to be off the board would be Cox, then DeCastro, then Barron, but today, it looks like you can switch Barron and DeCastro. David wouldn't be the "sexy" pick, but he has Pro Bowl potential at OG, and with Tyron Smith firmly ensconced at LOT, the Boys would have solidified the left side of their offensive line for the next 10 years.
AND THE PICK IS-- whichever one of them is one the board works just fine for me. My order of preference would be DeCastro, Barron, then Cox.
FIRST ROUND (trade down into the low 20s
Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin... 6-5, 316 lbs., 5.2 sec. 40
Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia... 6-5, 346 lbs., 5.2 sec. 40
Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford... 6-6, 245 lbs., 4.45 sec. 40
If the Cowboys' coveted picks at 14 are all off the board, I look for them to try to trade down into the low 20s, picking up an extra 2nd rounder in the process. In that scenario, they might well be targeting Konz, their favorite center in this draft (center being a position of need for the Boys this offseason). Alternatively, they might look at big Cordy Glenn, who has drawn comparisons to a young Leonard Davis, and to Carl Nicks. A wild card pick here would be the fleet TE Fleener, Jason Witten isn't getting any younger.
There are two more players who would be on this list but for something I read yesterday-- OLB Whitney Mercilus from Illinois and OLB Shea McClellin of Boise State. These are two of the better pass-rushing 3-4 linebackers in the draft, but I read that the Boys will not look to draft an OLB in the first because the prospects available there are no better than Anthony Spencer.
So, no OLBs in the first round.
AND THE PICK IS-- Konz, who steps in as the starter at center.
SECOND ROUND (pick 2 if the Boys trade down in the 1st)
Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin... 6-4, 316 lbs., 5.35 sec. 40
Amini Silatolu, OG, Midwestern State... 6-4, 310 lbs., 5.35 sec. 40
Doug Martin, RB, Boise State... 5-9, 225 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40
LaMichael James, RB, Oregon... 5-8, 195 lbs., 4.4 sec. 40
Brandon Brooks, OG, Miami (Ohio)... 6-5, 346 lbs., 5.0 sec. 40
If the Boys did not grab an OL in the first round, they probably would here. Zeitler, Silatolu and Brooks all look like legit NFL blockers, I think I'd rate Brooks my favorite (I like 350 pound offensive linemen who run sub-5 second 40s), followed by Silatolu and Zeitler...
The interest in running backs in this range is surprising, but if you think about it, it makes some sense. Felix Jones is a free agent after this year, and both Felix and Demarco Murray were hurt for stretches of last year. The two backs being considered here are quite different; Martin reminds me of Emmitt in his running style (except he's bigger), while James is your classic "scatback" in the Metcalf (Terry, Eric) mold. He could help the Boys early on as a kick returner.
AND THE PICK IS-- Brooks, if the Boys drafted Barron or Cox in the first round. If they drafted a lineman, you could either go with one of the running backs, or you could draft another offensive lineman. Example-- if the Boys draft Konz in the first, they could think about drafting a guard in the second (but all of their needs on the defensive side of the ball would seem to mitigate against that).
If the Boys did manage to pull off a trade down, grab one of the linemen and one of the running backs. Yeah, this draft is starting out awfully offense heavy if the Boys can't draft Cox or Barron in the first, but the board just seems to be kind of offense heavy early.
Another alternative I'd look into if the Boys are sitting on two second round picks is to trade down again with one of them, acquiring another third and fourth round pick. I like the talent in that range, a little more than I like the value offered by the second round prospects.
Now, if either Mercilus or McClellin were to slip to the second round, they'd go right to the top of this list. I just don't think there's much of a chance either one will last that long.
THIRD ROUND
Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma... 5-10, 195 lbs., 4.5 sec. 40 (when healthy)
Cam Johnson, OLB, Virginia... 6-3, 270 lbs., 4.8 sec. 40
Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt... 5-11, 186 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40
George Iloka, S, Boise State... 6-4, 225 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40
Orson Charles, TE, Georgia... 6.3, 250 lbs., 4.75 sec. 40
Bruce Irvin, OLB, West Virginia... 6-3, 245 lbs., 4.5 sec. 40
This is only a partial list of players I really like in the 3rd round range, which further explains my previous comments about trading down. I'd really like to claim two of these prospects for the Boys.
