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Sports Chat Moderator: Rick Gosselin will be here at 11:30 a.m. (CT) for some NFL draft Q&A. Bring on the Q's ...
From e-mail: How do the Cowboys view RB Jamaal Charles? If you look at his numbers, they are comparable with Darren McFadden over a three-year period. He's faster than Felix Jones and shows a lot more power than people give him credit for. Is it possible that the Cowboys could take a WR/CB with the 22nd pick and take Charles at No. 28?Rik
Rick Gosselin: Welcome to another NFL chat, draft version. I'm looking forward to discussing the board. I've spent the last two months researching some 500 players, so let's g
K, running backs. Darren McFadden is the clear-cut best ball carrier on the board because of his combination of size and speed. Remember, the draft is about measurables. McFadden is 6-1, 211. Charles is 5-11, 200. McFadden is bigger, faster and stronger. There's about a round difference between the two on most NFL draft boards. There's also a fumble concern with Charles. I think the value on the board at 22 will be a running back. Felix Jones is that value because he also is an elite kick returner. If the Cowboys wait on the back until 28, Charles and Chris Johnson could come into play.
Go Fish: What are your thoughts on the Dolphins locking up Jake Long so soon? Is he the right choice for Miami?
Rick Gosselin: I love what the Dolphins did. This takes me back to 1991 when the Cowboys locked up Russell Maryland before they selected him first overall. I'm surprised more teams haven't done this over the years. Last year the first overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell sat out all of training camp before signing and his rookie season with the Raiders was a wash. By signing now, Long will be a full participant in minicamp, the offseason program and training camp. I would expect him to be a starter from Day 1. He and Chris Long are the two safest picks on the board. I would expect Both Longs to play 10 seasons and go to a handful of Pro Bowls. And the Dolphins got the deal done for comparable money to Russell's deal, not the customary 10 percent above the previous year's draft slot. I applaud Bill Parcells on this one. Frankly, the rest of the NFL is applauding him to because all rookie contracts will fall in under Long's.
TO81: Is there a wide receiver in this draft who will make an impact as a rookie?
Rick Gosselin: History says receivers taken in the first round generally struggle. They are burdened by the expertations of being a first-round draft pick plus the tightest defensive coverage they've ever seen. Devin Thomas is the top wide receive ron this draft board. James Hardy, DeSean Jackson, Malcolm Kelly and Limus Sweed also have various first round grades. I wouldn't expect any of them to play in the Pro Bowl next February. If you want a sleeper in the second round, it's Jordy Nelson. He's one of th efastest risers on this draft board because he'll give hisNFL team a full complement of special teams skills, both in the return game and kick coverage.
JF: Any chance the Cowboys trade into the top 15 (or whatever it would take) to grab one of the elite four DBs or would they be content with any of the second tier of DBs (Cason, Flowers, etc.)?
Rick Gosselin: I think there's a better chance the Cowboys trade back from 28. And depending who's there, I could see a trade down from 22 as well. There's a flat spot in the first round from 20-25. Everyone is trying to trade back from there but there's no player compelling enough to trade up for. There will be quality cornerbacks, wide receivers and runningbacks available through the first three rounds of this draft. The Cowboys are a good enough team that they dont have to reach for anything. There are 3-4 cornerbacks in the second round most teams would love to have.
baylorbear82: What are the chances the Cowboys trade their 22 and something else for Lions WR Roy Williams?
Rick Gosselin: If the Cowboys want Williams, it will probably cost them 22 and 28. 22 straight up won't get it done, nor will 28 straight up. But the two 1s isn't going to happen. I think Jerry Jones learned his lesson from the Joey Galloway trade that two 1s is an expensive price to pay for any wide receiver. Detroit views Williams as a guy who would be the lead receiver of the Cowboys by 2009 or 2010. Terrell Owens isn't getting any younger. Don't look for the Lions to just give him away because the Cowboys want him. And, please, don't talk about including the other Roy Williams and/or Bobby Carpenter in the package. Everyone wants draft picks, not someone else's discards. The Chiefs just traded a Pro Bowl pass rusher for three premium draft picks. Talk picks -- high picks -- if you want to deal.
stork: Why don't the Cowboys take an offensive lineman in the first round? It seems that there is a need to add youth and reduce our reliance on overpaying veterans for the line.
