Draft thoughts

[DAL1180]

I post this every year for my own reference. I like to check back years later and go wow.

Top 50
1. Reuben Foster ILB Alabama
2. Myles Garrett DE Texas A&M
3. Jonathan Allen DE Alabama
4. Malik Hooker S Ohio St.
5. Jamal Adams S LSU

6. O.J. Howard TE Alabama
7. Dalvin Cook RB Florida St.
8. Corey Davis WR Western Michigan
9. Leonard Fournette RB LSU
10. Forrest Lamp G Western Kentucky

11. Derek Barnett DE Tennessee
12. Budda Baker S Washington
13. Mike Williams WR Clemson
14. Haason Reddick OLB Temple
15. Marshon Lattimore CB Ohio St.

16. Takkarist McKinley DE UCLA
17. Tre'Davious White CB LSU
18. David Njoku TE Miami
19. Tyus Bowser OLB Houston
20. John Ross WR Washington

21. Ryan Ramczyk T Wisconsin
22. Marlon Humphrey CB Alabama
23. Jarrad Davis ILB Florida
24. Taco Charlton DE Michigan
25. Garett Bolles T Utah

26. Gareon Conley CB Ohio St.
27. T.J. Watt OLB Wisconsin
28. Cam Robinson T Alabama
29. Charles Harris DE Missouri
30. Jabrill Peppers S Michigan

31. Joe Mixon RB Oklahoma
32. Carl Lawson DE Auburn
33. Malik McDowell DT Michigan St.
34. Alvin Kamara RB Tennessee
35. Sidney Jones CB Washington

36. Dion Dawkins G Temple
37. Evan Engram TE Mississippi
38. Curtis Samuel WR Ohio St.
39. Jordan Willis DE Kansas St.
40. Mitch Trubisky QB North Carolina

41. Fabian Moreau CB UCLA
42. Duke Riley OLB LSU
43. Christian McCaffrey RB Stanford
44. Taylor Moton T Western Michigan
45. Patrick Mahomes QB Texas Tech

46. Quincy Wilson CB Florida
47. Dalvin Tomlinson DT Alabama
48. Zay Jones WR East Carolina
49. Jourdan Lewis CB Michigan
50. Chidobe Awuzie CB Colorado

Just Missed: Dan Feeney G Indiana, Tim Williams DE Alabama, Josh Jones S North Carolina St., Gerald Everett TE South Alabama, Zach Cunningham ILB Vanderbilt.

* Caleb Brantley DT Florida was originally ranked 45th but was taken off the board. He responded by superman punching my sister.

-

Pet Cats
Reuben Foster ILB Alabama
Jonathan Allen DE Alabama
Malik Hooker S Ohio St.
O.J. Howard TE Alabama
Forrest Lamp G Western Kentucky
Jarrad Davis ILB Florida
Sidney Jones CB Washington
Tyus Bowser OLB Houston
Budda Baker S Washington
Marcus Williams S Utah
Jordan Willis DE Kansas St.
Taylor Moton T Western Michigan
Josh Jones S North Carolina St.
Chidobe Awuzie CB Colorado
Gerald Everett TE South Alabama
Dalvin Tomlinson DT Alabama
Jourdan Lewis CB Michigan
Duke Riley OLB LSU
Jaleel Johnson DT Iowa
D.J. Jones DT Mississippi
Kyle Fuller C Baylor
Shelton Gibson WR West Virginia

-

Mock Draft

I tried to keep this as realistic as possible in terms of what will be available at these picks. Basically if I've seen the player near the spot elsewhere, he's available to me. Trades are not an option because I'm not going to negotiate with myself. I'm not on speaking terms.

1(28) Reuben Foster ILB Alabama
Had to edit this mock late with the rumblings that Foster is sliding out of the 1st round. Not with me selecting he's not. Simply the best overall player in this draft. Would bring leadership and nasty to the defense. Budda Baker was the original selection. Too much value at 28 to pass up.

2(60) Taylor Moton T Western Michigan
I don't know how realistic it is that he's still on the board but several have him here and that's fits my criteria for making the pick. Not the popular choice. Slides in at RT for 2018. Very underrated player.

3(92) Jourdan Lewis CB Michigan
The best pure cover corner in the draft. Will take over Scandrick's role. Don't want to talk anymore about this.

