Draft Exercise

[jday]

In my mind, (without the benefit of knowing what positions the Cowboys are targeting in Free Agency) there are four positions the Cowboys must address: OG, DT, LB, S. If the Cowboys are able to keep David Irving, DT obviously becomes less important, though, I think we can all agree (whether the FO agrees or not) that this team will still need a true 1-tech, if they are to effectively and consistently shut down the oppositions ground game. With that said, in a hypothetical 4 round draft, how would you address those positions in the first four rounds. For all the talk about taking the BPA, make no mistake the Cowboys will be addressing at least 3 of those positions (excluding DT, if history has us taught anything about the current regime) in the first 4 rounds.

With those constructs in place, how would you address those specific positions, if you the guy calling the shots? For this exercise, let's leave where we think guys may or may not go out of the discussion, because at the end of the day, there will be surprise drops and late-risers that push more deserving guys down.

For instance:

I want either Vita Vea or Rashaan Evans in the first.
I want Will Hernandez in the 2nd.
Tim Settle in the 3rd, if I didn't get Vita in the first. Leighton Vander Esch if we don't get Rashaan.
DeShon Elliott in the fourth.

Truth be told, I could care less what the Cowboys actually do in the draft, so long as they address those four positions I'll be happy until said picks give us a reason to feel otherwise. Where I will be disappointed is if they use one of those first four picks on a WR/TE, without having addressed the aforementioned positions either already in the draft or via Free Agency.

How would you address them?

 

[Sydla]

In my mind, (without the benefit of knowing what positions the Cowboys are targeting in Free Agency) there are four positions the Cowboys must address: OG, DT, LB, S. If the Cowboys are able to keep David Irving, DT obviously becomes less important, though, I think we can all agree (whether the FO agrees or not) that this team will still need a true 1-tech, if they are to effectively and consistently shut down the oppositions ground game. With that said, in a hypothetical 4 round draft, how would you address those positions in the first four rounds. For all the talk about taking the BPA, make no mistake the Cowboys will be addressing at least 3 of those positions (excluding DT, if history has taught anything about the current regime) in the first 4 rounds.

With those constructs in place, how would you address those specific positions, where you the guy calling the shots? For this exercise, let's leave where we think guys may or may not go out of the discussion, because at the end of the day, there will be surprise drops and late-risers that push more deserving guys down.

For instance:

I want either Vita Vea or Rashaan Evans in the first.
I want Will Hernandez in the 2nd.
Tim Settle in the 3rd, if I didn't get Vita in the first. Leighton Vander Esch if we don't get Rashaan.
DeShon Elliott in the fourth.

Truth be told, I could care less what the Cowboys actually do in the draft, so long as they address those four positions I'll be happy until said picks give us a reason to feel otherwise. Where I will be disappointed is if they use one of those first four picks on a WR/TE, without having addressed the aforementioned positions either already in the draft or via Free Agency.

How would you address them?

OG - that's what FA is for. You can get a decent starting OG for a decent price in FA. Then maybe I take an OG in the mid to later rounds for developmental purposes.

S - I might see what's in FA and maybe investigate Thomas. I think having an experienced S back there would prove vital for the young secondary. Then I might look at a mid round S like Elliott, as you suggested, or the kid from Wake Forest.

DT - Have to draft one. Settle is a guy I have my eye on. I prefer Payne over all of them but I am not sure this team uses a 1st rounder on a DT.

LB - I like Evans. But again, this might be a position I might look at in FA. If the plan is truly to move Smith to SAM and then play the nickel backer, I think there will be some pretty good run stopping 2 down LBs in FA. Williamson is one. Maybe Davis. I could do Vander Esch, but not at 19.

 

[CATCH17]

In my mind, (without the benefit of knowing what positions the Cowboys are targeting in Free Agency) there are four positions the Cowboys must address: OG, DT, LB, S. If the Cowboys are able to keep David Irving, DT obviously becomes less important, though, I think we can all agree (whether the FO agrees or not) that this team will still need a true 1-tech, if they are to effectively and consistently shut down the oppositions ground game. With that said, in a hypothetical 4 round draft, how would you address those positions in the first four rounds. For all the talk about taking the BPA, make no mistake the Cowboys will be addressing at least 3 of those positions (excluding DT, if history has taught anything about the current regime) in the first 4 rounds.

