DMN Blog: Jonathan Stewart to visit Cowboys

[WoodysGirl]

Stewart to visit Cowboys

9:30 PM Thu, Mar 27, 2008 | Permalink
Albert Breer E-mail News tips

Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart is slated to come to Valley Ranch for one of the 30 pre-draft visits with out-of-area prospects allowed to the Cowboys, and every other team, something the burly back noted on Sirius NFL Radio today and we've confirmed since.

Stewart underwent turf toe surgery two weeks ago, a procedure that was supposed to sideline him for 4-6 months. People around the running back have told us since that he's fully expected to be recovered and ready to go before training camps kick off in July, which would put him at the more fortunate end of the aforementioned timetable.

Aside from the injury concern, Stewart is a truly elite prospect who was expected to tangle with Rashard Mendenhall for position behind Darren McFadden in the draft order at tailback. We profiled Stewart and Mendenhall earlier this week.

On a more important note, the Cowboys have five running backs we've confirmed to be visiting Valley Ranch, and those just so happen to be the five names we're profiling this week (Chris Johnson's look-see will appear shortly). That means This Blog is batting 1.000!!! Feel free to tell us how great we are in the comments section.

Here's the updated list of prospects coming to the Ranch, 18 of 'em now (remember, local guys like Aqib Talib are not listed because local guys don't count against the team's fixed number) ...

UNLV ILB Beau Bell
Texas A&M TE Martellus Bennett
Virginia Tech OT Duane Brown
Arizona CB Antoine Cason
Texas RB Jamaal Charles
Missouri WR Will Franklin
Virginia Tech CB Brandon Flowers
Iowa CB Charles Godfrey
Indiana WR James Hardy
East Carolina RB Chris Johnson
Arkansas RB Felix Jones
Oklahoma WR Malcolm Kelly
Troy CB Leodis McKelvin
Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall
Indiana CB Tracy Porter
USC LB Keith Rivers
Tennessee State CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart


Comments (9) Leave comment | E-mail entry

 

[InmanRoshi]

More and more, this is who I hope Dallas takes at #22 that might realistically be there. My philosophy has always been draft the guy you think is most likely to end up on the Ring of Honor with your first pick, and I believe Stewart can be a special back.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

UNLV ILB Beau Bell
Texas A&M TE Martellus Bennett
Virginia Tech OT Duane Brown
Arizona CB Antoine Cason
Texas RB Jamaal Charles
Missouri WR Will Franklin
Virginia Tech CB Brandon Flowers
Iowa CB Charles Godfrey
Indiana WR James Hardy
East Carolina RB Chris Johnson
Arkansas RB Felix Jones
Oklahoma WR Malcolm Kelly
Troy CB Leodis McKelvin
Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall
Indiana CB Tracy Porter
USC LB Keith Rivers
Tennessee State CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart

His stock is rising he might be a solid pick for us.

Maybe its just me but why are we wasting one of our visits on a TE i don't see how that position is even viable.

It seems as if the team for now has the most visits with RB and CB it will be interesting to see who else the bring in. I will guess Steve Slantotn Reggie Smith and Earl Bennet. I don't see Limas Sweed maybe the boys aren't interested i would like them to schedule a visit with Thomas also.

 

[locked&loaded]

The guys a stud. For some reason though i dont think we will take him. I think Jerruh will want the fastest guy he can get.

Weather it be, Mcfadden, Charles or chris johnson.

 

[Chief]

More and more, this is who I hope Dallas takes at #22 that might realistically be there. My philosophy has always been draft the guy you think is most likely to end up on the Ring of Honor with your first pick, and I believe Stewart can be a special back.

Good point.

Everyone keeps talking about a "complimentary" back to go with Barber. I don't like the idea of picking a part-time player in the first round.

I would rather have an every-down guy. And there's no reason why an every-down back can't be a complimentary player, too.

 

[COWBOYSNUM1]

The guys a stud. For some reason though i dont think we will take him. I think Jerruh will want the fastest guy he can get.

Weather it be, Mcfadden, Charles or chris johnson.

I hope you're wrong. If he's there @ 22, I hope we take him.

Some mock drafts have him dropping out of the 1st because of his injury. If we don't pick him @ 22, surely we will take him @ 28. ray:

 

[Next_years_Champs]

More and more, this is who I hope Dallas takes at #22 that might realistically be there. My philosophy has always been draft the guy you think is most likely to end up on the Ring of Honor with your first pick, and I believe Stewart can be a special back.

I'm with you, I really like this guy. I love the way he finishes runs and punishes the tacklers. He's plenty fast enough to score from anywhere and has a very good attitude.

Trouble is I just can't imagine him being there at #22, I hope I'm wrong but I think he will be gone.

