Defining a good draft choice

[gimmesix]

Making the right selections in the NFL Draft is difficult because there are so many factors involved in success, but no matter how DeMarcus Lawrence turns out, it's stuff like this that makes me believe he was a good choice by Dallas:

No one helped himself more than Lawrence following his rookie season, according to the program’s grading system. He is listed at 265, five pounds heavier than last season. But his biggest improvement was leg strength – a vital trait for a pass rusher’s quick first step. He raised his vertical leap by three and a half inches, and his 10-yard split time was faster than any defensive lineman on the team.

 

[jazzcat22]

That brings up an interesting point. Players selected vs players not selected. And how fans react. Or Rue...LOL...

Many times we read that a team has targeted players or had them on their draft board. But the way it all unfolds, they do not or can not draft those players.
I seen a comment where a fan said he likes it when players we had targeted end up on other teams and do well. It is because our scouts are doing a good job in recognizing talent. So we should feel good about the players they bring in here.

Now no team will hit on every player. They can not sign all the good players, or have pro bowl players at every positon or depth. Though many think that should be the case here...LOL...But our FO been having more hits than misses. However, I bet more fans will complain about us not getting these players as opposed to thinking our FO are identifying good players.

I am talking about players that aren't on a top 50 list or even a top 100 list.

 

[JBS]

Let's make one thing clear...by no means has Lawrence proved to be a good choice...not at this moment in time...this team put a lot of resources into acquiring him...the expectations for him this season are high...he needs to prove it on the field

 

[Doomsday101]

Day of the draft I think a good pick is defined by where a particular player is selected. It tends to be a matter of personal views as different teams place different values on a particular player. I seriously doubt all draft boards look the same in how team rate certain individual.

To me what makes a good draft choice is simple it is the production you get out of the players you picked. For me once the draft is over, I don't care if you are #1 pick or some 7th rd pick if you can come in produce and help your team to me that is all that matters.

 

[Proximo]

I tend to put less emphasis on which round guys are drafted in and more on their development once they're wearing the star.

Now, naturally I want the guys that cost us more to pan out more, as it's more of a setback if they fail (yes, Morris Claiborne).

Generally speaking though, I couldn't care less if we find our stars in the 1st round, or UDFA.

The Cowboys definitely deserve some credit for the last few years worth of personnel decisions. We basically managed a rebuild/overhaul without bottoming out completely. That's not easy.

 

[erod]

Nobody really cares in five years what round a guy was drafted in.

Did you get impactful players or not? That's the measure.

 

[Vinnie2u]

Nobody really cares in five years what round a guy was drafted in.

Did you get impactful players or not? That's the measure.

The bean counters are the one that care.. a first round starter is more expensive then a 7th round starter.. Good lower round picks are cheap roster fillers..

 

[Doomsday101]

The bean counters are the one that care.. a first round starter is more expensive then a 7th round starter.. Good lower round picks are cheap roster fillers..

True but thankfully now that there is a rookie cap in place those 1st rd picks come at a much cheaper price.

 

[jazzcat22]

Nobody really cares in five years what round a guy was drafted in.

Did you get impactful players or not? That's the measure.

Yes they do care...as many will still bring up that Escobar was picked in the 2nd round.
Rather he is a decent to very good TE or an all pro...it will be brought up.

But I get your point, we shouldn't and don't care that Romo was an UDFA at this point. Only that he plays great. We don't care that Dez was a 1st round pick, only that he continues to produce.

 

[Doc50]

I tend to put less emphasis on which round guys are drafted in and more on their development once they're wearing the star.

Now, naturally I want the guys that cost us more to pan out more, as it's more of a setback if they fail (yes, Morris Claiborne).

Generally speaking though, I couldn't care less if we find our stars in the 1st round, or UDFA.

The Cowboys definitely deserve some credit for the last few years worth of personnel decisions. We basically managed a rebuild/overhaul without bottoming out completely. That's not easy.

As with any investment, you'd want the ROI index to be favorable, as defined by the FO. Make no mistake, that's exactly what they routinely do, in order to get the best bang for the buck, and build the best team possible under the cap. They absolutely must hit on some low round or UDFA choices in order to do this, and thank God we have. To go along with that, there has to be some wise decision making on those players who have risen to star status, and are commanding a potential bank-breaking and/or progress-stopping salary if we keep them.

I see evidence that Steve and Jerry have learned their lessons, and have implemented strategies to spend wisely.
You can look around the league and find perpetual subpar teams whose FO has not figured this out.

