Do you use a 14th Pick on a Guard?

[egn22]

I keep hearing how great Decastro is, and how if he's there at 14 we need to take him. I'm just wondering if the 14th pick should really be used on a guard with all of the glaring holes in our defense.
I don't have anything against Decastro, and I'm not saying he isn't worth a 14th pick, i'm just wondering if that's really the best move for the Boys to make at this point.

Our pass rush this year seemed extremely pedestrian, and with a poor secondary, you simply can't afford to not get pressure on the QB. It seems as though we could really use a few linebackers.

Move Josh Brent to Center, slide Ratliff over, and inject some youth into the LB corps.
Pick up a Free Agent corner and draft one late. That's what would be ideal in my world.

 

[Doomsday101]

I keep hearing how great Decastro is, and how if he's there at 14 we need to take him. I'm just wondering if the 14th pick should really be used on a guard with all of the glaring holes in our defense.
I don't have anything against Decastro, and I'm not saying he isn't worth a 14th pick, i'm just wondering if that's really the best move for the Boys to make at this point.

Our pass rush this year seemed extremely pedestrian, and with a poor secondary, you simply can't afford to not get pressure on the QB. It seems as though we could really use a few linebackers.

Move Josh Brent to Center, slide Ratliff over, and inject some youth into the LB corps.
Pick up a Free Agent corner and draft one late. That's what would be ideal in my world.

Draft is about long term not quick fix. Having said that I have no issue with other position being addressed with the 1st pick as long as the Cowboys do not reach in doing so.

 

[Dough Boy]

Draft is about long term not quick fix. Having said that I have no issue with other position being addressed with the 1st pick as long as the Cowboys do not reach in doing so.

I'm with you.

The draft is not only about winning now, but acquiring talent that will allow you to win over the next 5+ years. The franchises that endure, they get this concept. You take the best player available at a position of need. For example, Green Bay took Jordy Nelson in the 1st round even though they had Driver, James Jones and Greg Jennings on the team and all of them were initially ahead of him on the depth chart. The Giants take this same approach with DE. They had Osi and Tuck and Kiwi and DE and still drafted JPP. Now they did move Kiwi to OLB, but you get the point (they still drafted another pressure player).

In the long run, I don't think you can go wrong by taking the highest rated player that you have on the board. This should be the rule so there are a few exceptions that make sense.

FYI, I would not view DeCastro as a luxury. I firmly see him as a need; he would feel a rather large void (no pun intended). If you can't entirely fix the defense, you might as well outscore your opponent. See GB, NE and NO for recent examples. The more pressure you put on the opposing offensive to continue to score (i.e. take chances) the better position you place your defense. The more aggresive an offense the more opportunity that they make a critical mistake.

If DeCastro is there at 14, I run to the podium.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'm with you.


If DeCastro is there at 14, I run to the podium.

We may throw you to the podium if DeCasto is there.

 

[Dough Boy]

We may throw you to the podium if DeCasto is there.

Just make sure its a completed pass!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I keep hearing how great Decastro is, and how if he's there at 14 we need to take him. I'm just wondering if the 14th pick should really be used on a guard with all of the glaring holes in our defense.
I don't have anything against Decastro, and I'm not saying he isn't worth a 14th pick, i'm just wondering if that's really the best move for the Boys to make at this point.

Our pass rush this year seemed extremely pedestrian, and with a poor secondary, you simply can't afford to not get pressure on the QB. It seems as though we could really use a few linebackers.

Move Josh Brent to Center, slide Ratliff over, and inject some youth into the LB corps.
Pick up a Free Agent corner and draft one late. That's what would be ideal in my world.

Depending on what happens to Spencer, the Cowboys may not have an opening at LB... At least for a starter.

Whereas the situation at guard, especially with Kosier having a torn MCL and other injuries is really bad.

 

[egn22]

I appreciate the replies. thanks for clarifying. definitely makes sense.

