DMN: Cowboys best/worst all-time draft picks: Quarterback

[tyke1doe]

I personally put Drew Henson ahead of Carter as far as worst draft pick for the QB position. At least Carter lead us to the playoffs. Henson was a waste of a draft pick and basically amounted to a heaping pile of pigeon guano.

We didn't draft Henson. We traded for him. Are you counting draft picks we gave up to get a player in your consideration for best/worst draft pick?

 

[tyke1doe]

Glenn Carano, our second-round pick in 1977, was a worse pick than Quincy Carter.

Carano started one game in his entire career. Carter was the starter on a playoff team, and he put up more yards in one game that Carano did in his career.

You need to be somebody's research assistant.

Good catch.

 

[dbair1967]

Really? You think Gil Brandt and Tom Landry would spend a second-round pick on a guy they think will be a career backup at best?

Yeah really. We had Roger Staubach in his prime and Danny White White waiting behind him. I think they had to know it was a longshot at best he'd develop into a QB that could beat either of those guys out. He was a luxury pick.

And none of that makes Carano a better draft pick.

Carter was drafted with the intention of him becoming THE guy, and we traded picks away to mvoe up and get him.

Michael Irvin was a drugged out bonehead, too. Does that make him a worse draft pick than Mike Sherrard? Was Leon Lett a worse draft pick than Darren Benson?

Irvin and Lett dont belong in any conversation with Carter. They were elite players at their positions who worked extensively hard to make the team better. Nobody ever accused Carter of working too hard.

What Carter did on the field as a drugged out bonehead was much, much better than what Carano did as a sober stiff.

Carter got on the field because we didnt have anyone else. We even cut the guy who was supposed to start ahead of him before he ever took a snap here. Carano was ultimately a wasted pick, but he wasnt even expected to be the guy. There's certainly no shame in not being able to get on the field ahead of Roger Staubach and Danny White.

 

[speedkilz88]

Steve Walsh does not belong on this list for 3 reasons.

1. He beat the Commanders in our only victory of 1989.

2. IMO, the main reason he was brought in to begin with was to give Aikman a high profile kick in the butt, which worked bigtime. I am not saying that Troy needed it, but competition is always valuable and makes great players shine even brighter. Goal accomplished.

3. We traded him and got draft picks in return, who helped us win 3 SBs in 4 years.


I personally put Drew Henson ahead of Carter as far as worst draft pick for the QB position. At least Carter lead us to the playoffs. Henson was a waste of a draft pick and basically amounted to a heaping pile of pigeon guano.

Henson was a trade, not drafted by the Cowboys.

 

[jterrell]

Yeah really. We had Roger Staubach in his prime and Danny White White waiting behind him. I think they had to know it was a longshot at best he'd develop into a QB that could beat either of those guys out. He was a luxury pick.




Carter was drafted with the intention of him becoming THE guy, and we traded picks away to mvoe up and get him.



Irvin and Lett dont belong in any conversation with Carter. They were elite players at their positions who worked extensively hard to make the team better. Nobody ever accused Carter of working too hard.



Carter got on the field because we didnt have anyone else. We even cut the guy who was supposed to start ahead of him before he ever took a snap here. Carano was ultimately a wasted pick, but he wasnt even expected to be the guy. There's certainly no shame in not being able to get on the field ahead of Roger Staubach and Danny White.

Carano wasn't behind Staubach for every NFL team... he was drafted, never made it above 2nd string and brought us not even a conditional draft pick in return when he was gone.

In the long run it doesn't matter if Schramm felt he was a 3rd forever or not anymore than Jerry thinking of Carter as the next Randall Cunningham makes that pick better.

QCar was a bad pick but not as big a waste as Carano who did less. Nor was he as big a miss as Drew Henson or Chad Hutchinson who simply were even worse QBs as sad as that is.

Steve Walsh, btw, was NOT drafted to push Aikman. He was drafted because Jimmy and his ex-Canes staff actually liked him better than Aikman.

We gave up the 1st overall pick for Steve Walsh as we did for Aikman. for Walsh we fortunately got back a 1st and 3rd even if not the same value we gave up. so Walsh wasn't a good pick but also not the worst pick at QB.