Target number one would be Ryan Broyles. With the loss of Laurent Robinson, the Boys have a hole at their 3rd WR slot. Ideally, that WR would be a slot receiver, and that's exactly what Broyles does best. In spite of battling some injuries, he is the NCAA's all time career leader in receptions with 349. If his knee checks out (a big "if" that will need to be looked at closely), he's a perfect fit for Dallas, in my opinion. I know it's not good draft strategy to get too fixated on any one player at any one pick, but this guy is my pet cat to end all pet cats.
Yeah, yeah, I know, another offensive draft pick. But if the Boys trade down and add another 3rd rounder, they could add a nice linebacker in either Johnson or Irvin.
AND THE PICK IS-- Ryan Broyles
FOURTH ROUND (Dallas currently has 2 picks in this round)
Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia... 5-10, 186 lbs., 4.65 sec. 40 (ran while injured)
Philip Blake, C, Baylor... 6-2, 310 lbs., 5.25 sec. 40
Hebron Fangupo, NT, BYU... 6-1, 325 lbs., 5.15 sec. 40
T.Y. Hilton, WR, Florida International... 5-10, 186 lbs., 4.35 sec. 40
Jake Bequette, OLB, Arkansas... 6'5, 275 lbs., 4.8 sec. 40
Lardarius Green, TE, Louisiana-Lafayette... 6-6, 240 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40
Mercy, look at all those options. To me, the 3rd and 4th rounds offer the best value in this draft, although I like the talent likely to still be on the board in the 6th and 7th round range, too.
Remember that the Boys already have two 4th round picks, the second courtesy of Stephen Bowen signing with the Commanders last offseason. And if the Boys do trade down in the second round, they'd have yet another.
To me, Minnifield could be the steal of the draft if he's still on the board in the 4th round; going into this season, he was rated a late 1st/early 2nd round prospect, but he got hurt at the wrong time, and hasn't been able to get healthy enough to show his true abilities in offseason workouts. I worry that the damage to his knee is of the career-ending variety, which of course you'd want to check closely (perhaps that's why his stock is falling?).
But if he checks out medically, and he's still there in the 4th, grab him. He's the son of a former NFL cornerback (Frank Minnifield), and is perhaps the most technically sound DB in this draft.
Blake would be the Cowboys' top target at center if they were unable to draft Konz in the first, while Hilton would be plan B at WR behind Ryan Broyles. Hilton is much faster than Broyles is, but Ryan got the job done at a higher level of competition.
Fangupo is my favorite low-slung, wide-body NT in this draft, and is rising draft boards rapidly. Grab him here, and the Boys fill a need in the middle of their DL. Perhaps they could then let the slimmed-down Jay Ratliff spend most of his time at DE.
Bequette is yet another pass rush prospect worthy of consideration, while Green is another of my pet cats, a tall but slender receiving TE with the speed to stretch the field. He sets me in mind of Jay Novacek with his physique.
AND THE PICKS ARE-- working on the assumption the Boys did not draft Konz in the first, make it Minnifield and Blake.
FIFTH ROUND
James-Michael Johnson, ILB, Nevada... 6-1, 240 lbs., 4.65 sec. 40
Devon Wylie, WR, Fresno State... 5-9, 186 lbs., 4.4 sec. 40
Kheeston Randall, DE, Texas... 6-5, 295 lbs., 4.95 sec. 40
Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor... 5-11, 240 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40
Tom Compton, OT, South Dakota... 6-5, 316 lbs., 5.1 sec. 40
I've gotta be honest here, I'm not crazy about any of the talent likely to still be on the board in the 5th round. Unless a more highly rated player that I like unexpectedly falls, I'd try again to trade down, hopefully adding another 6th and 7th round pick.
AND THE PICK IS-- if no trade down can be worked out, I'd go with Compton. After Doug Free and Tyron Smith, the Boys don't have much at offensive tackle.
SIXTH ROUND
Rhett Ellison, TE, USC... 6-5, 250 lbs., 4.75 sec. 40
Taylor Thompson, TE, SMU (converted DE)... 6-6, 260 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40
James Hanna, TE, Oklahoma... 6-4, 250 lbs., 4.5 sec. 40
Tank Carder, ILB/OLB, TCU... 6-2, 235 lbs., 4.7 sec. 40
Donnie Fletcher, CB/FS, Boston College... 6-0, 200 lbs., 4.4 sec. 40
Josh LeRibeus, OG/C, SMU... 6-3, 316 lbs., 5.35 sec. 40
Brandon Hardin, FS/CB, Oregon State... 6-3, 216 lbs, 4.45 sec. 40
If you weren't able to figure it out by my first 3 options for this round, I think the 6th round is the perfect time for the Cowboys to address their lack of depth at TE. They'll likely be able to choose from Ellison, Hanna or Thompson. I find Thompson particularly intriguing, he's converting from DE so you figure he's got the physical nature to be effective as a blocker. But he also has real good speed for the position, stretch the field kind of speed. So does Hanna, who's a bit smaller. Ellison is more of an all-around tight end, and a widely respected team leader (Garrett likes that kind of thing).
