Bob Sturm takes on Cowboys drafted record 09-present

[BigStar]

This is another example of why Sturm is the best writer of Cowboys information out there.
Another factor that leads to the low production numbers is the insistence to trade away 2nd and 3rd round picks. Not sure what we gave for trading up for Dez (3rd ?). But Claiborne 2nd and 3rd. Lawrence 3rd and our 2nd. And they just tried to give away our 2nd and 4th this year (wouldn't go 2nd and 3rd). Im sure there are more but I'm at work : )
Just another reason I'm always weary of trading up, for anybody. It reduces the chances you have every year.
I do feel like we are doing better lately, but stop giving away picks ! Or trying to.

You're point is correct, but I do like me some Dez (1 exception).

 

[the_h0wey]

When healthy, they're more than solid. They're elite.

But when Dez (or Romo) is out, they are a collection of parts.

I have to whole heartedly disagree. Beasley is our 2nd best WR by far and he's just a gimmicky slot guy. We have an elite QB who has made a career of making average WR's look really good. To call our WR's elite is laughable

 

[reddyuta]

this is nothing new,everybody knows this apart from uber homers..WE ARE THE WORST DRAFTING TEAM FROM RD 2-7,will mcclay has not any difference at all.we still are not finding adequate starters from rd 2-7 comapred to other teams,infact we are dead last.the only thing holding up the franchise from Cleveland Browns status is one Tony Romo and we all saw what happens when goes down.mark my words,we are going to hit rock bottom if we dont find a successor for him in the next 2 seasons because without a good QB our roster is basically thrash on the Defensive side.

 

[BigStar]

Romo masks a lot of shortcomings..

When he's not their the crap scheme and draft misses get amplified.

We're probably the worst team in football with a average NFL QB.

They put it all on Romo and then wonder WHY it doesn't work. Garrett's scheme is not made for anyone but Romo in the sense that he can modify that dated garbage into something formidable whether through pre snap adjustments or improvisation. In 2014, even with all the great running success, came down to Romo to convert on 3rd downs and save us in the playoffs (DET). We saw what happened last year when he's not here to save the day.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Much truth, but on the flip side.....

Dallas has built the best offensive line in football, with a solid receiving corps, and now a potential superstar running back. Don't forget perhaps the best kicker in football.

Defensively, if Cheech and Chong put down the bong, and Jaylon Smith heals, there is much to be optimistic about moving forward.

Great offensive line- yes
Potential great rb - yes ( we'll see)
Best kicker - yes
Solid receiving corps? - i have to disagree

This receiving corp is not deep in talent. Reminds me of how romo made laurent robinson a millionaire.

 

[BigStar]

This is true, but Parcells bombed on some draft picks on his own: Like Al Johnson, Bobby Carpenter, Jacob Rogers, and Stephen Peterman, to name a few.

He hit on those lower picks but you're right, in the early rounds we seemed to reach a lot w/Ware as his exception. But he got us Witten, James (serviceable for a bit), Canty, Hatcher?, and Ratliff. That is what is missing now. Quality finds after the first round.

 

[erod]

I have to whole heartedly disagree. Beasley is our 2nd best WR by far and he's just a gimmicky slot guy. We have an elite QB who has made a career of making average WR's look really good. To call our WR's elite is laughable

Dez. Witten. Beasley. Williams.

When healthy, that is far more than adequate.

 

[erod]

Great offensive line- yes
Potential great rb - yes ( we'll see)
Best kicker - yes
Solid receiving corps? - i have to disagree

This receiving corp is not deep in talent. Reminds me of how romo made laurent robinson a millionaire.

Romo is the key for sure, but when you have Dez and Witten, you have a tremendous starting point.

Romo makes Beasley and Williams extremely effectively so long as Dez is out there.

As always, the quarterback is the key, but with a suddenly ultra-elite running game, Romo won't have to carry as much of the water.

 

[BigStar]

Dez. Witten. Beasley. Williams.

When healthy, that is far more than adequate.

Only Dez scares opponents out of that list. Beasley is a 1 trick pony and Williams is inconsistent. Love Witten, but he needs to start splitting some snaps with other TEs.

 

[erod]

Only Dez scares opponents out of that list. Beasley is a 1 trick pony and Williams is inconsistent. Love Witten, but he needs to start splitting some snaps with other TEs.

With Romo, Williams is very consistent, and Beasley is unstoppable. In 2014, anyway.

Williams was the best receiver in the playoffs that year. Two touchdowns against Detroit, as well as a long catch and run TD against Green Bay. Beasley torched Seattle that year, as well as numerous other teams.

 

[BigStar]

With Romo, Williams is very consistent, and Beasley is unstoppable. In 2014, anyway.