What QCar is however, is the biggest waste of talent and future earning potential as a drafted QB. QCar would have been a journeyman QB by talent had he stayed off the drugs.

 

[AdamJT13]

Yeah really. We had Roger Staubach in his prime and Danny White White waiting behind him. I think they had to know it was a longshot at best he'd develop into a QB that could beat either of those guys out. He was a luxury pick.

And a bad one at that. After we cut him, Carano never played for another NFL team. Carter, at least, started for another team. And Carter even had a winning record over his career despite playing for bad teams.

Carter was drafted with the intention of him becoming THE guy, and we traded picks away to mvoe up and get him.

We used a late second-round pick on him. That's not a huge investment for a starting quarterback.

Irvin and Lett dont belong in any conversation with Carter.

Irvin and Lett belong in any conversation about drugged out boneheads who have played for the Cowboys.

They were elite players at their positions who worked extensively hard to make the team better.

And ended up costing the team dearly because they were drugged out boneheads.

Carter got on the field because we didnt have anyone else. We even cut the guy who was supposed to start ahead of him before he ever took a snap here.

Wait, you just claimed that Carter was drafted to be "the guy." Now you're claiming he played only because we were forced to play him? You can't have it both ways.

And even if Carter played only because we didn't have anyone else, it's pretty good that he posted a winning record and took a bad team to the playoffs as the starter.

There's certainly no shame in not being able to get on the field ahead of Roger Staubach and Danny White.

It's not that Carano couldn't beat out Staubach and White, it's that he never did anything in the NFL. Mark Brunell and Matt Hasselbeck couldn't beat out Brett Favre in Green Bay, but they went on to be successful with other teams (as did Aaron Brooks, to a lesser degree). There are are sorts of examples like that. Carano, however, isn't one of them. He was a complete washout who did next to nothing on the field.

 

[dbair1967]

Steve Walsh, btw, was NOT drafted to push Aikman. He was drafted because Jimmy and his ex-Canes staff actually liked him better than Aikman.

You bring this up at least once or twice a yr, and its been disproven over and over again. This is simply not true. Jimmy has directly talked about this and its in his book as well. He drafted them both because in his estimation hitting on a QB was a gamble and since there was no salary cap, there was no risj in "increasing the odds" of hitting on one. It was evident to everyone who was better in the very first training camp, and Walsh was destined to be traded from that time forward. It was just a matter of when and to who for how much.

 

[speedkilz88]

Didn't Carano leave the Cowboys to play in the USFL? Where the damage really came from drafting Carano was that he was the reason the Cowboys passed on Joe Montana in the 3rd round. They depth chart was Staubach, White, Carano and they didn't know that Staubach was going to retire.

 

[THUMPER]

It's not that Carano couldn't beat out Staubach and White, it's that he never did anything in the NFL. Mark Brunell and Matt Hasselbeck couldn't beat out Brett Favre in Green Bay, but they went on to be successful with other teams (as did Aaron Brooks, to a lesser degree). There are are sorts of examples like that. Carano, however, isn't one of them. He was a complete washout who did next to nothing on the field.

We selected another QB in that 1977 draft, Steve DeBerg in the 10th round. I always liked DeBerg who had the misfortune of being the guy who was always being replaced. He couldn't beat out Staubach and White in Dallas, in fact they kept Carano as the 3rd QB and let DeBerg walk. He won the starting job with the 49ERs only to lose it to Joe Montana. He left SF and went to Denver only to be pushed aside by John Elway. He was the starter in Tampa Bay when they got Steve Young. He was doing well in KC until Montana came there too.

Steve DeBerg was the best I have ever seen, outside of Unitas, at running the play-fake. He was outstanding at it! He played for some really bad teams and had a tendency to throw INTs at times but he was a good QB and I think he might have been more successful here than Danny White was but that is purely speculation.

The guy did play for 17 years and was even brought back at 44 years old to play for the Falcons, the oldest starting QB in NFL history. (Blanda played older but didn't start a game after he was 41). DeBerg had some success at various times, particularly with the Chiefs in the early 90s, but mostly he was with struggling/rebuilding teams.

 

[dbair1967]

And a bad one at that. After we cut him, Carano never played for another NFL team. Carter, at least, started for another team. And Carter even had a winning record over his career despite playing for bad teams.