 

[Proximo]

As with any investment, you'd want the ROI index to be favorable, as defined by the FO. Make no mistake, that's exactly what they routinely do, in order to get the best bang for the buck, and build the best team possible under the cap. They absolutely must hit on some low round or UDFA choices in order to do this, and thank God we have. To go along with that, there has to be some wise decision making on those players who have risen to star status, and are commanding a potential bank-breaking and/or progress-stopping salary if we keep them.

I see evidence that Steve and Jerry have learned their lessons, and have implemented strategies to spend wisely.
You can look around the league and find perpetual subpar teams whose FO has not figured this out.

It certainly appears as though the FO has hit their stride these past few years, no doubt. I cringe at the thought of being bottom-of-the-barrel with no hope, a la the Browns, Jags, Raiders, etc. Some of these squads look like they'll never figure it out.

 

[DFWJC]

1) Does the player help your team and by how much?
This is most important, by far.
I mean, that's the purpose oft he draft.

2) What did you pay (via draft choices and/or salary) to get him?

 

[conner01]

What round a player is taken means nothing on the field at all
But that's only part of the nfl and in that sense where you took them has some impact. At least during there rookie deals
And being able to hit on lower round picks is very important in the numbers of talented players you can add because generally you are limited with the high round picks
But in the great scheme of a players career it means nothing what round you are taken it
Someone mention fans who are happy to see a guy we targeted doing well with another team. I do that and to me that's a great indicator of the talent of your staff. You can't get everyone you target but it's important that you were right to target them because you were right about the talent

 

[perrykemp]

For me a good draft choice comes down to:

(A) Player productivity vs that player's peers
(B) Player productivity in relation to draft position

 

[erod]

The bean counters are the one that care.. a first round starter is more expensive then a 7th round starter.. Good lower round picks are cheap roster fillers..

You mean like Richard Sherman, Tony Romo, Barry Church, Alfred Morris, Antonio Brown, Tom Brady......?

 

[DFWJC]

The bean counters are the one that care.. a first round starter is more expensive then a 7th round starter.. Good lower round picks are cheap roster fillers..

It makes a big difference during the first contract for sure.
Less money spent on the position freeing up more cap room (and/or draft picks) for other areas. See Seattle and Wilson vs Washington and RG3 for an example..

But the bottom line is getting as many good players as you can, wherever you can find them.

 

[RS12]

It is on a case by case basis but your top three picks in any given year should make the roster and contribute worst case.

 

[sureletsrace]

What I expect from draftees:

1st round- Pro bowl player, core starter
2nd- Very solid starter
3rd- Starting quality player or great depth
4th- Depth, rotational talent, future starter
5th- Special teams ace, KR/PR, good depth, project player with high upside, rotational talent, future starter
6th- project player, specialty (K/P/FB) player, special teams ace
7th- project player, specialty player, special teams ace

I'm sure many people see it the same way. With that being said, to be a Super Bowl contender in the salary cap era, you have to get lucky and hit on some great talents and pull some "2nd round" starting quality players out of the later rounds of the draft.

The question is; do you allow some fantastic late round finds be a point of forgiveness for some early round gaffes?

 

[Doomsday101]

What I expect from draftees:

1st round- Pro bowl player, core starter
2nd- Very solid starter
3rd- Starting quality player or great depth
4th- Depth, rotational talent, future starter
5th- Special teams ace, KR/PR, good depth, project player with high upside, rotational talent, future starter
6th- project player, specialty (K/P/FB) player, special teams ace
7th- project player, specialty player, special teams ace

I'm sure many people see it the same way. With that being said, to be a Super Bowl contender in the salary cap era, you have to get lucky and hit on some great talents and pull some "2nd round" starting quality players out of the later rounds of the draft.

The question is; do you allow some fantastic late round finds be a point of forgiveness for some early round gaffes?

Sometimes it is not a gaffe just a player who never panned out despite being a consensus top pick. As many have said over the years the draft is a crap shoot.
I think the list you posted is how many see it and I don’t think it is wrong in theory but the reality shows us guys who are Top picks who just never pan out and yet HOF players like a 6th rd pick Tom Brady.

 

[AbeBeta]

Let's make one thing clear...by no means has Lawrence proved to be a good choice...not at this moment in time...this team put a lot of resources into acquiring him...the expectations for him this season are high...he needs to prove it on the field

Sure - but in Lawrence we've got a guy who we've seen approaching things correctly. He got hurt early but managed to use the time to put on weight during the season. He got in seven regular season games and contributed a bit in each. Then he started to put things together in the playoffs. Now we are hearing he really killed it in the off-season in terms of getting a bigger and faster.

Arrow certainly is trending up on this kid.