There's a lot more than just TEs to be had in the sixth round, though, which again argues in favor of my proposed trade down in the 5th. You could then get your TE and still add a nice DB (Fletcher, or the very tall Hardin), some depth at ILB (Carder) or another big body for the OL (LaRibeus).
AND THE PICKS ARE-- Thompson at TE, Hardin at DB. Obviously, I'm projecting that trade down in the 5th.
SEVENTH ROUND
Miles Burris, OLB/ILB, San Diego State... 6'2, 245 lbs., 4.65 sec. 40
Donald Stephenson, OT, Oklahoma... 6-6, 316 lbs., 4.95 sec. 40
Evan Rodriguez, FB, Temple... 6-1, 240 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40
Jerry Franklin, ILB, Arkansas... 6-1, 240 lbs., 4.65 sec. 40
Matt Daniels, S, Duke... 6-0, 216 lbs., 4.5 sec. 40
Levy Adcock, OT, Oklahoma State... 6-5, 325 lbs., 5.2 sec. 40
Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, NT, Baylor... 6-2, 335 lbs., 5.35 sec. 40
Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, NT, Kent State... 6-1, 345 lbs., 5.35 sec. 40
Sammy Brown, OLB, Houston... 6-2, 245 lbs., 4.65 sec. 40
I think my first priority would be to snag one of the big NTs in the 7th round (Jean-Baptiste, Kitchen), provided of course the Boys did not draft Fangupo earlier. These are the only 3 NTs that interest me in this draft, to be honest.
Then, if the Boys acquired a second 7th rounder by trading their 5th rounder, I'd go with Brown, who led the nation in tackles for loss last season. Burris and Franklin are two nice linebackers worth a look late, while Stephenson or Adcock could address the depth needs at OT. Daniels is a favorite of mine at safety, he kind of reminds me of a bigger, faster Bill Bates.
AND THE PICKS ARE-- Kitchen and Brown.
And when the smoke clears, if everything went the way I'd hope it would, the Boys' final haul would look something like this... I'm staying put in the first round, trading down in the fifth to acquire an extra sixth and seventh:
1) Mark Barron, S, Alabama... the best safety in this class...
2) Brandon Brooks, OG, Miami-Ohio... a poor man's Carl Nicks...
3) Ryan Broyles, WR/KR, Oklahoma... NCAA's all-time leading receiver...
4a) Philip Blake, C, Baylor... to me, the second best center in this draft...
4b) Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia... injuries made Chase a steal here...
6a) Taylor Thompson, TE, SMU... a gamble on this converted DE who played TE in high school
6b) Brandon Hardin, CB/FS, Oregon State... a big DB who is a special teams stud...
7a) Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, NT, Kent State... a widebody to factor into the NT rotation...
7b) Sammy Brown, OLB, Houston... a playmaking linebacker in the 7th?? Love it...
This draft was a little offense-heavy at the start, given the team's needs on defense, but all the players selected would have roles to play with the team. And late in the draft, four of the last five picks went to the defensive side of the ball.
Here endeth the 13th installment in Bear's annual look at the draft. I am now prepared to accept all accolades.
That means that this edition is my 13th annual exercise in guesswork; my, time flies when you're having fun.
At the risk of sounding immodest, I do think these exercises have become a bit more accurate, a bit more relevant as the years went on, but I can't claim any credit for that. I've just gradually started getting better and better input. For example, this year my spreadsheets include a hundred prospects that we know the Boys have met with, brought in for a workout or generally shown any kind of interest in. When you have that kind of quality input, if you're a serious fan of the team (meaning you have a fair grasp on the team's offseason needs), you can start to make some fairly educated guesses.
Complicating the guesswork this year is the newness of Jason Garrett and his system. I just need another draft or two to get a better feel for what kind of players he targets. This is particularly true with the offensive line, where it appears that Bill Callahan is bringing the Boys back to the mold they enjoyed in their glory days, i.e., big drive blocking maulers. Just last year, we were all looking for smaller, quicker linemen, but 325 pounders seem to be back in vogue at Valley Ranch.
