Do we really need another defensive end?

[Shinaoi]

Yes we really do. And it's vitally important the pick turns out to be a good one. After Gregory in the 2nd, we can't afford to have another high pick that isn't an above average player. Because then we would have to go back to the draft again looking for another. Here is hoping Lawerance develops even further.

 

[Idgit]

Yes, we have enough bodies at DE to get by but the team doesn't have a single DE that can be counted on to get consistent pressure on the QB and end the season with 10-12 sacks. If Gregory had managed 5-7 sacks last year and wasn't one puff away from a 16 game suspension, then we likely would feel better about DE. Signing Jones just adds another body but doesn't add the consistent pressure that is lacking. The need at DE is a 3rd down rush specialist that can get to or near the QB more than what we currently have. To get that, you typically have to pay through the nose in free agency or spend a high draft pick.

Yep. We have plenty of rotational players at DE, but we lack an impact player to play opposite Lawrence. Gregory can't be counted on for obvious reasons.

Our DT rotation, on the other hand, is pretty much set. We could add another young player with flex to the group for depth since this is a good DT draft, but we don't need to.

 

[gimmesix]

DE is listed as one of the primary needs for the team in this draft, So much in fact that Bosa is mocked to us probably more than any other player, even though he really doesn't appear to be a "sack machine".

Before you say hell yes it is a top need, lets examine the facts:

1. We already have Lawrence who we gave up not one, but TWO premium picks to draft in his second year.
2. We drafted Gregory who was supposed to be all that and a bag of chips, in fact a FIRST ROUND TALENT. Yes, he is suspended for 4 games, but if I remember correctly, so was Hardy,
3. We signed the DE from the Raiders who is supposed to be an up and comer.
4. Russell who was also drafted last year is in his second year. Will he play DE?
5. We resigned Crawford, who was a steady, if unspectacular contributor. Would he be worse at DE than the Golden Cock was at NT? Probably not.
6. Irving purportedly has position flex and may kick out to end. Would he suffice for 4 games while Gregory is suspended?
7. What if we drafted another DT and played Thornton at the 3 tech? Could Crawford serve as the strong side DE and kick Lawrence back to the other side?

I'm not saying that we are SET at DE. But really shouldn't we EXPECT our second rounders to fill the two starting end roles this year? If not they were a waste of draft capital.

We have one DE that had eight sacks last year. Jack Crawford had four (although I'm not sure all of them came at end).

Beyond that, the other ends we have had a combined 1 sack.

Dallas totaled 33 sacks last year, up from 30 the previous year. We need all the help we can get on the defensive line.

 

[waving monkey]

I actually believe once the Cowboys have the draft board in place that Buckner will be higher on the board than Bosa. Buckner has position flex as a DT and a DE. He can play the RDE or LDE spot or the 3 tech or 1 tech spot. Has extremely long arms which would be a nice help to any defense knocking down passes. I believe his ceiling (growth potential) is higher than Bosa or Lawson. I think that San Diego and Baltimore and Tampa Bay probably have him higher than Bosa also. To me he fits Marinelli D type lineman better than Bosa.

Buckner @ 3DT

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

DE is listed as one of the primary needs for the team in this draft, So much in fact that Bosa is mocked to us probably more than any other player, even though he really doesn't appear to be a "sack machine".

Before you say hell yes it is a top need, lets examine the facts:

1. We already have Lawrence who we gave up not one, but TWO premium picks to draft in his second year.
2. We drafted Gregory who was supposed to be all that and a bag of chips, in fact a FIRST ROUND TALENT. Yes, he is suspended for 4 games, but if I remember correctly, so was Hardy,
3. We signed the DE from the Raiders who is supposed to be an up and comer.
4. Russell who was also drafted last year is in his second year. Will he play DE?
5. We resigned Crawford, who was a steady, if unspectacular contributor. Would he be worse at DE than the Golden Cock was at NT? Probably not.
6. Irving purportedly has position flex and may kick out to end. Would he suffice for 4 games while Gregory is suspended?
7. What if we drafted another DT and played Thornton at the 3 tech? Could Crawford serve as the strong side DE and kick Lawrence back to the other side?