4(133) Shelton Gibson WR West Virginia
Gives the team the speed dynamic they've lacked on offense for quite some time and could help in the return game. Home run hitter with a ridiculous 22.6 yards per catch average with the Mountaineers.

6(211) Ifeadi Odenigbo DE Northwestern
Athletic pass rush specialist with the tools to develop. Can give Tapper a blow when he gets tired of sacking everybody all the time.

7(228) DeAngelo Brown DT Louisville
Has a shot as a block eating 1 tech keeping the linebackers clean to make plays.

7(246) David Jones S Richmond
Super sleeper has slid through the cracks based off an injury riddled 2016. 9 INTs in 2015. Special teams gunner buys him time to develop.

Draft Grade: A+ Nailed it.

No impact pass rusher in the early rounds. Oxygen masks will now be deployed.

----

- I didn't plan to go heavy on defense. I'd have liked to have addressed TE and maybe with that 4th round pick but Gibson's speed is too enticing there.

- Mock drafts are meaningless. The truth is you, I and everyone else. including the teams. don't know how these players are going to come off the board. Yet we conduct mocks thinking we do. Your true mock draft will be when we go on the clock with those selections. I expect to pick a better player than the Cowboys every time when that happens. Just like last year.

- If the rumors are BS and Philadelphia lands Reuben Foster put me on suicide watch.

- I really hope I'm wrong but I think we're setting up for a real stinker draft class. All signs point to the team being fixated on a couple of positions. That's bad news, man. Fans are for it of course. They want instant impact. Draftniks aren't. Team building is the way to go in the draft and you don't do that force feeding picks at current needs. So if you want to break all ties with a defensive player I can live with it but you've lost me if you're playing the "we can go DE in round 1, CB in round 2, S in round 3" game. It's a terrible failure of a philosophy.

Best. Sports. Event. Of. The. Year. I can't wait to buckle down on Thursday with all the answers and a Do Not Disturb sign on the basement door.

Go Cowboys.

Great job as always Mr. Star. "Superman punched my sister" and " not on speaking terms with myself" are already getting Oscar buzz the category of "Funniest line na pre-draft fan forum". I'm betting the presenters will be Kate Moss and Gil Brandt.

 

[WeaponX]

Moton is my pet cat in this draft. I was originally hoping he'd be there in the third when guys like Dawkins and Garcia were getting some love, but I think he's pretty convincingly taken over the 3rd-4th tackle spot, and I'm not convinced he won't actually end up being the best of the lot. If Green is healthy, he probably wins the job this year, but I agree that Moton would be the long term answer to "finish" off the line.

 

[Risen Star]

Moton is my pet cat in this draft. I was originally hoping he'd be there in the third when guys like Dawkins and Garcia were getting some love, but I think he's pretty convincingly taken over the 3rd-4th tackle spot, and I'm not convinced he won't actually end up being the best of the lot. If Green is healthy, he probably wins the job this year, but I agree that Moton would be the long term answer to "finish" off the line.

Probably not finish it off. Collins probably won't be a Cowboy long term. They won't want to add another big contract there.

 

[WeaponX]

Probably not finish it off. Collins probably won't be a Cowboy long term. They won't want to add another big contract there.

Should have signed Leary (sigh), but you're probably right - he'll be looking to cash in year after next and if he's not in a position to do so, it'll mean we'll look to upgrade regardless.

 

[cowboyblue22]

like your draft and don't be surprised if the cowboys take a offensive player in the first or second round

 

[cowboyblue22]

don't you believe though if they take foster that high that says a lot about Jalen smith and what he Is going to be

 

[ksg811]

don't you believe though if they take foster that high that says a lot about Jalen smith and what he Is going to be

Nope. I think draftin Foster would be sticking to the board and taking the best player. Foster is a complete linebacker and IMO, one of the top 5 talents in this draft.

Perhaps there is a bit of cautiousness with Jaylon that would go into this pick, but it wouldn't be the reason. The reason would be because of Foster's talent.

 

[noletime95]

Should have signed Leary (sigh), but you're probably right - he'll be looking to cash in year after next and if he's not in a position to do so, it'll mean we'll look to upgrade regardless.

True, no 5th year option with Collins. I do think it's possible Dallas chooses to invest in Colliins if he stays healthy this season and produces at a high level.....having Collins ready to go and Leary's injury history all contributed to Dallas letting Leary walk.