I guess it doesnt matter to me as much, because Carano wasnt an embarrassment to the franchise and was never expected to be much. He was a luxury pick at a time when we had tons of draft picks.

We used a late second-round pick on him. That's not a huge investment for a starting quarterback.

But while both were 2nd rd picks, we didnt trade away other picks to move up for Carono.

Irvin and Lett belong in any conversation about drugged out boneheads who have played for the Cowboys.

In terms of drugs, maybe. Thats the extent of it though. Irvin's a hall of fame player, one of the best ever. Lett could have been and at least was an extremely dominant player. Carter was a clown on and off the field.

And ended up costing the team dearly because they were drugged out boneheads.

Their good far outweighed their bad. They helped the team win 3 super bowls and it easily could have had a 4th.

Wait, you just claimed that Carter was drafted to be "the guy." Now you're claiming he played only because we were forced to play him? You can't have it both ways.

Thats not what I was claiming at all. The guy that was ahead of him was cut so Carter could start, they saw Banks as impeding his progress.

And even if Carter played only because we didn't have anyone else, it's pretty good that he posted a winning record and took a bad team to the playoffs as the starter.

He had very little to do with us winning alot of those games and alot of times we won in spite of him.

It's not that Carano couldn't beat out Staubach and White, it's that he never did anything in the NFL. Mark Brunell and Matt Hasselbeck couldn't beat out Brett Favre in Green Bay, but they went on to be successful with other teams (as did Aaron Brooks, to a lesser degree). There are are sorts of examples like that. Carano, however, isn't one of them. He was a complete washout who did next to nothing on the field.

I'm not arguing Carano did more than Carter on the field, I'm just saying he isnt the worst pick ever with all things considered. When you factor in the expectations on Carter that the franchise had, how lousy he was on and off the field and that we traded away some picks to move up to get him, to me that makes him a tremendous black eye to the organization. Especially doing what he did (timing wise) to get cut right before preseason started on a team that had expectations to be a playoff contender again. Nobody remembs cra about Carano, but everyone remembers what a waste Carter turned out to be.

 

[THUMPER]

Didn't Carano leave the Cowboys to play in the USFL? Where the damage really came from drafting Carano was that he was the reason the Cowboys passed on Joe Montana in the 3rd round. They depth chart was Staubach, White, Carano and they didn't know that Staubach was going to retire.

Uh, no. Joe Montana was drafted in 1979, not 1977.

 

[speedkilz88]

Uh, no. Joe Montana was drafted in 1979, not 1977.

He was the reason they didn't draft Montana in 1979. They already had three qbs they liked.

 

[joseephuss]

Yeah really. We had Roger Staubach in his prime and Danny White White waiting behind him. I think they had to know it was a longshot at best he'd develop into a QB that could beat either of those guys out. He was a luxury pick.

Carter got on the field because we didnt have anyone else. We even cut the guy who was supposed to start ahead of him before he ever took a snap here. Carano was ultimately a wasted pick, but he wasnt even expected to be the guy. There's certainly no shame in not being able to get on the field ahead of Roger Staubach and Danny White.

I don't think Staubach at age 35 was in his prime. He was pretty darn good his final 3 seasons and ages 35, 36 and 37, but that was not his prime.

White was drafted in 1974 and had only attempted 20 career passes when Carano was drafted in 1977.

I think Carano was drafted to be more than just a luxury. He just never amounted to anything.

I agree that there is no shame in not being able to beat out Staubach and White; however, he did not even push White or prove to be an adequate #2 QB. That is why Dallas drafted Hogenbloom just a few years later. Carano did so little that no other team thought he was worthy of giving a shot. Even Steve Peuller and Quincy Carter were able to trick other teams into giving them another opportunity.

 

[Phoenix]

I don't think Staubach at age 35 was in his prime. He was pretty darn good his final 3 seasons and ages 35, 36 and 37, but that was not his prime.

White was drafted in 1974 and had only attempted 20 career passes when Carano was drafted in 1977.

I think Carano was drafted to be more than just a luxury. He just never amounted to anything.