Rick Gosselin: I think the offensive linemen are going to go quick in the first round. A handful could be gone by the time the Cowboys go on the clock at 22. There will be better options at running back, wide receiver and defensive line that what's left of the blocker board by 22. The Cowboys took two young tackles last April (James Marten and Doug Free). Let's see if they can play before we start shopping for their replacements.
Jason L: Do you think Chad Henne or Brian Brohm will go in the first round on Saturday? Will some teams trade into the end of the first round to select either QB?
Rick Gosselin: I fully expect at least one trade up into the back end for the first round for a quarterback. There are three QBs with late first, high second round value -- Brohm, Henne and Joe Flacco -- and there will be some spirited jockeying for their services.
doobie: Any chance Dallas snags a developmental QB? I really like USC's John David Booty.
Rick Gosselin: I thought Ron Wolf was the best second-day drafter of the salary-cap era. He always took a quarterback late -- the fifth, sixth or seventh rounds. Mark Brunell, Aaron Brooks and Matt Hasselbeck are three that come quickly to mind. The Packers developed them and then traded all of them off for premium draft picks. So there's potential for a return on your investment. Sometimes you hit on a late rounder for your own. The Cowboys did a nice job of developing Tony Romo using that philosophy. He essentially was an eight-round pick. I like Booty in the mid rounds of this draft. A lot of NFL teams also like the two San Diego quarterbacks, Josh Johnson of USD and Kevin O'Connell of San Diego State, as second-day developmental types.
CowFan08: Who would you consider the most talented player in this draft?
Rick Gosselin: Glenn Dorsey. He was the most talented player at the college level last season, winning the Lombardi, Outland, Lott and Nagurski awards. No reason to think he can't be as dominant at the next level... LSU players are money in the bank in every draft. Their players achieve at the next level no matter what round they are taken. Randall Gay was undrafted out of LSU and started in a Super Bowl for the Patriots.
Jake Long: Which highly publicized player do you think will be a draft bust?
Rick Gosselin: I think there's always a risk factor on quarterbacks, so Matt Ryan is in immediate jeopardy. The higher a QB is drafted, the greater the expectations. For some it's impossible to satisfy those expectations. Eli Manning was a good, solid NFL quarterback for his first four seasons as he was learning how to play the position at the next level. But he was viewed publicly as a disappointment. He always got the blame for losses but never got any credit for the victories. That's the nature of the quarterback position. Had he not won a Super Bowl, he likely would still be viewed as a disappointment. Matt Ryan could and should be a quality starter in the NFL. But the higher he goes, the more disappointing he will appear if he doesn't post 4,000-yard, 30-touchdown seasons on an annual basis.
felix: Would Texas DT Frank Okam be a good fit for the Cowboys in the third or fourth round?
Rick Gosselin: Okam figures to be a second-day draft pick. Some NFL teams want to move him to guard.
mcjj1310: What are your thoughts on the Cowboys drafting a saftey in the first round? Roy Williams is suspect, Ken Hamlin will command serious money next year and Pat Watkins is gone.
Rick Gosselin: I think 22 is too high to draft a safety and I'm not sure 28 would be an upgrade. Kenny Phillips is the consensus top safety on NFL draft boards. He's not Ed Reed -- and the Cowboys are in dire need of aplaymaker, not a hitter back there. They already have two of those.
stork: What do you think of Indiana WR James Hardy?
Rick Gosselin: Hardy may be the most interesting wide receiver prospect on the draft board with his combination of size (6-5, 217) and speed (4.49 in the 40). He'll be bigger than every NFL cornerback and faster than most. He caught 16 touchdown passes last season and 36 in his career, so he walks in as an immediate impact player in the red zone. This game is about touchdowns -- and no one in the major college ranks brings that scoring potential to the NFL like Hardy. He's going to make an NFL team better the second he's drafted.
From e-mail: Who are some of the names that are going to fall from potential first- or second-round picks solely due to injury?Jared
Rick Gosselin: Wide receivers Malcolm Kelly and Limus Sweed both have some medical concerns. Healthy, they'd be definite first-rounders. One or both may still get into the first, but the concerns do exist. I'm also curious to see how RB Jonathan Stewart fares in this draft. He likely would have been the second overall back on the board and a Top 15 pick had he not undergone toe surgery after the combine. He may won't be available until the start of the regular season. That will scare off some teams. Superb talent, though.
Aaron: If Darren McFadden falls to the Chiefs at No. 5, and all it takes is for the Cowboys' two first-round picks to trade, do you think Jerry pulls the trigger?