With those constructs in place, how would you address those specific positions, where you the guy calling the shots? For this exercise, let's leave where we think guys may or may not go out of the discussion, because at the end of the day, there will be surprise drops and late-risers that push more deserving guys down.

For instance:

I want either Vita Vea or Rashaan Evans in the first.
I want Will Hernandez in the 2nd.
Tim Settle in the 3rd, if I didn't get Vita in the first. Leighton Vander Esch if we don't get Rashaan.
DeShon Elliott in the fourth.

Truth be told, I could care less what the Cowboys actually do in the draft, so long as they address those four positions I'll be happy until said picks give us a reason to feel otherwise. Where I will be disappointed is if they use one of those first four picks on a WR/TE, without having addressed the aforementioned positions either already in the draft or via Free Agency.

How would you address them?

Vander Esch may not make it to the 2nd at this point.

 

[Sandyf]

Similar, but would trade down in 1st to the 24/28 range. Like Vea or Payne but just don't see Dallas taking a 1 tech at 19 but maybe 28
1st Vander Esch LB or Phillips DT
2nd Phillips DT or Bates S
3rd Shepherd DT or Jewell LB
4th Crosby OL or Ragnow OL

 

[Sydla]

Similar, but would trade down in 1st to the 24/28 range. Like Vea or Payne but just don't see Dallas taking a 1 tech at 19 but maybe 28
1st Vander Esch LB or Phillips DT
2nd Phillips DT or Bates S
3rd Shepherd DT or Jewell LB
4th Crosby OL or Ragnow OL

Payne is my guy at DT but Phillips is another name I like and probably more likely a guy we would target as we don't use first rounders on DTs.

I think people are overvaluing Jewell in the 3rd round. He's gonna get dinged for a lack of athleticism.

 

[jday]

Vander Esch may not make it to the 2nd at this point.

I've heard that, but then again, I've also heard that about a one-handed linebacker who is also skyrocketing up boards due to his other-wordly combine. That's why I said in the OP we should leave the "where we think they will go" out of the general conversation.

With that said, how would you draft the first four rounds given those parameters?

 

[jday]

OG - that's what FA is for. You can get a decent starting OG for a decent price in FA. Then maybe I take an OG in the mid to later rounds for developmental purposes.

S - I might see what's in FA and maybe investigate Thomas. I think having an experienced S back there would prove vital for the young secondary. Then I might look at a mid round S like Elliott, as you suggested, or the kid from Wake Forest.

DT - Have to draft one. Settle is a guy I have my eye on. I prefer Payne over all of them but I am not sure this team uses a 1st rounder on a DT.

LB - I like Evans. But again, this might be a position I might look at in FA. If the plan is truly to move Smith to SAM and then play the nickel backer, I think there will be some pretty good run stopping 2 down LBs in FA. Williamson is one. Maybe Davis. I could do Vander Esch, but not at 19.

Okay, so what is your ideal first four rounds, assuming we address the position's you outlined in Free Agency?

Just curious...

 

[jday]

Payne is my guy at DT but Phillips is another name I like and probably more likely a guy we would target as we don't use first rounders on DTs.

I think people are overvaluing Jewell in the 3rd round. He's gonna get dinged for a lack of athleticism.

I agree with your point on Jewell. He should still be there in the fourth, and if the Cowboys don't address it in the first three rounds, I might look there. But I gotta say I really wonder about how he fits in the NFL...it may take a year or two for him to adjust to the speed of the game...if he ever does.

 

[CATCH17]

I've heard that, but then again, I've also heard that about a one-handed linebacker who is also skyrocketing up boards due to his other-wordly combine. That's why I said in the OP we should leave the "where we think they will go" out of the general conversation.

With that said, how would you draft the first four rounds given those parameters?

It's too hard for me to pick who I want at this point.

I would need to see what's available at the time.


I want Derwin, Edmunds, or Roquan.

If I can't get those 3 then i'd like to get out of the pick.

 

[CATCH17]

Payne is my guy at DT but Phillips is another name I like and probably more likely a guy we would target as we don't use first rounders on DTs.

I think people are overvaluing Jewell in the 3rd round. He's gonna get dinged for a lack of athleticism.

This is random but I remember watching Hitchens at Iowa everything about him just screamed jag.

His athleticism wasn't that great or anything.

Then when I saw him in the pre-season he was flying around.