Williams was the best receiver in the playoffs that year. Two touchdowns against Detroit, as well as a long catch and run TD against Green Bay. Beasley torched Seattle that year, as well as numerous other teams.

But everyone's main point is that these receivers are not anything great w/o the help of Romo. Dez would be the lone exception (teams needing to gameplan for, etc.) w/o Romo on the field. Romo covers the team warts; offensively and defensively bc of the bad drafts post 1st round over the last decade.

 

[daveferr33]

I don't know how many times I've said it the last few years but the biggest myth going on this site is that drafting has improved under Garrett. Thank you @Sturm1310 for making this even clearer.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Deandre Hopkins is a good example of a probowl elite wr w junky qbs. He makes the qbs, the qbs didnt make him.

 

[erod]

But everyone's main point is that these receivers are not anything great w/o the help of Romo. Dez would be the lone exception (teams needing to gameplan for, etc.) w/o Romo on the field. Romo covers the team warts; offensively and defensively bc of the bad drafts post 1st round over the last decade.

I agree, but what is Julian Edelman without Tom Brady? What is Devante Adams without Aaron Rodgers? What is Markus Wheaton without Ben Roethlisberger?

There are LOTS of quarterback-made receivers who turn to spit if they lose their QB.

 

[DandyDon1722]

I think his analysis of 1st rounders is a bit incomplete. We've actually had great success with first rounders from 2009-2015 (assuming Byron works out). We had one major bust (Claiborne), and we didn't have a first round pick in '09 which skews the data. Probably best to look at first round picks from 2010-2015 due to that since Dez, Tyron, Fred and Martin has performed well as they have earned 9 Pro Bowls between them.

To me, the bigger issue is the 2nd round picks. We've offset our issues in rounds 3-7 with great UDFA pickups, but the 2nd round picks need to be high quality starters and Pro Bowlers and we've struggled miserably from there.

YR

That's all pretty much true Rich but I wouldn't necessarily call Mo a major bust - yet. He settled down a bit last year and wasn't bad. I expect him to build some confidence from that and from the fact that he stayed relatively healthy. While certainly that's not what you want from a player that you traded up to get in the first round, if he can contribute and earn a contract next year and dare I say be solid, it could mitigate the major bust label.

 

[gimmesix]

We've been hearing this for years. It's a pretty convenient way to actually dodge any criticism of the draft, if you think about it. The average NFL career is slightly over 3 years. By the time you are done "evaluating" the draft, the player will more than likely be out of the league or on another team. This isn't the Tom Landry era. Kids start learning concepts in the pony league that they take with them to the pros. High schools have pro caliber facilities now. The physical curve isn't nearly what it used to be and with technology being implemented the way it is, the mental curve is much, much lower.

Just because it's convenient doesn't mean it isn't accurate.

Lawrence was hurt most of his rookie year, then had two sacks in the playoffs and led the team with eight sacks last year. Now, he's suspended for four games. Are you ready to call his career a bust?

Gregory didn't accomplish much of nothing last year after being injured in his first game. Now, he's suspended for four games. Are you ready to call his career a bust?

This is why I based the data on second contracts. I think by then you can tell if the team feels it was successful in drafting a player that early or not.

 

[Plankton]

Post first-rounders in recent years:

The problem was that the offensive line was ignored for far too long. Now the pass rush is the issue, and suspensions have derailed the process there.

 

[BigStar]

I agree, but what is Julian Edelman without Tom Brady? What is Devante Adams without Aaron Rodgers? What is Markus Wheaton without Ben Roethlisberger?

There are LOTS of quarterback-made receivers who turn to spit if they lose their QB.

Our point again, you can't point to some players and value them as good players IF...they're talented or not, and should be judged on that aspect when your #1 QB is out. Our group got their shot last year and didn't do well to say it politely. The teams you mentioned above win w/o their #1 QBs too Look to post above to explain why that is...

 

[Plankton]

The 2009 draft was absolutely, unequivocally HORRENDOUS!

Jerry thought he was Bill Walsh and Jimmy Johnson moving up and down the draft board to collect multiple picks. We selected 12 guys, and I don't think any of them are still in the league.

But I can remember posters hailing the draft savvy of Jones and saying virtually the same things they've said about this draft - seeing hope despite evidence to the contrary.

By the way, did anyone connected with that draft get fired?

 

[the_h0wey]

Dez. Witten. Beasley. Williams.

When healthy, that is far more than adequate.

Adequate yes. Elite far from it. I'd be very surprised if Terrance, BodyCatch, Williams gets a second contract from us. The small amount of success he has had is a product of him playing with Tony Romo as his quarterback. I must have forgot Jason Witten is a Wide Receiver which is the position we were talking about.