Before commencing the guesswork, one note about the methodology-- I am heavily focusing on the players the Cowboys are known to like, though I will sprinkle in a few pet cats that I hope they like but have managed to keep their interest private.... and now, on to the draft...
FIRST ROUND (stay at pick 14)
Fletcher Cox, DE, Mississippi... 6-4, 300 lbs., 4.8 second 40
David DeCastro, OG, Stanford... 6-5, 316 lbs., 5.35 second 40
Mark Barron, S, Alabama... 6-1, 216 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40 (ran while not fully healthy)
I believe the Cowboys' plan A is to sit tight at 14 and hope one of these three players falls to them. I don't think which one particularly matters to them, and it doesn't matter to me; all 3 offer a talent upgrade at a position of need, and all 3 could contribute as rookies. Cox would work his way right into the DL rotation, DeCastro would start at one OG, and Barron would vie to start ahead of Brodney Pool, and would still play in most of the sub packages if he failed to win the starting job.
A few weeks ago, the smart money would have said the most likely to be off the board would be Cox, then DeCastro, then Barron, but today, it looks like you can switch Barron and DeCastro. David wouldn't be the "sexy" pick, but he has Pro Bowl potential at OG, and with Tyron Smith firmly ensconced at LOT, the Boys would have solidified the left side of their offensive line for the next 10 years.
AND THE PICK IS-- whichever one of them is one the board works just fine for me. My order of preference would be DeCastro, Barron, then Cox.
FIRST ROUND (trade down into the low 20s
Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin... 6-5, 316 lbs., 5.2 sec. 40
Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia... 6-5, 346 lbs., 5.2 sec. 40
Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford... 6-6, 245 lbs., 4.45 sec. 40
If the Cowboys' coveted picks at 14 are all off the board, I look for them to try to trade down into the low 20s, picking up an extra 2nd rounder in the process. In that scenario, they might well be targeting Konz, their favorite center in this draft (center being a position of need for the Boys this offseason). Alternatively, they might look at big Cordy Glenn, who has drawn comparisons to a young Leonard Davis, and to Carl Nicks. A wild card pick here would be the fleet TE Fleener, Jason Witten isn't getting any younger.
There are two more players who would be on this list but for something I read yesterday-- OLB Whitney Mercilus from Illinois and OLB Shea McClellin of Boise State. These are two of the better pass-rushing 3-4 linebackers in the draft, but I read that the Boys will not look to draft an OLB in the first because the prospects available there are no better than Anthony Spencer.
So, no OLBs in the first round.
AND THE PICK IS-- Konz, who steps in as the starter at center.
SECOND ROUND (pick 2 if the Boys trade down in the 1st)
Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin... 6-4, 316 lbs., 5.35 sec. 40
Amini Silatolu, OG, Midwestern State... 6-4, 310 lbs., 5.35 sec. 40
Doug Martin, RB, Boise State... 5-9, 225 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40
LaMichael James, RB, Oregon... 5-8, 195 lbs., 4.4 sec. 40
Brandon Brooks, OG, Miami (Ohio)... 6-5, 346 lbs., 5.0 sec. 40
If the Boys did not grab an OL in the first round, they probably would here. Zeitler, Silatolu and Brooks all look like legit NFL blockers, I think I'd rate Brooks my favorite (I like 350 pound offensive linemen who run sub-5 second 40s), followed by Silatolu and Zeitler...
The interest in running backs in this range is surprising, but if you think about it, it makes some sense. Felix Jones is a free agent after this year, and both Felix and Demarco Murray were hurt for stretches of last year. The two backs being considered here are quite different; Martin reminds me of Emmitt in his running style (except he's bigger), while James is your classic "scatback" in the Metcalf (Terry, Eric) mold. He could help the Boys early on as a kick returner.
AND THE PICK IS-- Brooks, if the Boys drafted Barron or Cox in the first round. If they drafted a lineman, you could either go with one of the running backs, or you could draft another offensive lineman. Example-- if the Boys draft Konz in the first, they could think about drafting a guard in the second (but all of their needs on the defensive side of the ball would seem to mitigate against that).
If the Boys did manage to pull off a trade down, grab one of the linemen and one of the running backs. Yeah, this draft is starting out awfully offense heavy if the Boys can't draft Cox or Barron in the first, but the board just seems to be kind of offense heavy early.
Another alternative I'd look into if the Boys are sitting on two second round picks is to trade down again with one of them, acquiring another third and fourth round pick. I like the talent in that range, a little more than I like the value offered by the second round prospects.
