Cowboys chose between Mazi Smith and Steve Avila in the 1st round

[big dog cowboy]

Cowboys had many chances in Rounds 2, 3 and 4 to draft a Guard, but they didn't. Tells you they actually felt differently about any hole at Guard.

Boom!

 

[Ken]

I think there’s some confusion here. Cowboys build their boards based on tape, injuries, scouting reports, interviews, etc. These “experts” that cover the draft don’t have millions invested in scouting players. They don’t do interviews. They look at tape and determine how good someone is based on their eye test.

So Mel Kiper will see a player different than a whole scouting department.

It’s why Kiper has Gibbs as a late 1st early 2nd and he goes 12 to Lions. The boards you are referencing are not going to compare to professional teams.

Right.

And everyone is sitting here thinking it is Avilia they are talking about as the Guard but it sure sounds like the liked Bergeron more.

Also, Laporta apparently was the TE they liked the most....so who knows.

 

[Big_D]

i dont see any pass rush traits but i will give Mcclay the benefit of the doubt.

He’s here to occupy blockers but he comes into a completely different world of playmakers that the opposition needs to worry about. His presence should increase the pressure from every direction. And in time he will get his.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Right.

And everyone is sitting here thinking it is Avilia they are talking about as the Guard but it sure sounds like the liked Bergeron more.

Also, Laporta apparently was the TE they liked the most....so who knows.

Yep. They had Laporta as their best tight end. And I know people want to knock them because they feel they know more but they can’t because the Cowboys draft well.

And I agree I don’t think Avila was the play I think it was Bergeron.

 

[cnuball21]

Scheme fit is a big part of it. Also, why would you take a guy that high when you have a huge need for a comparable player at DT? I personally want no part of any more edges in that room.

That is the one thing we definitely don't need more of.

Scheme fit is always a big part of it. But Murphy is a perfect fit for our scheme. He’s an above average run defender right now and has the tools to develop into absolute stud. Also has inside flex pass rush downs.

You don’t just draft for this year. He adds pass rush juice year 1 and gets you out of Tanks contract.

 

[beware_d-ware]

Shoot, if we want a pass rusher, I don't know why we wouldn't go Nolan Smith.

At 6'2" 238, had a better 40 time, broad, and vertical than Bijan.

 

[Stash]

Didnt see this video before. Think this alone should be enough to trust in the Mazi pick. McClay said there hasn't been a DT rated this high in quite some time but they've seen plenty of similarly rated guards.

And I love that they trusted McClay and went with the recommendations of he and the scouts.

If only they had done the same with TJ Watt.

But I will praise them for learning from past mistakes and doing the right thing now.

 

[Big_D]

Scheme fit is always a big part of it. But Murphy is a perfect fit for our scheme. He’s an above average run defender right now and has the tools to develop into absolute stud. Also has inside flex pass rush downs.

You don’t just draft for this year. He adds pass rush juice year 1 and gets you out of Tanks contract.

It’s a fully guaranteed contract, there’s nothing to get out of.

 

[goshann]

This all but confirms we’re building our board for need and not talent.

Lol everyone does
Let it go

 

[Hadenough]

No problem with this draft! Only one question mark and that's why TE was taken in 2nd. I thought Ferguson was the guy to replace Schultz.

 

[Ken]

Scheme fit is always a big part of it. But Murphy is a perfect fit for our scheme. He’s an above average run defender right now and has the tools to develop into absolute stud. Also has inside flex pass rush downs.

You don’t just draft for this year. He adds pass rush juice year 1 and gets you out of Tanks contract.

I just think they valued the middle the most and I love that.

They got a few talented undrafted options on the edge...who knows.

 

[cnuball21]

I think there’s some confusion here. Cowboys build their boards based on tape, injuries, scouting reports, interviews, etc. These “experts” that cover the draft don’t have millions invested in scouting players. They don’t do interviews. They look at tape and determine how good someone is based on their eye test.

