Dane really knows his stuff and I enjoy listening to him on the Cowboys Draft show. And yeah I agree with him on mostly everything. I'd love to have Elliott on the Cowboys but I have to admit that we'd probably be better off going defense at number 4. Our O-line is so good that the RB position isn't as big of a need. I just fear that the Eagles get Elliott and he kills us for the next 5-10 years.
Bottom line is that if the Cowboys pick Elliott, it won't be at #4. The #4 pick receives $24M guaranteed on the rookie pay scale. The Cowboys only want to pay $24M over 4 years to the running back position and that's NOT the guaranteed money.
We weren't willing to give Murray last year or Lamar Miller that kind of money, both guys who have actually done it at this level. There's no way we hand that kind of money over to the RB position in a rookie with how we manage the cap.
I think he could be a candidate at #7 overall should we trade down, however, in this scenario:
1. TEN: Tunsil
2. CLE: Wentz
3. SD: Ramsey
4. Trade down with San Francisco, who covets Jared Goff and would want to trade up ahead of the Eagles and Rams (who would be good trade partners with Baltimore and Jacksonville who need more picks)
We then take Elliott at 7. I'm not sure what the guaranteed money is at #7, but it's likely less enough from $24M that they could potentially justify it (and possibly not pick up the 5th year option and choose an extension should he earn a second contract).
Just things swimming around in my head.