 

[jchocolate82]

I hope you're wrong. If he's there @ 22, I hope we take him.

Some mock drafts have him dropping out of the 1st because of his injury. If we don't pick him @ 22, surely we will take him @ 28. ray:

Whatever Mock draft has this guy falling out the 1st RD i would recommend not reading them anymore cause no way in Hell does Stewart coming out of the 1st Rd with just a toe injury when McGahee was able to be drafted in the 1st coming off a majore leg injury.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Good point.

Everyone keeps talking about a "complimentary" back to go with Barber. I don't like the idea of picking a part-time player in the first round.

I would rather have an every-down guy. And there's no reason why an every-down back can't be a complimentary player, too.

Frankly, I'm kind of astounded everyone wants to go back to Jerry's philosophy of the late 90's of drafting complimentary players and projected backups with first day draft picks just to fill immediate roles.

I guess we need to find a new crop of Kendall Watkins and Sherman Williams.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Whatever Mock draft has this guy falling out the 1st RD i would recommend not reading them anymore cause no way in Hell does Stewart coming out of the 1st Rd with just a toe injury when McGahee was able to be drafted in the 1st coming off a majore leg injury.

however i would like to add that Mcgahee is from the U so him being picked in the 1st round is no surprise.

 

[Woods]

Good point.

Everyone keeps talking about a "complimentary" back to go with Barber. I don't like the idea of picking a part-time player in the first round.

I would rather have an every-down guy. And there's no reason why an every-down back can't be a complimentary player, too.

Exactly.

Let's get the BEST players, not the best complementary players. I really don't want to have a draft strategy on drafting back-ups.

 

[Sarge]

Turf toe injuries are BAD news. I'd rather not chance it on a first rounder despite his obvious talent.

 

[Stash]

Good point.

Everyone keeps talking about a "complimentary" back to go with Barber. I don't like the idea of picking a part-time player in the first round.

I would rather have an every-down guy. And there's no reason why an every-down back can't be a complimentary player, too.

Absolutely agree!

That's why I would be against Felix Jones in Round 1.

 

[ndanger]

Next thing you know they'll be bringing in Steven Colbert.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Turf toes are bad news if they're debilitating. If you're running low 4.4's at the Combine, averaging over 6.0 ypc in college, and breaking off 70 yard runs in bowl games with one they're not that bad of news.

 

[theogt]

Stewart just doesn't do it for me. He's the only one of the top backs that I'm not that excited about at all.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

Good point.

Everyone keeps talking about a "complimentary" back to go with Barber. I don't like the idea of picking a part-time player in the first round.

I would rather have an every-down guy. And there's no reason why an every-down back can't be a complimentary player, too.

You're exactly right. I think people are confusing what Dallas is looking for in a complimentary back with a third down type back. Barber will play all three downs but he's not going to hold up to the pounding he takes for very long if someone else doesn't lessen the load. Heck, I would love to get either Stewart or Mendenhall if either dropped and have them take over the Julius Jones role in its entirety, including being the starter. The Giants loss seemed to show that Barber is Vinnie Johnson. Much better lighting it up coming off the bench.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I'm with you, I really like this guy. I love the way he finishes runs and punishes the tacklers. He's plenty fast enough to score from anywhere and has a very good attitude.

Trouble is I just can't imagine him being there at #22, I hope I'm wrong but I think he will be gone.

Maybe that toe surgery will make a few teams think twice...

But you're right -- the Texans supposedly really like him.

I should add that I'm kind of like theo... I'm afraid Stewart is a big, fast, straight ahead guy who could run though college arm tackles but won't be a natural enough running back for the pros. I haven't seen enough of him to feel too strongly about it, but I'd be afraid he had a little TJ Duckett in him.

IR, you should compare him to Lynch. I know you loved Lynch last year.

 

[DFWJC]

I hope you're wrong. If he's there @ 22, I hope we take him.

Some mock drafts have him dropping out of the 1st because of his injury. If we don't pick him @ 22, surely we will take him @ 28. ray:

Can i go on record saying no chance he is there at 28? thanks

 

[TEUFELI]

Obvously, we need a RB, but I do have a problem with us using our FIRST pick in the draft to address a position that we already have a probowler at?! Was RB play what brought us down last yr? The DB talent is pretty good this yr, that means at 22 we can still prob get a good player, maybe at 28 too, and this position was definately more of a factor in our losses than RB play.

Look, he is a terrific back. To get him though, we would definately have to use our very first pick, and there is comparable talent there at 22 that fills a higher need. (db or wr) And those players wont be there probably at 28. While I think Stewart or Mendenhall would be phenomenal for us, given Barber's success, I think that we are better suited to look at two blazing fast really good backs in charles and johnson that will be available in the second.