DMN Blog: Cowboys focus on draft over free agency

[Hoofbite]

Its a talented team, how many first year starters did you expect we'd draft?

Wasn't sure many would start but you can almost bet that such a talented team wasn't going to have a dozen rookies making the team.

 

[gimmesix]

Wasn't sure many would start but you can almost bet that such a talented team wasn't going to have a dozen rookies making the team.

It should be tougher this year for rookies to make the team because of last year's class. We upgraded our talent base, so I wouldn't expect us to trade down and pile up picks this year.

These position groups are full:

QB (Romo, Kitna, McGee)
RB (Jones, Barber, Choice)
TE (Witten, Bennett, Phillips)
OLB (Ware, Spencer, Butler, B. Williams, Johnson)

You could also make a case for ILB (Brooking, James, Carpenter, J. Williams, Hodge), but it wouldn't surprise me if Dallas drafts another linebacker because the position is a staple in the 3-4 and the depth is unproven.

The failure of Mike Mickens leaves us with an open spot at CB (Jenkins, Newman, Scandrick, Ball). So that's 1 opening.

We've got a full load at safety (K. Hamlin, Sensabaugh, M. Hamlin, Watkins), but considering we also brought in DeAngelo Smith last year (and for other reasons), I think we can safely say Dallas wants to at least upgrade the depth here with 1 player.

We could be set at nose tackle with Ratliff, Siavii, but if the opportunity presents itself to upgrade the depth, I wouldn't be surprised.

Same at defensive end (Spears, Olshansky, Bowen, Hatcher). We don't have to upgrade and might not add anyone at the position.

On offense, it's doubtful we'll do anything at fullback since we have Anderson and Phillips sharing that role.

Maybe we'll add a receiver, possibly more of a return man, but we're flush at that position too with Austin, Williams, Crayton, Ogletree and Hurd. The return specialist likely would compete for Hurd's spot, unless the player is a DB. Let's go with 1 here.

Then, our biggest need is probably offensive line, even though restricted free agency and last year's additions leave us pretty full here, too. I'd say at least 2 linemen will be brought in to compete for backup spots and future starting roles with Free and Brewster considered pretty much locks to take two roster spots.

Could also add 1 kicker because of Folk's surprising flameout, but it really doesn't seem to me that Dallas is leaning that way, instead trying to turn Buehler into an all-around kicker.

So we definitely don't have room for 11 or 12 rookies to make this team in 2010, because of the depth we added in 2009. I think 6 picks is a reasonable number with LB, DE, NT, maybe even FB as wild cards.

 

[JohnsKey19]

Oh boy, this is what we heard last year when we ended up drafting 60 backups. No needs.

The strategy this year needs to be the exact opposite IMO. Instead of trading back and acquiring more picks in later rounds, the Cowboys should be looking to move up in each of the first 3 rounds and maybe only come out of the draft with 3-4 players, each selected in the 1st 3 rounds.

We still have Brandon Williams, Jason Williams, Michael Hamlin, Robert Brewster and Stephen Hodge from last years draft who the coaches seemed to like from what they saw last preseason. Throw in Travis Bright who had his moments as well in TC. If even half of those guys can play and show they can stick, I'm not sure it's even possible to carry another draft class to camp this season and expect any more than 3-4 players to make the 53 man roster.

 

[gimmesix]

The strategy this year needs to be the exact opposite IMO. Instead of trading back and acquiring more picks in later rounds, the Cowboys should be looking to move up in each of the first 3 rounds and maybe only come out of the draft with 3-4 players, each selected in the 1st 3 rounds.

We still have Brandon Williams, Jason Williams, Michael Hamlin, Robert Brewster and Stephen Hodge from last years draft who the coaches seemed to like from what they saw last preseason. Throw in Travis Bright who had his moments as well in TC. If even half of those guys can play and show they can stick, I'm not sure it's even possible to carry another draft class to camp this season and expect any more than 3-4 players to make the 53 man roster.

I don't mind trading the back-end picks (sixth and seventh rounds), but am not really for it. I still believe you should use all your bullets because you never know when you are going to end up with a Jay Ratliff or Patrick Crayton even, while turning a "premium" pick into a Jacob Rogers or Anthony Fasano.

Using the picks gives you a chance to have it all balance out, with maybe 3 or 4 of the 6 picks being worth keeping long term.

 

[MONT17]

when OTree is your best player... how can you be positive about the 09 draft class?