I agree that there is no shame in not being able to beat out Staubach and White; however, he did not even push White or prove to be an adequate #2 QB. That is why Dallas drafted Hogenbloom just a few years later. Carano did so little that no other team thought he was worthy of giving a shot. Even Steve Peuller and Quincy Carter were able to trick other teams into giving them another opportunity.

Clint Stoerner even > Carano

 

[joseephuss]

Clint Stoerner even > Carano

Stoerner was not drafted.

Scott Secules was drafted in the 6th round in 1988. He did nothing in Dallas, but did get opportunities with Miami and New England. Carano could not land another spot in the NFL.

 

[speedkilz88]

I don't think Staubach at age 35 was in his prime. He was pretty darn good his final 3 seasons and ages 35, 36 and 37, but that was not his prime.

White was drafted in 1974 and had only attempted 20 career passes when Carano was drafted in 1977.

I think Carano was drafted to be more than just a luxury. He just never amounted to anything.

I agree that there is no shame in not being able to beat out Staubach and White; however, he did not even push White or prove to be an adequate #2 QB. That is why Dallas drafted Hogenbloom just a few years later. Carano did so little that no other team thought he was worthy of giving a shot. Even Steve Peuller and Quincy Carter were able to trick other teams into giving them another opportunity.

He went to the USFL. Played terrible, but he did play.

 

[BubbleScreen]

So we all agree that QCar was a pretty good QB pick, considering he played for Campo? LOL

 

[dbair1967]

I don't think Staubach at age 35 was in his prime. He was pretty darn good his final 3 seasons and ages 35, 36 and 37, but that was not his prime.

He absolutely was in his prime. His 77, 78 and 79 seasons were arguably the best of his career. he won the 78 and 79 passing titles and just narrowsly missed out in 77. He was playing superb football.

White was drafted in 1974 and had only attempted 20 career passes when Carano was drafted in 1977.

They kinda knew what they had with White, they'd watched him in practice enough.

I think Carano was drafted to be more than just a luxury. He just never amounted to anything.

We'll never really know.

I agree that there is no shame in not being able to beat out Staubach and White; however, he did not even push White or prove to be an adequate #2 QB. That is why Dallas drafted Hogenbloom just a few years later. Carano did so little that no other team thought he was worthy of giving a shot. Even Steve Peuller and Quincy Carter were able to trick other teams into giving them another opportunity.

Again, am not contending Carano did more on the field, just that he was not the worst drafted QB ever here.

 

[dbair1967]

We selected another QB in that 1977 draft, Steve DeBerg in the 10th round. I always liked DeBerg who had the misfortune of being the guy who was always being replaced. He couldn't beat out Staubach and White in Dallas, in fact they kept Carano as the 3rd QB and let DeBerg walk. He won the starting job with the 49ERs only to lose it to Joe Montana. He left SF and went to Denver only to be pushed aside by John Elway. He was the starter in Tampa Bay when they got Steve Young. He was doing well in KC until Montana came there too.

Steve DeBerg was the best I have ever seen, outside of Unitas, at running the play-fake. He was outstanding at it! He played for some really bad teams and had a tendency to throw INTs at times but he was a good QB and I think he might have been more successful here than Danny White was but that is purely speculation.

The guy did play for 17 years and was even brought back at 44 years old to play for the Falcons, the oldest starting QB in NFL history. (Blanda played older but didn't start a game after he was 41). DeBerg had some success at various times, particularly with the Chiefs in the early 90s, but mostly he was with struggling/rebuilding teams.

He didnt stick here, but most people forget Jim Zorn was on our roster during TC and Preseason, I believe in 1975.

 

[joseephuss]

He absolutely was in his prime. His 77, 78 and 79 seasons were arguably the best of his career. he won the 78 and 79 passing titles and just narrowsly missed out in 77. He was playing superb football.

Sorry, but that was not his prime. Staubach was good period. We all agree with that. During 77, 78 and 79 he was surrounded by the best offensive talent that he ever had during his career. Tony Dorsett had joined the team and he had Drew Pearson and Tony Hill. Of course he had great success with those guys. His stats were great in those years, but he was still not at the top of his game. Most 35 year old QBs aren't. Imagine what he would have done if he was 28 or 32 years old at that time. Those numbers would have been higher and the offense just that much more potent. He was great during those 3 seasons and would have been even better if he were still in his prime with the talent on those teams.