Rick Gosselin: It's going to take more than two first-rounders to get into the Top 5 of this or any other draft. It cost the New York Giants essentially two firsts, a third and a fifth just to move up three spots in the 2004 draft for Eli Manning. So start thinking about adding at least a second or third to that offer if you want anyone to listen to trade offers for McFadden. And, again, let's not talk about throwing Roy Williams and/or Bobby Carpenter into the package. Any trade up into the Top 5 is going to cost you picks, premium picks -- not players.
deuce21: Why doesn't Arizona CB Antoine Cason get more attention? I think he would be a steal for the Cowboys at 28.
Rick Gosselin: Remember, the draft is about measurables. First rounders must be bigger, stronger and faster than other players in the draft. If Cason ran a 4.43 in his 40 he'd be in the first round. But he ran a 4.53. So he's viewed as a solid, stable second-round pick.
Roswell NM: Are there any cornerbacks as good as Pacman Jones in this year's draft?
Rick Gosselin: Jones was the sixth overall cornerback taken in his draft. No cornerback will go that high in this draft. So, no, no cornerback in this draft compares to Jones coming out of college. He was an elite performer at perennial power at West Virginia. The top three cornerbacks on this boards attended South Florida, Troy and Tennessee State. The difference would be the caliber of competition.
stew3636: What is the best-case scenario for the Cowboys at 22 and 28?
Rick Gosselin: Running back, wide receiver and/or cornerback. Take the best oavailable player at the three positions at 22 and again at 28. There will be options available. If you want specific names, I guess you'll have to wait until Saturday morning when the Dallas Morning News publishes my third and final mock draft...
csword: What do you think of Dennis Dixon as a developmental quarterback?
Rick Gosselin: I'd take a chance on Dixon. Had he not suffered a season-ending knee injury last November, he'd be three or four rounds high on this draft board than where you can probably get him this weekend. He has size (6-3), mobility (1,210 career rushing yards) and the arm to be an NFL quarterback, completing 61 percent of his career passes for 8,100 yards and 61 touchdowns. You might have to redshirt him in 2008, but he could return to the field in 2009 as a your second QB with a chance to be a first. I do expect him to get drafted.
Rick Gosselin: I enjoyed visiting with you this past hour. Now I've got to get back to work on my Top 100 draft board that will apear in Friday morning's Dallas Morning News. Enjoy the draft this weekend...
From e-mail: How do the Cowboys view RB Jamaal Charles? If you look at his numbers, they are comparable with Darren McFadden over a three-year period. He's faster than Felix Jones and shows a lot more power than people give him credit for. Is it possible that the Cowboys could take a WR/CB with the 22nd pick and take Charles at No. 28?Rik
Rick Gosselin: Welcome to another NFL chat, draft version. I'm looking forward to discussing the board. I've spent the last two months researching some 500 players, so let's g
K, running backs. Darren McFadden is the clear-cut best ball carrier on the board because of his combination of size and speed. Remember, the draft is about measurables. McFadden is 6-1, 211. Charles is 5-11, 200. McFadden is bigger, faster and stronger. There's about a round difference between the two on most NFL draft boards. There's also a fumble concern with Charles. I think the value on the board at 22 will be a running back. Felix Jones is that value because he also is an elite kick returner. If the Cowboys wait on the back until 28, Charles and Chris Johnson could come into play.Go Fish: What are your thoughts on the Dolphins locking up Jake Long so soon? Is he the right choice for Miami?
Rick Gosselin: I love what the Dolphins did. This takes me back to 1991 when the Cowboys locked up Russell Maryland before they selected him first overall. I'm surprised more teams haven't done this over the years. Last year the first overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell sat out all of training camp before signing and his rookie season with the Raiders was a wash. By signing now, Long will be a full participant in minicamp, the offseason program and training camp. I would expect him to be a starter from Day 1. He and Chris Long are the two safest picks on the board. I would expect Both Longs to play 10 seasons and go to a handful of Pro Bowls. And the Dolphins got the deal done for comparable money to Russell's deal, not the customary 10 percent above the previous year's draft slot. I applaud Bill Parcells on this one. Frankly, the rest of the NFL is applauding him to because all rookie contracts will fall in under Long's.
TO81: Is there a wide receiver in this draft who will make an impact as a rookie?