 

[Sydla]

If you went with a defensive player in the 2nd, I could get behind this draft. I am mixed on Foster. Definitely a stud talent BUT.......... the failed drug test and their lame excuse explaining it don't sit well with me (given our recent run in with drug nitwits) and I worry about his physical condition. I saw yet another analyst on NFLN claim some teams are worried given his usage at Bama and how he plays that he's not a guy you can count on to be a 3 down LB in the NFL as he'll get nicked up a lot.

But I could live with it if it broke that way.

And I'd rather Philly take Foster than a stud DE like Barnett.

 

[Risen Star]

don't you believe though if they take foster that high that says a lot about Jalen smith and what he Is going to be

Not really. Sean Lee's in his 30s now.

 

[Stash]

True, no 5th year option with Collins. I do think it's possible Dallas chooses to invest in Colliins if he stays healthy this season and produces at a high level.....having Collins ready to go and Leary's injury history all contributed to Dallas letting Leary walk.

Same here. I'm optimistic that they could work out a mutually beneficial deal with Collins for the future. He seems like someone who values loyalty and respect and I think he has that in Dallas. If that means as much as I think it does, I think the Cowboys would have a very good chance of signing him to a long term deal at a reasonable rate and not anything sky high.

 

[Risen Star]

You've been talking up Takk alot. How come he is not a "pet cat"?

More of a stray cat that I feed and try to find a good home.

I like him. I'd be fine with him at 28. That's good value.

 

[Risen Star]

Same here. I'm optimistic that they could work out a mutually beneficial deal with Collins for the future. He seems like someone who values loyalty and respect and I think he has that in Dallas. If that means as much as I think it does, I think the Cowboys would have a very good chance of signing him to a long term deal at a reasonable rate and not anything sky high.

Four big contracts along the offensive line? I doubt it. I hope so though.

 

[Stash]

Four big contracts along the offensive line? I doubt it. I hope so though.

I'm think three "big" and a "medium".

If they approach Collins and make a reasonable early offer, I'm optimistic that they might get something done. If he gets to unrestricted free agency? All bets are off.

 

[ksg811]

Four big contracts along the offensive line? I doubt it. I hope so though.

I'm not convinced Collins would be a "big" contract. He's been oft injured and hasn't proven to be elite like his 3 line-mates. I wouldn't be opposed to extending him on a team friendly deal when Romo's cap saving kick in. He's due to make 600k this year and a couple million next year on the RFA tender. If we take a baseball approach and "buy out" the next 2 small pay years (like buying out arbitration in baseball) and get a friendly deal on the back end by giving him a few million extra on the front side.

I haven't done the math out myself to see if it's even feasible given Martin's upcoming extension as well, but it's a strategy that could possibly save 12+ million dollars over the next 5 years.

 

[tyke1doe]

Good Job Risen!


Unlike most on here, I would love to get Foster at 28. Sadly, I see this team skipping on him bc of Jaylon, which i think is a mistake...

If Reuben Foster is available, we'd better run to the podium buck-naked if necessary. Every time I see him tackle someone, they're going backwards. Also, I don't believe he has a chronic drug problem like Gregory.

 

[tyke1doe]

I don't think foster will fall that far down.

I don't either.

 

[tyke1doe]

Diluted sample. I wouldn't take a guy who tests positive but a diluted sample isn't definitive of anything.

Usually if guys fail drug tests at the combine, they've failed during their college years.
Reuben Foster has not failed any drug tests at Alabama, to my knowledge. So I tend to believe him that he was sick and guzzled a lot of fluids.

 

[Plankton]

Much respect and kudos for the effort put into this. It's always a good read when we approach draft time.

I understand the selection of Foster, and between the lines, he's a force and a terrific player, without question. The diluted test is a problem for me. It would be one thing if the food poisoning /diarrhea issue were out there prior to this. It wasn't. When he had the blow up with the nurse at the medical screenings, he could have easily indicated that he had this issue, either when it happened, or in his apologies afterward. It didn't come up until his test results came in. It sounds fishy to me. The funny thing is, I don't think he diluted it due to marijuana or rec drugs - I think it was for PEDs.

I also like Moton a lot, and think he would be a very good selection. David Jones is also a very intriguing player at safety, and at the very least would be a special teams dynamo. Look forward to your insights during the draft - it's always fun.

 

[cowboyblue22]

thanks for the reply risen