I'm not saying that we are SET at DE. But really shouldn't we EXPECT our second rounders to fill the two starting end roles this year? If not they were a waste of draft capital.

Yes. We have a a team full of strong side DEs. We don't have one ligit Rush End.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

We were one of, if not the, lowest sacking defenses in the league last year.

Our big Draft get last year failed yet another drug test after he swore to the owner and coaches that he would not do drugs again so he is one puff puff and test away from being suspended a year...oh and let's not forget he had a grand total of zero sacks last year because he started the season injured and fell behind...well he is going to start off the season late again this year due to the suspension.

Our best sacker on the team in D-Law is coming off a strong finish...however he is also coming of back surgery and although he is still young...back problems don't tend to just go away for most people and especially for those in a profession that is hard on the body like Football.

Beyond that we don't have too much hope for big sack numbers from the rest of the DE's on the roster and are basically just journeymen who are getting paid cheap except for Crawford and let's face it...Crawford's grand total of sacks the last two years is EIGHT sacks.

Now...maybe we get lucky and the young DE we got from the Raiders will pull out a good season like Selvie did for us a few years back. Maybe we get lucky and a combo of Thornton,Crawford and a draft pick playing the 1 or 3 spot will help create enough pressure up the middle this season that it helps those on the outside.

Maybe we get lucky and D.Law stays healthy and continues to improve. Maybe we get lucky and Gregory finally gives up the mary jane and makes a huge impact.

That is a lot of maybe and lucky to depend on.

So Yes...I think we could use some more DEs until we prove we don't need to draft anymore DEs for a time.

But maybe that is just me being silly.

 

[Verdict]

Yes. We have a a team full of strong side DEs. We don't have one ligit Rush End.

I'm not sure there is dominant one in this draft. Why draft an also ran and add him to the bunch? Wouldn't it be better to add a dominant DT to help collapse the pocket and make the ends better. There are reportedly MANY of those in this draft. Maybe with increased middle pressure our ends are good enough?

 

[garyv]

I personally believe for the best of this team I take Elliott with Pick #4 and in the 2nd Round I take Karl Joseph.
We need playmakers in our Secondary and hes a good one. When we get to Pick #67 take the best DE on the
board. In the 4th Round more Defense and a QB.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Just look at the draft as the grocery store. Bosa would be prime rib at a great price. If he is considered the best value at the #4 spot, the Cowboys should take him.

When you eat a lot of salisbury steak, you can never have enough prime rib.

 

[Verdict]

I personally believe for the best of this team I take Elliott with Pick #4 and in the 2nd Round I take Karl Joseph.
We need playmakers in our Secondary and hes a good one. When we get to Pick #67 take the best DE on the
board. In the 4th Round more Defense and a QB.

I think it would almost be a criminal offense to fail to get one of the stud DTs in this draft when there is an abundance of them, and it is arguably the strength of this draft, and draft for need at other less deep positions.

 

[garyv]

You could actually get a stud at Pick #34 to be honest there will be Players in this Draft that come out in the
2nd or 3rd Round that may turn out being better than your Bosa's and etc.

 

[Verdict]

You could actually get a stud at Pick #34 to be honest there will be Players in this Draft that come out in the
2nd or 3rd Round that may turn out being better than your Bosa's and etc.

Thats what I am saying. You could probably get a DT at #34 who will be more dominant at DT than bosa would be at end at #4 overall. Hell you could get three of those for the draft capital you would spend on Bosa.

 

[garyv]

But the good news picking 4th I'm not sure even Jerry can screw this up (well I don't think he can anyway).
In all honesty every single Draft there are stud Defensive Lineman. In this Draft you should really look at those
guys that are rare and Playmakers. In honesty guys like Myles Jack and Jalen Ramsey they should really do
their homework on before rushing a decision on a Bosa or etc.

