Excellent 'Two like' post. For me i'd add that our immediate focus should be on an O-Line, which will aid 'any' QB, the 'true' stretegic point to Moneyball, creating the sum via it's parts, not thr from individual.....after all where would Dak be now if he wasnt introduced to the NFL behind the 2016 O-Line (and supported by Zeke behind him).
I'm often a fan of taking a C early. Thought last year was the year to take a big, athletic C/G who was still something of a project. He'd have a year to get up to speed and we'd have a year to evaluate him.
This year, we're practically forced to take C in the 1st if we want starting quality.
But I wonder. If the goal this year is to get Dak to ask for a trade, refusing to backfill Biadasz with a competent C would be a nice added shove in the back to Dak.
"where would Dak be now w/o the 2016 oline + Zeke?"
Yep. Could have ended up a career backup. As Romo could have. Maybe even Brady. This is not a dig at any of them. This is respect for the downroster QBs across the league who *don't* get the chance. So easy to get cut, and then bounce around the league learning new systems and never really get the snaps to do it.
Cooper is PS level as a talent. But sticking with us for years turned him into a good backup bus driver. If he had bounced around the league, maybe he never even makes a game day roster.
I've been convinced for years that there are a lot more competent QBs out there than there are starting slots for them to fill. Hence my reticence for the team signing Dak to big money. And I actually think he's pretty close, and has a decent shot of making it over the hump.
But my preferred strategy is to keep cheap QBs coming, particularly ones that can run, and have them run to bump up their on the field production. If we're not in the hole for 100mil+ in dead cap in case of injury, we can afford the risk of running them. Big advantage in getting the most out of a player.