I really think Jason Garrett could have changed the course of Robert Meachem's career, too. I hope Norv Turner and Phillip Rivers help Meachem reach his full potential, because Meachem has the talent to produce much more than he was ever allowed to do in New Orleans. I have no doubt that Romo to Meachem would have been special. Sometimes, players don't get drafted into the best situations, and I think Meachem is a prime example.
Meachem was drafted by the Saints, and the Saints were already talented and had some quality wide receivers. They were coming off the NFC Championship Game. Shawn Payton really didn't take the best approach with Meachem before his rookie year even started, and I think the Saints helped stunt his development right from the start. I don't think the Saints had the urgency to get Meachem ready to play during his rookie year, either. On the other hand, the Cowboys had major age at WR, and Terry Glenn was a non-factor in 2007.
I can't help but think about the 2007 Divisional Playoff Game. The Giants were playing with a bunch of scrubs in the secondary, and Dallas needed a big play from a WR at the end of that game. Owens had a bad wheel and drew coverage. Glenn was done. Witten was helping Colombo on Romo's last desperate pass into the end-zone. Crayton stopped running on what should have been the game winning TD and had a huge drop. Meachem's speed probably catches that ball. Meachem's deep speed and big play ability could have been the difference in that football game. At a minimum, Meachem has to be accounted for, and he puts pressure on the suspect Giants secondary.
Go back to December 2008. The infamous Roy Williams trade and contract occurs in October. However, Dallas still has major WR issues, and speed is a serious issue at WR, too. A big play by a fast WR could have won the Steelers or Ravens game, especially the Ravens game. Dallas had no deep threat to stretch the field vertically when the playoffs were on the line in December.
If the Cowboys would have used one first round pick on Robert Meachem, the Roy Williams fiasco could have been totally avoided. The Cowboys would have possessed Meachem and Austin in their arsenal. Instead, the Cowboys gave Williams a ridiculous contract, and his contract paved the way for Miles Austin to be way overpaid, too. The Cowboys gave away their 2009 first round pick and a 3rd round pick and a sixth round pick. The Lions ended up with Dallas' 7th round pick in 2010, too. Dallas ended up with a horrendous 2009 draft and Roy Williams and his mega contract.
Anyway, that is my opinion. I think drafting a young Dez Bryant was a big positive step in the right direction at the WR position. Depending solely on the Isaiah Stanbacks and Sam Hurds and Kevin Ogletrees of the world really isn't a prudent plan to develop players at WR. Hoping the next undrafted free agent turns into the next big thing isn't the best way to approach this position, either. You can try to develop those players, but you better have a two track plan. Those lower tiered players better not stop you from acquiring top talent at the position. You could say that about any position, too.
