Cowboys lock up top 8 pick, could go as high as second overall

[JoeyBoy718]

Found an article on BTB stating this. Not sure about the link policy so I won't post it but you could find it if you just paste the title of this thread. There are two 3-win teams and three 4-win teams. According to BTB (though, for some reason, strength of schedule seems to vary on every website) we have a .529 strength of schedule, well ahead of of San Fran (.552) and slightly behind San Diego (.523). Maybe we could even jump San Diego if we both lose since we're so close. Not really sure if it's possible but it might be. We're probably only one win ahead of them. We just have to hope the majority of teams we played this season lose. No way we jump Tennessee even if they lose. Their strength of schedule is .492. But we could jump Cleveland if they manage to beat Pittsburgh. Cleveland strength of schedule is .536. However, if we win and all the 5-win teams lose (Jacksonville, Miami, Baltimore) we'd certainly drop to #8 because their strength of schedules are much lower than ours. So, there you have it. It's official, kind of. We'll be picking 2-8 in the draft.

 

[bayeslife]

A top 5 pick is the only thing that will make this disgusting season worthwhile.

 

[Vinnie2u]

A top 5 pick is the only thing that will make this disgusting season worthwhile.

A QB of the Future and Stud Running back in the first 2 rounds will make it all better.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

A QB of the Future and Stud Running back in the first 2 rounds will make it all better.

Yep. People keep talking about going defense early in the draft but our defense actually looks good. And I imagined they'd create more turnovers if we had leads over teams and forced teams to become desperate. What's clear is we sorely lack offensive talent besides Tony, Dez and the OL. I wouldn't mind going QB in the 1st and RB in the 2nd. Or even if we prefer a guy like Wentz, we can trade back 10-15 spots, pick up a bunch of extra picks, and still get our top QB and RB.

 

[BigDave95]

Can we catch the Chargers on SOS if we both lose?

 

[DallasCowboys2080]

Yep. People keep talking about going defense early in the draft but our defense actually looks good. And I imagined they'd create more turnovers if we had leads over teams and forced teams to become desperate. What's clear is we sorely lack offensive talent besides Tony, Dez and the OL. I wouldn't mind going QB in the 1st and RB in the 2nd. Or even if we prefer a guy like Wentz, we can trade back 10-15 spots, pick up a bunch of extra picks, and still get our top QB and RB.

this! exactly! all these folks who think our defense is an issue need to heed this language. our defense is dependent on our offense. its always been that way. we cant score many points and our defense wont be able to hold on for long.

 

[pjtoadie]

Can we catch the Chargers on SOS if we both lose?

They play Denver while we play Washington so I think they would have to win and us to lose to catch them....

 

[Manwiththeplan]

though, for some reason, strength of schedule seems to vary on every website

There's a reason for that. Some sites will use SOS for the entire season, including games that have not been played yet. Some sites will only do week 1-16, leaving week 17 out.

The first option is typically more accurate.

 

[KJJ]

A top 5 pick is the only thing that will make this disgusting season worthwhile.

Only if it results in picking a solid player that helps the team. Making a selection in the top 5 that turns out to be a bust will set us back and add insult to injury.

 

[gimmesix]

Yep. People keep talking about going defense early in the draft but our defense actually looks good. And I imagined they'd create more turnovers if we had leads over teams and forced teams to become desperate. What's clear is we sorely lack offensive talent besides Tony, Dez and the OL. I wouldn't mind going QB in the 1st and RB in the 2nd. Or even if we prefer a guy like Wentz, we can trade back 10-15 spots, pick up a bunch of extra picks, and still get our top QB and RB.

Not sure I want a guy that I can get by trading 10-15 spots back. That's about where we draft in an 8-8 year. I want a guy who is a bona fide top-five talent while we have a top-five pick. Why waste the opportunity by getting the 12th- to 15th-best player?

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Not sure I want a guy that I can get by trading 10-15 spots back. That's about where we draft in an 8-8 year. I want a guy who is a bona fide top-five talent while we have a top-five pick. Why waste the opportunity by getting the 12th- to 15th-best player?

I don't necessarily want us to trade back. I was talking more in the case that we prefer Wentz over Goff/Lynch. But in that case, I'd rather we go BPA with our 1st and trade back up into the 1st round to get Wentz. There's definitely a lot of elite defensive talent in this draft (a few DBs, a few LBs, a DE, a DT). However, there might not be much top 5 offensive talent outside of OL which we already have a lot of.

 

[rockj7]

Those wins against Miami and the Skins did us in for top pick

 

[Staubacher]

A QB of the Future and Stud Running back in the first 2 rounds will make it all better.

No it won't. We would still have a lousy secondary, mediocre pass rush, and bad coaching.