So Mel Kiper will see a player different than a whole scouting department.

It’s why Kiper has Gibbs as a late 1st early 2nd and he goes 12 to Lions. The boards you are referencing are not going to compare to professional teams.

Of course not. But more often not our best picks are guys that slide that we’re able to draft later than we expected. I’d argue some of our best picks are players taken later than their consensus rankings.

Lamb
Diggs
Martin
Lewis

 

[mardwin]

Yeah McClay was pushing for Mazi.

I trust McClay on drafting players.

 

[cnuball21]

It’s a fully guaranteed contract, there’s nothing to get out of.

You could trade him and acquire more picks or could save 10 million as a post June cut after this season.

 

[Risen Star]

I trust McClay on drafting players.

I don't.

 

[KJJ]

I just watched the Dallas Cowboys draft show, and they have some video of the discussion in the war room right before the 26th pick. It turns out the Cowboys were not discussing tight ends. They were choosing between Steve Avila and Mazi Smith. Will McClay recommended Mazi Smith because it had been a long time since they had such a high rated DT on their board, and the rest of the people in the room came around to support his recommendation. As you know, Avila was the 3rd pick in the 2nd round, #34 overall. The Cowboys were not considering O'Cyrus Torrence in round 1.

Right before the 26th pick Buffalo moved ahead of them and took Dalton Kincaid. I’m sure they probably knew Buffalo was moving up for him, so they had to start discussing other players.

 

[gtb1943]

I think the boys were really kind of split on TE. Them claiming La Porta was their guy all along is frankly questionable especially how they then talked up Schoon.
Mazi was the guy most were fixated on for many reasons and I can see why and in the end I have no problem with it.
The TE in the second round I do; they talked ad nauseum about blocking and they could have done as well later in the draft.
I think there were several good guards we could have gotten in the 2nd and I think they are looking at our current OL situation with rose colored glasses by relying on Tyron as they are. Tyler having to move to LT leaves a BIG hole at LG and I think they will rue not getting one in the 2nd.

 

[conner01]

I love it. Avila was the one player that I really wanted. I’m happy with Mazi but would have been happy with Avila. The zone would have complaibed though. Not nearly sexy enough and they would have thought it was a reach and we should have waited and got him at 59 (lol)

I’ll take talent over sexy but you are right. What I loved about Avila is he is an everydown guy who helps run and pass game. If you want to run the football the answer is not a RB, it’s an oline

 

[gimmesix]

I like the Mazi pick, but I would have gone Torrence in 2nd round. Apparently McClay and staff didn’t think he was right fit or something.

I believe that they wanted to take advantage of a heavy group of tight ends that caused players who may have ended up being late-first or early-second-round picks otherwise to be lower rated. The guard group wasn't as strong at the top as the tight end group, so some tight ends got pushed down in value while some guards were overvalued (kind of like QBs are every year).

It might seem with a strong group that you'd be willing to wait until later and instead pick one of the best players from a weaker group, but that's not true value IMO.

 

[cmoney23]

Not trying to be negative Nancy here, but..

The general consensus seems to be.. most people “like” or call Mazi a good pick. Exp since we haven’t used a 1st Rd pick on a DT in like 3 decades. And to be clear I Like Mazi too, as DT has been a need for some time. Unfortunately, and I hope I’m wrong.. I just didn’t see this Dominant force in the middle via his highlights. I recognize his frame and strength.. hell, I even recognize his potential to rush the passer by polishing his technique. I’m having trouble seeing him being a starter Day 1. I think he’ll have to mold into a quality starter.

That said, I do believe Avila could have been Day 1 starter at LG. And if Bergeron was the debate, we’ll I’m not sure how I feel about that either

At the end of the day, this NFL draft as a whole was underwhelming for me. So I suppose we’ll see what we have soon enough. We normally criticize Jerry for the bad picks and praise McClay for the good picks.. This one is on McClay. And I’m hopeful.

I liked Voch's video on him:

Check it out.