 

[RS12]

14th pick needs to be a dead bang winner. Most draft gurus have DeCastro any where from the second to fifth best player in the draft. To answer your question yes you take him and dont look back. Reaching would be the wrong thing to do despite other glaring holes.

 

[Biggems]

Just make sure its a completed pass!

so you are saying make sure Austin isn't at the podium waiting..:laugh1:

 

[Biggems]

Imagine Smith and DeCastro protecting Romo's blindside for the next 5 years.....I am sure that would make Romo sleep snug as a baby in a crib at night

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I don't think you do. I think you sign a good quality Guard in FA and draft a good quality talent later in the draft. That's just me.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I don't think you do. I think you sign a good quality Guard in FA and draft a good quality talent later in the draft. That's just me.

That's a valid point.

And who knows what the team truly thinks about Arkin and Nagy... Or for that matter Holland.

I will say that if DeCastro is there at #14, he's probably the highest rated player left on the board and he's a strong consideration.

 

[VACowboy]

I do, in a heartbeat.

(bangs the PROTECT ROMO drum)

 

[Doomsday101]

I do, in a heartbeat.

(bangs the PROTECT ROMO drum)

Romo new bride is in favor of getting DeCastro. :laugh2:

 

[Dough Boy]

I don't think you do. I think you sign a good quality Guard in FA and draft a good quality talent later in the draft. That's just me.

Three questions:

1) How much does it take to sign this good quality Guard in FA?
2) How much better will the FA play over what some consider to be the 5th best player in the draft?
3) How much will you pay the 14th pick in the draft?

Anytime you can feel a true need through the draft with the best player at his position, it's always cheaper. Plus, with the FA you will most likely get 4 good years (if you are lucky). If you draft a player, and if he's good you get at least 2 contracts out of him - 3 if you are very fortunate (Witten and Ratliff are prime examples and Tyron may be another).

 

[TheDallasDon]

What would y'all think if Garrett went for a powerhouse offense and drafted something like this....
1.)David Decastro
2.)Peter Konz/Ben Jones
3.)Kevin Zeitler/Brandon Washington
4.)Ladarius Green

And forgetting defense for a year and patching them to the next draft??

Oh but still get C.Campbell in Offseason

 

[Biggems]

What would y'all think if Garrett went for a powerhouse offense and drafted something like this....
1.)David Decastro
2.)Peter Konz/Ben Jones
3.)Kevin Zeitler/Brandon Washington
4.)Ladarius Green

And forgetting defense for a year and patching them to the next draft??

Oh but still get C.Campbell in Offseason

Add RB/FB Cody Johnson with our comp pick in the 6th and OT Jeff Adams in the 7th and you have one heckuva offensive upgrade.

Unfortunately, our defense would still be garbage.

 

[TheDallasDon]

Add RB/FB Cody Johnson with our comp pick in the 6th and OT Jeff Adams in the 7th and you have one heckuva offensive upgrade.

Unfortunately, our defense would still be garbage.

Hahahha I was actually thinking about C.Johnson to.

Fill with one year vets..........try to win by offense, then draft mostly D next year and get FA to fill holes.

Edit: and you can make those one year vets earn a new contact, if not then there gone.

 

[Bigdog]

Without any question, you draft him. This is a qb now and the rules are set up for the qb. We need to protect Romo and other teams can't score if we have the ball with a running game. We all know what happen in 2010 when Romo went down. Hopefully Jones understands that (I know it might be asking too much). I say draft DeCastro and sign either Nicks or Grubbs and we would have a very good ofensive line for years.

 

[VACowboy]

1. David Decastro (OG) - Stanford
2. Peter Konz (C) - Wisconsin
3. LeMichael James (RB) - Oregon
4. Ladarius Green (TE) - LA-Lafayette
5. Joe Adams (PR/WR) - Arkansas
6. Levy Adcock (OT) - OSU
6. Matt Daniels (S) - Dook
7. Aaron Corp (QB) - Richmond