 

[Staubacher]

Not sure I want a guy that I can get by trading 10-15 spots back. That's about where we draft in an 8-8 year. I want a guy who is a bona fide top-five talent while we have a top-five pick. Why waste the opportunity by getting the 12th- to 15th-best player?

Yup you get the best player available in the top 5, regardless of position.

This team is not one position away from being good.

 

[Doc50]

this! exactly! all these folks who think our defense is an issue need to heed this language. our defense is dependent on our offense. its always been that way. we cant score many points and our defense wont be able to hold on for long.

An extremely depleted offense logged approx. 250 rushing yards against the Boys yesterday.

When trying to assure value in a top pick, The best blue-chip bet is OL, followed by DT (specifically NT or 1-tech).

There's some nice DT choices in the top 20; if we have similar grades on them, we could swap 1st's, get another high pick, and still get a top DT.

It's time to upgrade the interior DL.

 

[chagus]

Yep. People keep talking about going defense early in the draft but our defense actually looks good. And I imagined they'd create more turnovers if we had leads over teams and forced teams to become desperate. What's clear is we sorely lack offensive talent besides Tony, Dez and the OL. I wouldn't mind going QB in the 1st and RB in the 2nd. Or even if we prefer a guy like Wentz, we can trade back 10-15 spots, pick up a bunch of extra picks, and still get our top QB and RB.

No, but... wait! Our defense was horrible!!! lol!!! anyhoooo.... I'd hope the FO would bring in some WR as well.

 

[Cebrin]

What about WR and TE? A far bigger necessity than RB early, imo. Truth here is, Jason Witten might be an iron man, but he is as slow as a snail climbing a mountain. He gets open by being an excellent route runner, but is immediately tackled. Teams are now covering him with LB's instead of safeties, because he has little to no uphill threat. We need a stand up TE who can get down field like a WR. This would allow those twin TE packages to be far more effective (Let Jason block and bounce off if needed), and force safety coverage on a TE, allowing your WR 1-1 coverage. Maybe Escobar could be that guy if they'd just give him snaps, and remove Jason Garretts horrible playbook. Now go grab Laquon Treadwell, and watch the offense explode.

 

[gimmesix]

I don't necessarily want us to trade back. I was talking more in the case that we prefer Wentz over Goff/Lynch. But in that case, I'd rather we go BPA with our 1st and trade back up into the 1st round to get Wentz. There's definitely a lot of elite defensive talent in this draft (a few DBs, a few LBs, a DE, a DT). However, there might not be much top 5 offensive talent outside of OL which we already have a lot of.

Looks like a DE/OLB or a DB is the best bet (other than OT) to be there. I'm not as keen on those positions over others, but I could live with either if it makes us better. For that matter, I could live with an OT even though that position isn't anywhere near the top of my list.

My preferences are DT, RB, WR, QB, S and there might be two players total in that group among the top five and three in the top 10. However, I'd take the best OLB in a heartbeat over the best RB with warts or a top-five corner over a receiver not in the top 10. ... We just need to hit this pick out of the park.

I do agree that we could trade up for a more clear need with the second-round pick. I know we have several needs but I would rather cover a few gaping holes with vastly talented players than pick up several marginally talent players. Of course, finding the actual vastly talented players can be hit and miss ... which I strongly believe we need to supplement this draft class with a strong FA haul.

 

[DallasCowboys2080]

An extremely depleted offense logged approx. 250 rushing yards against the Boys yesterday.

When trying to assure value in a top pick, The best blue-chip bet is OL, followed by DT (specifically NT or 1-tech).

There's some nice DT choices in the top 20; if we have similar grades on them, we could swap 1st's, get another high pick, and still get a top DT.

It's time to upgrade the interior DL.

i can buy that. however first pick should be either RB or QB than every other pressing need after that.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Looks like a DE/OLB or a DB is the best bet (other than OT) to be there. I'm not as keen on those positions over others, but I could live with either if it makes us better. For that matter, I could live with an OT even though that position isn't anywhere near the top of my list.

My preferences are DT, RB, WR, QB, S and there might be two players total in that group among the top five and three in the top 10. However, I'd take the best OLB in a heartbeat over the best RB with warts or a top-five corner over a receiver not in the top 10. ... We just need to hit this pick out of the park.

I do agree that we could trade up for a more clear need with the second-round pick. I know we have several needs but I would rather cover a few gaping holes with vastly talented players than pick up several marginally talent players. Of course, finding the actual vastly talented players can be hit and miss ... which I strongly believe we need to supplement this draft class with a strong FA haul.

I like the DT from Alabama. A 320+ pounder with pass rushing ability. There are a lot of guys I like who will probably go in the second half of the 1st round (QB Wentz, Bama DT, RB Henry, even DT Nkemdiche if he drops for off the field issues). Wouldn't mind if we could use our top 5 pick to trade back and snag two of those guys.