Maybe it's just the Hawkeye uniform or something haha. Maybe it's just big 10 players look slower in college.

Leveon Bell looked like a stiff RB at Michigan state and in the Pro's he is nothing like that.

 

[jday]

Similar, but would trade down in 1st to the 24/28 range. Like Vea or Payne but just don't see Dallas taking a 1 tech at 19 but maybe 28
1st Vander Esch LB or Phillips DT
2nd Phillips DT or Bates S
3rd Shepherd DT or Jewell LB
4th Crosby OL or Ragnow OL

It's too hard for me to pick who I want at this point.

I would need to see what's available at the time.


I want Derwin, Edmunds, or Roquan.

If I can't get those 3 then i'd like to get out of the pick.

I hardly have a handle on specific players I want myself, which is another reason why I'm not crazy about the "where they should go" argument. I really have no idea and am presently at the mercy of the various websites guessing at it. I really like Vita Vea, Rashaan Evans, Will Hernandez (though 19 might be too high for him) and among safeties I like what I've read about the top four: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Derwin James, Ronnie Harrison and Justin Reid...so I'd be thrilled to walk away with 1 of the four.

 

[Montanalo]

All things being equal, I would rather "target" (by the way, I hate that term - seems to imply that you unnecessarily reach for a player) DL and OL in rounds 1-3.

If Payne and Vita are gone by 19, I wouldn't hesitate to take the best OG or OT on the board. I think there are several quality DTs that could be selected in the 2nd.

JMO, but I really believe a good LB (or two) could be had in the 3rd or 4th rounds. I probably run a bit counter to some in thinking we don't necessarily need to draft a LB in round 1.

 

[Sydla]

Okay, so what is your ideal first four rounds, assuming we address the position's you outlined in Free Agency?

Just curious...

I'd love to go Payne in the 1st if we stay at 19, maybe WR in the 2nd, OG/OT in the 3rd and then maybe S in the 4th.

 

[tm1119]

Payne, Vea, R Smith, Edmunds, D James, Fitzpatrick...cross my fingers and pray 1 of them is there at 19 is my draft strategy.

I do think this is a very deep draft for functional 1 Tech’s that can contribute early- Settle, H phillips, BJ Hill, kid Shepard from small school, Senat, Nandi, Fatukaski...some of the names I’d be targeting in 2nd/3rd round.

S I’m pretty much James or Fitz only (I know not going to happen). This is the position that should be addressed in FA in my opinion.

G is tough. Will Hernandez is my plan #7 after the 1st 6 I mentioned are gone and we can’t trade back. Id actually prefer Braden Smith in the 2nd as a day 1 starter. Teller, Cappa, and Rod Taylor are a few options in the 3rd/4th that could be pretty good.

LB is tough outside of the top 2. Vander Esch and Evans are probably a pipe dream in the 2nd. Not a ton of options that could play early outside of the top 4 in my opinion. A few interesting guys like Leonard, Kiser, O’Daniel, Warner, etc in the 3rd-5th rounds.

 

[Killerinstinct]

1. Payne DT
2. Daniels OG
3. Bates III S
4. Warner LB

 

[jday]

All things being equal, I would rather "target" (by the way, I hate that term - seems to imply that you unnecessarily reach for a player) DL and OL in rounds 1-3.

If Payne and Vita are gone by 19, I wouldn't hesitate to take the best OG or OT on the board. I think there are several quality DTs that could be selected in the 2nd.

JMO, but I really believe a good LB (or two) could be had in the 3rd or 4th rounds. I probably run a bit counter to some in thinking we don't necessarily need to draft a LB in round 1.

I'm with you. DL and OL should absolutely be a focus in the first 3 rounds. My ideal draft would come away with Vita Vea and Will Hernandez in the first 2 rounds, but based on the FO's history, I really don't see it happening. My best guess says they'll either address offensive line or Safety in the first round...but linebacker is a very close second to those two, dependent on what happens to Hitchens. I like Jaylon, but after a lack-luster first year asking him to do what would essentially be two different jobs (Strong Side on running downs and Middle Linebacker on passing downs) does not inspire alot of confidence. And I doubt the FO would feel real good about that plan either.

 

[jday]

I'd love to go Payne in the 1st if we stay at 19, maybe WR in the 2nd, OG/OT in the 3rd and then maybe S in the 4th.

Provided Free Agency shakes out as you mentioned earlier, I'd be okay with that.