Rick Gosselin: History says receivers taken in the first round generally struggle. They are burdened by the expertations of being a first-round draft pick plus the tightest defensive coverage they've ever seen. Devin Thomas is the top wide receive ron this draft board. James Hardy, DeSean Jackson, Malcolm Kelly and Limus Sweed also have various first round grades. I wouldn't expect any of them to play in the Pro Bowl next February. If you want a sleeper in the second round, it's Jordy Nelson. He's one of th efastest risers on this draft board because he'll give hisNFL team a full complement of special teams skills, both in the return game and kick coverage.
JF: Any chance the Cowboys trade into the top 15 (or whatever it would take) to grab one of the elite four DBs or would they be content with any of the second tier of DBs (Cason, Flowers, etc.)?
Rick Gosselin: I think there's a better chance the Cowboys trade back from 28. And depending who's there, I could see a trade down from 22 as well. There's a flat spot in the first round from 20-25. Everyone is trying to trade back from there but there's no player compelling enough to trade up for. There will be quality cornerbacks, wide receivers and runningbacks available through the first three rounds of this draft. The Cowboys are a good enough team that they dont have to reach for anything. There are 3-4 cornerbacks in the second round most teams would love to have.
baylorbear82: What are the chances the Cowboys trade their 22 and something else for Lions WR Roy Williams?
Rick Gosselin: If the Cowboys want Williams, it will probably cost them 22 and 28. 22 straight up won't get it done, nor will 28 straight up. But the two 1s isn't going to happen. I think Jerry Jones learned his lesson from the Joey Galloway trade that two 1s is an expensive price to pay for any wide receiver. Detroit views Williams as a guy who would be the lead receiver of the Cowboys by 2009 or 2010. Terrell Owens isn't getting any younger. Don't look for the Lions to just give him away because the Cowboys want him. And, please, don't talk about including the other Roy Williams and/or Bobby Carpenter in the package. Everyone wants draft picks, not someone else's discards. The Chiefs just traded a Pro Bowl pass rusher for three premium draft picks. Talk picks -- high picks -- if you want to deal.
stork: Why don't the Cowboys take an offensive lineman in the first round? It seems that there is a need to add youth and reduce our reliance on overpaying veterans for the line.
Rick Gosselin: I think the offensive linemen are going to go quick in the first round. A handful could be gone by the time the Cowboys go on the clock at 22. There will be better options at running back, wide receiver and defensive line that what's left of the blocker board by 22. The Cowboys took two young tackles last April (James Marten and Doug Free). Let's see if they can play before we start shopping for their replacements.
Jason L: Do you think Chad Henne or Brian Brohm will go in the first round on Saturday? Will some teams trade into the end of the first round to select either QB?
Rick Gosselin: I fully expect at least one trade up into the back end for the first round for a quarterback. There are three QBs with late first, high second round value -- Brohm, Henne and Joe Flacco -- and there will be some spirited jockeying for their services.
doobie: Any chance Dallas snags a developmental QB? I really like USC's John David Booty.
Rick Gosselin: I thought Ron Wolf was the best second-day drafter of the salary-cap era. He always took a quarterback late -- the fifth, sixth or seventh rounds. Mark Brunell, Aaron Brooks and Matt Hasselbeck are three that come quickly to mind. The Packers developed them and then traded all of them off for premium draft picks. So there's potential for a return on your investment. Sometimes you hit on a late rounder for your own. The Cowboys did a nice job of developing Tony Romo using that philosophy. He essentially was an eight-round pick. I like Booty in the mid rounds of this draft. A lot of NFL teams also like the two San Diego quarterbacks, Josh Johnson of USD and Kevin O'Connell of San Diego State, as second-day developmental types.
CowFan08: Who would you consider the most talented player in this draft?
Rick Gosselin: Glenn Dorsey. He was the most talented player at the college level last season, winning the Lombardi, Outland, Lott and Nagurski awards. No reason to think he can't be as dominant at the next level... LSU players are money in the bank in every draft. Their players achieve at the next level no matter what round they are taken. Randall Gay was undrafted out of LSU and started in a Super Bowl for the Patriots.
Jake Long: Which highly publicized player do you think will be a draft bust?
Rick Gosselin: I think there's always a risk factor on quarterbacks, so Matt Ryan is in immediate jeopardy. The higher a QB is drafted, the greater the expectations. For some it's impossible to satisfy those expectations. Eli Manning was a good, solid NFL quarterback for his first four seasons as he was learning how to play the position at the next level. But he was viewed publicly as a disappointment. He always got the blame for losses but never got any credit for the victories. That's the nature of the quarterback position. Had he not won a Super Bowl, he likely would still be viewed as a disappointment. Matt Ryan could and should be a quality starter in the NFL. But the higher he goes, the more disappointing he will appear if he doesn't post 4,000-yard, 30-touchdown seasons on an annual basis.
felix: Would Texas DT Frank Okam be a good fit for the Cowboys in the third or fourth round?