Now, if either Mercilus or McClellin were to slip to the second round, they'd go right to the top of this list. I just don't think there's much of a chance either one will last that long.
THIRD ROUND
Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma... 5-10, 195 lbs., 4.5 sec. 40 (when healthy)
Cam Johnson, OLB, Virginia... 6-3, 270 lbs., 4.8 sec. 40
Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt... 5-11, 186 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40
George Iloka, S, Boise State... 6-4, 225 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40
Orson Charles, TE, Georgia... 6.3, 250 lbs., 4.75 sec. 40
Bruce Irvin, OLB, West Virginia... 6-3, 245 lbs., 4.5 sec. 40
This is only a partial list of players I really like in the 3rd round range, which further explains my previous comments about trading down. I'd really like to claim two of these prospects for the Boys.
Target number one would be Ryan Broyles. With the loss of Laurent Robinson, the Boys have a hole at their 3rd WR slot. Ideally, that WR would be a slot receiver, and that's exactly what Broyles does best. In spite of battling some injuries, he is the NCAA's all time career leader in receptions with 349. If his knee checks out (a big "if" that will need to be looked at closely), he's a perfect fit for Dallas, in my opinion. I know it's not good draft strategy to get too fixated on any one player at any one pick, but this guy is my pet cat to end all pet cats.
Yeah, yeah, I know, another offensive draft pick. But if the Boys trade down and add another 3rd rounder, they could add a nice linebacker in either Johnson or Irvin.
AND THE PICK IS-- Ryan Broyles
FOURTH ROUND (Dallas currently has 2 picks in this round)
Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia... 5-10, 186 lbs., 4.65 sec. 40 (ran while injured)
Philip Blake, C, Baylor... 6-2, 310 lbs., 5.25 sec. 40
Hebron Fangupo, NT, BYU... 6-1, 325 lbs., 5.15 sec. 40
T.Y. Hilton, WR, Florida International... 5-10, 186 lbs., 4.35 sec. 40
Jake Bequette, OLB, Arkansas... 6'5, 275 lbs., 4.8 sec. 40
Lardarius Green, TE, Louisiana-Lafayette... 6-6, 240 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40
Mercy, look at all those options. To me, the 3rd and 4th rounds offer the best value in this draft, although I like the talent likely to still be on the board in the 6th and 7th round range, too.
Remember that the Boys already have two 4th round picks, the second courtesy of Stephen Bowen signing with the Commanders last offseason. And if the Boys do trade down in the second round, they'd have yet another.
To me, Minnifield could be the steal of the draft if he's still on the board in the 4th round; going into this season, he was rated a late 1st/early 2nd round prospect, but he got hurt at the wrong time, and hasn't been able to get healthy enough to show his true abilities in offseason workouts. I worry that the damage to his knee is of the career-ending variety, which of course you'd want to check closely (perhaps that's why his stock is falling?).
But if he checks out medically, and he's still there in the 4th, grab him. He's the son of a former NFL cornerback (Frank Minnifield), and is perhaps the most technically sound DB in this draft.
Blake would be the Cowboys' top target at center if they were unable to draft Konz in the first, while Hilton would be plan B at WR behind Ryan Broyles. Hilton is much faster than Broyles is, but Ryan got the job done at a higher level of competition.
Fangupo is my favorite low-slung, wide-body NT in this draft, and is rising draft boards rapidly. Grab him here, and the Boys fill a need in the middle of their DL. Perhaps they could then let the slimmed-down Jay Ratliff spend most of his time at DE.
Bequette is yet another pass rush prospect worthy of consideration, while Green is another of my pet cats, a tall but slender receiving TE with the speed to stretch the field. He sets me in mind of Jay Novacek with his physique.
AND THE PICKS ARE-- working on the assumption the Boys did not draft Konz in the first, make it Minnifield and Blake.
FIFTH ROUND
James-Michael Johnson, ILB, Nevada... 6-1, 240 lbs., 4.65 sec. 40
Devon Wylie, WR, Fresno State... 5-9, 186 lbs., 4.4 sec. 40
Kheeston Randall, DE, Texas... 6-5, 295 lbs., 4.95 sec. 40
Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor... 5-11, 240 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40
Tom Compton, OT, South Dakota... 6-5, 316 lbs., 5.1 sec. 40
I've gotta be honest here, I'm not crazy about any of the talent likely to still be on the board in the 5th round. Unless a more highly rated player that I like unexpectedly falls, I'd try again to trade down, hopefully adding another 6th and 7th round pick.