 

[garyv]

Thats what I am saying. You could probably get a DT at #34 who will be more dominant at DT than bosa would be at end at #4 overall. Hell you could get three of those for the draft capital you would spend on Bosa.

What I was saying Elliott probably puts you back in the Playoffs immediately barring injury to Romo. There is nothing
wrong with McFadden and Alfred Morris but Elliott is special kind of player like Emmitt Smith was coming out. I honestly could
see Elliott putting up those Demarco Murray numbers from 2014 only because Morris and McFadden may have a few
hundred yards and a score or two between them but they bring quality depth in case of injury.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

DE is listed as one of the primary needs for the team in this draft, So much in fact that Bosa is mocked to us probably more than any other player, even though he really doesn't appear to be a "sack machine".

Before you say hell yes it is a top need, lets examine the facts:

1. We already have Lawrence who we gave up not one, but TWO premium picks to draft in his second year.
2. We drafted Gregory who was supposed to be all that and a bag of chips, in fact a FIRST ROUND TALENT. Yes, he is suspended for 4 games, but if I remember correctly, so was Hardy,
3. We signed the DE from the Raiders who is supposed to be an up and comer.
4. Russell who was also drafted last year is in his second year. Will he play DE?
5. We resigned Crawford, who was a steady, if unspectacular contributor. Would he be worse at DE than the Golden Cock was at NT? Probably not.
6. Irving purportedly has position flex and may kick out to end. Would he suffice for 4 games while Gregory is suspended?
7. What if we drafted another DT and played Thornton at the 3 tech? Could Crawford serve as the strong side DE and kick Lawrence back to the other side?

I'm not saying that we are SET at DE. But really shouldn't we EXPECT our second rounders to fill the two starting end roles this year? If not they were a waste of draft capital.

yes we do, we have a lot of maybe if everything works out and stars align then we got good DEs.....RDE is the most important spot for pass rush. Gregory, though talented...is far from being a complete player and he got himself suspended.

Irvin, guy from raiders have potential. probably rotation guys at this point, nothing more. Crawford is an average player...if he was all that.....teams would be jumping on him.......nobody did.

we need a pass rushing DE......

 

[silver]

Pass rush is the name of the game, always has and always will be. This why we should draft one in the first round. If the talent at #4 is not worthy of a pass rusher, ie, Bosa is not what we look for in a DE, trade down a bit and draft one in the middle of the round. By all means we need one bonafide pass rusher. Gregory might be it once he comes back, but he could also relapse and be gone for the whole year.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I'm not sure there is dominant one in this draft. Why draft an also ran and add him to the bunch? Wouldn't it be better to add a dominant DT to help collapse the pocket and make the ends better. There are reportedly MANY of those in this draft. Maybe with increased middle pressure our ends are good enough?

Neither am I but you asked if we needed one. The answer, IMO, is yes.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Pass rush is the name of the game, always has and always will be. This why we should draft one in the first round. If the talent at #4 is not worthy of a pass rusher, ie, Bosa is not what we look for in a DE, trade down a bit and draft one in the middle of the round. By all means we need one bonafide pass rusher. Gregory might be it once he comes back, but he could also relapse and be gone for the whole year.

couldn't agree more. unfortunately this year is light on DEs...deep in DT....

all we have to do is look at Denver and how they won it with their pass rush.

 

[ccb04]

Wanted the team to sign Jabaal Sheard & draft Danielle Hunter last offseason. Was of course happy with Hardy & Gregory talent wise, but had reservations given their off-field issues. It would be different if signing one player with baggage...but they rolled the dice twice at the same position.

Not overly crazy about this class of edge rushers. Lawson is among the few I somewhat like. Spence is another intriguing prospect...but there's the off-field issues again. As far as DT, I think they could get a good one even in the 3rd or early 4th given the depth of the position. And there could be some decent finds that develop even later.

 

[Common Sense]

Buckner @ 3DT

If you read between the lines, they seem to like Buckner a lot more than they're letting on.