Draft Grade

[alancdc]

Good comments on these players.

NFL.com analysts Chad Reuter and Bucky Brooks are handing out grades for every team following the 2012 NFL Draft. Click the team name to see each team's entire class.
Dallas Cowboys: B

Draft Grades & Team Holes
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This week, NFL.com analysts Bucky Brooks and Chad Reuter are grading the draft classes for each team from the 2012 NFL Draft, and analyst Elliot Harrison will be addressing what holes remain for each team.

Tuesday, May 1
• NFC East: 2012 Draft Grades | Remaining Holes
• AFC East: 2012 Draft Grades | Remaining Holes
Wednesday, May 2
• NFC North
• AFC North
Thursday, May 3
• NFC South
• AFC South
Friday, May 4
• NFC West
• AFC West


The Cowboys came into the draft needing to infuse their defense with talent, and they accomplished that goal. Trading up in the first round to select the top-rated cornerback (Morris Claiborne) and taking a chance on FCS stud safety Matt Johnson greatly helped the secondary. Also, linebacker Kyle Wilber has potential as a pass rusher. The offense wasn't ignored, either, with quarterback Tony Romo getting a new receiver (Virginia Tech's Danny Coale) and tight end (Oklahoma's James Hanna) to help exploit the middle of the defense. It was an all-around solid weekend for the Cowboys.

Best pick: Tyrone Crawford, DE, Boise State (Round 3, 81st overall pick).
He played on the strong side in Boise's 4-3 scheme, but adding just a bit more weight to his 6-foot-4, 275-pound frame will make his initial punch on the tackle at the five-technique even more potent.

Questionable pick: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU (Round 1, 6).
This isn't about Claiborne as a player -- his ball skills are the best in the class. Giving up a potential starter at No. 45 (they picked LB Sean Lee at No. 55 in 2010) to trade up to get Claiborne, though, might prove to be an imprudent move. They could've held tight, kept that valuable second-round pick and taken CB Dre Kirkpatrick.

Sleeper pick: James Hanna, TE, Oklahoma (Round 6, 186).
Could play an Aaron Hernandez-type role in Dallas' offense with his athleticism

 

[RS12]

There are literally a million draft grades out there this year. Just eyeballing it, seems like the average grade is around a B-. Not that it means much.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Questionable pick: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU (Round 1, 6).
This isn't about Claiborne as a player -- his ball skills are the best in the class. Giving up a potential starter at No. 45 (they picked LB Sean Lee at No. 55 in 2010) to trade up to get Claiborne, though, might prove to be an imprudent move. They could've held tight, kept that valuable second-round pick and taken CB Dre Kirkpatrick.

Here's where this analysis gets flawed. First, if they really wanted a CB, whose to say Kirkpatrick would have been there? Plus they already had Mike Jenkins and nothing tells me Kirkpatrick is a slam duck upgrade because he, like Jenkins has some holes in his game.

Several weeks ago, I started a post in the Draft Zone asking who at #14 did the board think might be avaialbe and have a chance to become a Hall of Famer. I asked because I didn't want just a starter; this team needs a real blue chipper, a real leader, and a real differnece maker that will upgrade the defense throughout for many years.

Nobody could really come to a consensus i that post on any player that we could have a #14. But getting Mo at #6? WOW!

We now have that potential Hall of Famer, and it only cost usanother mid second round pick. Anybody who can't see the significnace of this move is stupid-blind.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Solid B, bordering on a B+ because so many of our draftees this year were team captains of their collige teams.

 

[perrykemp]

Solid B, bordering on a B+ because so many of our draftees this year were team captains of their collige teams.

For now B -- although the "now" grade means absolutely nothing. Ask again in 3-4 years for the true grade.

Anybody remember Bruce Pickens? He was an all-world CB taken with the 3rd overall pick in 1991 by Atlanta... can't miss prospect, yada yada yada. He turned out to be a colossal bust.

Even with the the guys who seem absolutely destined for NFL stardom -- you never really know.

 

[chagus]

What this review is not taking into consideration is that this draft was about high character football players. Wasn't Kirkpatrick busted with pot? Dallas simply stayed away from trouble makers, prima donnas, and dummies. A+!!!

 

[SportsGuru80]

No thanks... I'm not a big fan of Kirkpatrick...

 

[Cowboys22]

So Matt Johnson is now a stud safety? Wasn't it just a few days ago we all told he wasn't even a draft able player?

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

I give us a B+.