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Draft day is steadily approaching. Before I head off to Chicago for the festivities, I got down to brass tacks with my fellow BTB colleagues about what they want at fourth overall.
It's been discussed ad nauseum since before the NFL season actually even ended. Actually, nowadays, the NFL season really never ends. Picking at four has its advantages but sometimes we tend to overthink what to do. When will the Cowboys pick this high again? It's not very likely that happens anytime soon with Tony Romo and Dez Bryant back and healthy. We've been over the many options for the Cowboys and now Christmas Day is right around the corner. That's why I posed this question to our colleagues:
What do you want the Dallas Cowboys to do with the fourth overall pick? Who are you picking and why? If you're a trader, who are your target(s)?
Dave Halprin: Take Jalen Ramsey. The Cowboys need to rebuild their secondary (along with their defensive line) and they started that process with Byron Jones. Add another piece in Ramsey, a piece many people consider to be the best player in this draft.
Joey Ickes: I'm taking Jalen Ramsey. With the Rams and Eagles likely moving up for a QB, it pushes Laremy Tunsil to SD at 3 overall, leaving a path for Ramsey to make it to Dallas. Ramsey is EXACTLY the kind of player they need to add on defense, from a playmaking standpoint as well as an attitude and mentality standpoint. If something goes weird and Ramsey goes top-3, I'm gonna take Zeke.
One.Cool.Customer: I initially wanted Myles Jack, but with the lukewarm reports about Jack's knee, I'm reconsidering my position:
After the Titans-Rams/ Browns-Eagles trades which ensures that the top two picks will be QBs, the Cowboys may be sitting at the most interesting spot in the draft. There are two players left that are likely to garner trade interest from other teams: Jalen Ramsey or Laremy Tunsil, and one of them will be available at No.4.
If I'm the Cowboys, I begin soliciting trade offers today to cover each of those eventualities, so that I'm ready to go on draft day. I trade down immediately if Tunsil is left. I'd consider drafting Ramsey if he's still available, but if I get a good enough offer, I'm trading down regardless. I don't know where that trade would take me, but if I can get someone like DeForest Buckner, Shaq Lawson, Ezekiel Elliot, Laquon Treadwell or Sheldon Rankins by trading down, and get an extra pick or two on day two, that's what I'm doing.
Duckman: Short and sweet, give me Jalen Ramsey.
Tom Ryle: My opinion has completely changed with recent developments. Prior to the Philadelphia trade up to the number two spot, I was strongly in the Jalen Ramsey camp, then trade back, with Ezekiel Elliott as a fallback if there was no trade partner. QB was a consideration, I just did not see there being a good chance of there being one that the Cowboys liked and that would make it to four.
Now, I have to think that there is really very little chance of a quarterback being there at four since both the Rams and the Eagles have stated they are taking QBs at one and two. And with disturbing rumors swirling about a possible suspension for DeMarcus Lawrence, the idea of trading back is now my first choice. The problem there is finding a trade partner since obviously two of the main contenders have already pulled the trigger. Countering that is that Laremy Tunsil, Jalen Ramsey, Joey Bosa, Myles Jack, Ezekiel Elliott, and one of the top three quarterbacks are all going to be in play. Those options, plus possibly others, may lure someone to come up to four. That would be my first choice.
If they simply cannot find a trade partner, then I have switched my preference on who to take. I would grab Elliott if he is still on the board. At this point, I just see him as the surest bet to succeed. It would be an unconventional choice, but with the most benefits this season.
And all that may completely change in a week. It is shaping up to be an insane draft.
Jim Scott: If they think Paxton Lynch is a legitimate franchise guy they have to take him. If not, give me Ramsey. But I'm legitimately unsure. Lynch is my least favorite of the top three.
Danny Phantom: Jalen Ramsey has been #1 on my board for a long time. I've conditioned myself to the idea that the Cowboys don't have a realistic shot at him so I have been trying to find love for others. But with the recent LA/TEN trade, this changes things. We now know that Ramsey will not go #1 which means he only has to slip by two other teams to make it to Dallas. And with Tunsil back in the mix for the two teams to choose from, this increases the Cowboys chances of having a shot at the best player in the draft.
If Ramsey is not available, there stands a good shot that Tunsil has fallen to the Cowboys. I've heard some fans talk about taking him to complete the assembling of the greatest offensive line ever in professional football. While that may be true, I want no part of that. It's a waste of resources and a player like Tunsil wouldn't improve this position group as much as another great college player would improve his position group. So, if Tunsil is sitting there at four for Dallas, the front office better get on the horn and work out the best trade-back deal they can. Ideally, I would like to move back only a few spots so the Cowboys can still land one of the blue-chip players in the draft. And at that point, players like Ezekiel Elliott, Vernon Hargreaves III, and Deforest Buckner become prime targets for me.
Over the last few years, I've felt like the Cowboys have gotten lucky with snagging a great first round talent. Whether it be a team passing up on Zack Martin or La'el Collins gift wrapped for us as a UDFA, the Boys keep hitting the jackpot. Having a "planet player" like Jalen Ramsey fall into the laps of the Cowboys would be yet another Yahtzee for them.
Ryan Ratty: I'm a little late, but I'm now saying Jalen Ramsey. I thought it was going to be Joey Bosa for the longest time, not what I wanted, but I think the latest trade makes Ramsey to the Cowboys more viable. I also think he's the best player in this class not named Laremy Tunsil so why not pick the man?!
Well, there you have it. It looks as though there is a prevailing notion to just take the best player at four and his name all along has been Jalen Ramsey. Load up the secondary and hang on for four games until the rushmen return.
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