Rick Gosselin: Okam figures to be a second-day draft pick. Some NFL teams want to move him to guard.
mcjj1310: What are your thoughts on the Cowboys drafting a saftey in the first round? Roy Williams is suspect, Ken Hamlin will command serious money next year and Pat Watkins is gone.
Rick Gosselin: I think 22 is too high to draft a safety and I'm not sure 28 would be an upgrade. Kenny Phillips is the consensus top safety on NFL draft boards. He's not Ed Reed -- and the Cowboys are in dire need of aplaymaker, not a hitter back there. They already have two of those.
stork: What do you think of Indiana WR James Hardy?
Rick Gosselin: Hardy may be the most interesting wide receiver prospect on the draft board with his combination of size (6-5, 217) and speed (4.49 in the 40). He'll be bigger than every NFL cornerback and faster than most. He caught 16 touchdown passes last season and 36 in his career, so he walks in as an immediate impact player in the red zone. This game is about touchdowns -- and no one in the major college ranks brings that scoring potential to the NFL like Hardy. He's going to make an NFL team better the second he's drafted.
From e-mail: Who are some of the names that are going to fall from potential first- or second-round picks solely due to injury?Jared
Rick Gosselin: Wide receivers Malcolm Kelly and Limus Sweed both have some medical concerns. Healthy, they'd be definite first-rounders. One or both may still get into the first, but the concerns do exist. I'm also curious to see how RB Jonathan Stewart fares in this draft. He likely would have been the second overall back on the board and a Top 15 pick had he not undergone toe surgery after the combine. He may won't be available until the start of the regular season. That will scare off some teams. Superb talent, though.
Aaron: If Darren McFadden falls to the Chiefs at No. 5, and all it takes is for the Cowboys' two first-round picks to trade, do you think Jerry pulls the trigger?
Rick Gosselin: It's going to take more than two first-rounders to get into the Top 5 of this or any other draft. It cost the New York Giants essentially two firsts, a third and a fifth just to move up three spots in the 2004 draft for Eli Manning. So start thinking about adding at least a second or third to that offer if you want anyone to listen to trade offers for McFadden. And, again, let's not talk about throwing Roy Williams and/or Bobby Carpenter into the package. Any trade up into the Top 5 is going to cost you picks, premium picks -- not players.
deuce21: Why doesn't Arizona CB Antoine Cason get more attention? I think he would be a steal for the Cowboys at 28.
Rick Gosselin: Remember, the draft is about measurables. First rounders must be bigger, stronger and faster than other players in the draft. If Cason ran a 4.43 in his 40 he'd be in the first round. But he ran a 4.53. So he's viewed as a solid, stable second-round pick.
Roswell NM: Are there any cornerbacks as good as Pacman Jones in this year's draft?
Rick Gosselin: Jones was the sixth overall cornerback taken in his draft. No cornerback will go that high in this draft. So, no, no cornerback in this draft compares to Jones coming out of college. He was an elite performer at perennial power at West Virginia. The top three cornerbacks on this boards attended South Florida, Troy and Tennessee State. The difference would be the caliber of competition.
stew3636: What is the best-case scenario for the Cowboys at 22 and 28?
Rick Gosselin: Running back, wide receiver and/or cornerback. Take the best oavailable player at the three positions at 22 and again at 28. There will be options available. If you want specific names, I guess you'll have to wait until Saturday morning when the Dallas Morning News publishes my third and final mock draft...
csword: What do you think of Dennis Dixon as a developmental quarterback?
Rick Gosselin: I'd take a chance on Dixon. Had he not suffered a season-ending knee injury last November, he'd be three or four rounds high on this draft board than where you can probably get him this weekend. He has size (6-3), mobility (1,210 career rushing yards) and the arm to be an NFL quarterback, completing 61 percent of his career passes for 8,100 yards and 61 touchdowns. You might have to redshirt him in 2008, but he could return to the field in 2009 as a your second QB with a chance to be a first. I do expect him to get drafted.
Rick Gosselin: I enjoyed visiting with you this past hour. Now I've got to get back to work on my Top 100 draft board that will apear in Friday morning's Dallas Morning News. Enjoy the draft this weekend...