AND THE PICK IS-- if no trade down can be worked out, I'd go with Compton. After Doug Free and Tyron Smith, the Boys don't have much at offensive tackle.
SIXTH ROUND
Rhett Ellison, TE, USC... 6-5, 250 lbs., 4.75 sec. 40
Taylor Thompson, TE, SMU (converted DE)... 6-6, 260 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40
James Hanna, TE, Oklahoma... 6-4, 250 lbs., 4.5 sec. 40
Tank Carder, ILB/OLB, TCU... 6-2, 235 lbs., 4.7 sec. 40
Donnie Fletcher, CB/FS, Boston College... 6-0, 200 lbs., 4.4 sec. 40
Josh LeRibeus, OG/C, SMU... 6-3, 316 lbs., 5.35 sec. 40
Brandon Hardin, FS/CB, Oregon State... 6-3, 216 lbs, 4.45 sec. 40
If you weren't able to figure it out by my first 3 options for this round, I think the 6th round is the perfect time for the Cowboys to address their lack of depth at TE. They'll likely be able to choose from Ellison, Hanna or Thompson. I find Thompson particularly intriguing, he's converting from DE so you figure he's got the physical nature to be effective as a blocker. But he also has real good speed for the position, stretch the field kind of speed. So does Hanna, who's a bit smaller. Ellison is more of an all-around tight end, and a widely respected team leader (Garrett likes that kind of thing).
There's a lot more than just TEs to be had in the sixth round, though, which again argues in favor of my proposed trade down in the 5th. You could then get your TE and still add a nice DB (Fletcher, or the very tall Hardin), some depth at ILB (Carder) or another big body for the OL (LaRibeus).
AND THE PICKS ARE-- Thompson at TE, Hardin at DB. Obviously, I'm projecting that trade down in the 5th.
SEVENTH ROUND
Miles Burris, OLB/ILB, San Diego State... 6'2, 245 lbs., 4.65 sec. 40
Donald Stephenson, OT, Oklahoma... 6-6, 316 lbs., 4.95 sec. 40
Evan Rodriguez, FB, Temple... 6-1, 240 lbs., 4.55 sec. 40
Jerry Franklin, ILB, Arkansas... 6-1, 240 lbs., 4.65 sec. 40
Matt Daniels, S, Duke... 6-0, 216 lbs., 4.5 sec. 40
Levy Adcock, OT, Oklahoma State... 6-5, 325 lbs., 5.2 sec. 40
Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, NT, Baylor... 6-2, 335 lbs., 5.35 sec. 40
Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, NT, Kent State... 6-1, 345 lbs., 5.35 sec. 40
Sammy Brown, OLB, Houston... 6-2, 245 lbs., 4.65 sec. 40
I think my first priority would be to snag one of the big NTs in the 7th round (Jean-Baptiste, Kitchen), provided of course the Boys did not draft Fangupo earlier. These are the only 3 NTs that interest me in this draft, to be honest.
Then, if the Boys acquired a second 7th rounder by trading their 5th rounder, I'd go with Brown, who led the nation in tackles for loss last season. Burris and Franklin are two nice linebackers worth a look late, while Stephenson or Adcock could address the depth needs at OT. Daniels is a favorite of mine at safety, he kind of reminds me of a bigger, faster Bill Bates.
AND THE PICKS ARE-- Kitchen and Brown.
And when the smoke clears, if everything went the way I'd hope it would, the Boys' final haul would look something like this... I'm staying put in the first round, trading down in the fifth to acquire an extra sixth and seventh:
1) Mark Barron, S, Alabama... the best safety in this class...
2) Brandon Brooks, OG, Miami-Ohio... a poor man's Carl Nicks...
3) Ryan Broyles, WR/KR, Oklahoma... NCAA's all-time leading receiver...
4a) Philip Blake, C, Baylor... to me, the second best center in this draft...
4b) Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia... injuries made Chase a steal here...
6a) Taylor Thompson, TE, SMU... a gamble on this converted DE who played TE in high school
6b) Brandon Hardin, CB/FS, Oregon State... a big DB who is a special teams stud...
7a) Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, NT, Kent State... a widebody to factor into the NT rotation...
7b) Sammy Brown, OLB, Houston... a playmaking linebacker in the 7th?? Love it...
This draft was a little offense-heavy at the start, given the team's needs on defense, but all the players selected would have roles to play with the team. And late in the draft, four of the last five picks went to the defensive side of the ball.
Here endeth the 13th installment in Bear's annual look at the draft. I am now prepared to accept all accolades.
