Drop off at positions of need-possible trade downs

[Cowboyny]

I wanted to do a post looking at our positions of need determining how great of a drop-off between the top prospects to the next tier:

Safety-Downs-Thieneman. Downs is considered to be one of the best players in the entire class.

Linebacker-Styles-Allen/Hill. Gap isn't too wide. All three project as plug and play starters.

Edge-Bain/Bailey-Mesador/Height/Howell. I just included the top pure pass rushers. 2nd tier has two prospects who are 24 and another who has short arms. Think 2nd tier are more floor type players, where the 1st tier has elite upside potential.

Corner-McCoy/Delane-Cisse/Terrell/Hood-think all would project as year 1 starters, although Terrell might be more of a slot corner. However, big gap from McCoy (if healthy) to everyone else.

Tackle-Mauigoa/Fano-Proctor/Lomu-not a great class looking for a tackle, especially a left tackle. Some of these players might even be considered Guards by some teams. Gap isn't large from the top to the next tier.

Safety, Edge appear to be the widest gaps, where CB it McCoy then a wide gap to the next group. This suggests do not trade away from Downs, Bain/Bailey or McCoy. If you get wiped out and can find a trade partner, make the deal.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Good thread.......I have asking the same questions. For example, I love Styles and would be ok taking him at 12, but been wondering this exact question. Is the margin between him and Allen too much so that I can't draft a positional player who will have the same impact at 20? For that reason, I am not passing on Bain, Downs, CB or top OT.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Also, not to hijack your thread but we need to talk about the LT position. It's completely unsettled based on Schotty's comments about Guyton becoming a swing AND Tyler's reluctance to move from his All-Pro position. In other words......we ended the season w/o a clear-cut starter. What are the chances of using one of the 1st on OT if the board is wiped out of defensive targets?

 

[Cowboyny]

Good thread.......I have asking the same questions. For example, I love Styles and would be ok taking him at 12, but been wondering this exact question. Is the margin between him and Allen too much so that I can't draft a positional player who will have the same impact at 20? For that reason, I am not passing on Bain, Downs, CB or top OT.

It is a good exercise to have with the team having two 1st rd picks. Can we move back at 12, add another top 50 pick and still address the need with a comparable player?

 

[Cowboyny]

Also, not to hijack your thread but we need to talk about the LT position. It's completely unsettled based on Schotty's comments about Guyton becoming a swing AND Tyler's reluctance to move from his All-Pro position. In other words......we ended the season w/o a clear-cut starter. What are the chances of using one of the 1st on OT if the board is wiped out of defensive targets?

With the Cowboys, we never can rule out taking another 1st rd lineman. Think if Mau if there at 12, they are going to have to make a difficult decision, same goes with Proctor at 20.

Personally, I would go with Guyton/Thomas and add a veteran swing tackle with starting experience. Probably add another lineman on day 3 to develop. We also cannot fully rule out Steele returning, although it would be surprising.

 

[Aven8]

I think with another year in the weight room Nate Thomas is going to be better. Guyton’s biggest issue has been availability. It’s like Tyron but at the end of his career

 

[Cowboyny]

I think with another year in the weight room Nate Thomas is going to be better. Guyton’s biggest issue has been availability. It’s like Tyron but at the end of his career

Agree, Guyton for the some part has been good when on the field. Problem is, he is always hurt. To cover themselves, add a quality swing tackle who has the ability to spot start. Don't think they need to find his replacement. As for Thomas, let's remember it was basically his rookie season. We saw a jump from Guyton in yr 2, I would expect the same.

 

[Beaker42]

I wanted to do a post looking at our positions of need determining how great of a drop-off between the top prospects to the next tier:

Safety-Downs-Thieneman. Downs is considered to be one of the best players in the entire class.

Linebacker-Styles-Allen/Hill. Gap isn't too wide. All three project as plug and play starters.

Edge-Bain/Bailey-Mesador/Height/Howell. I just included the top pure pass rushers. 2nd tier has two prospects who are 24 and another who has short arms. Think 2nd tier are more floor type players, where the 1st tier has elite upside potential.

Corner-McCoy/Delane-Cisse/Terrell/Hood-think all would project as year 1 starters, although Terrell might be more of a slot corner. However, big gap from McCoy (if healthy) to everyone else.

Tackle-Mauigoa/Fano-Proctor/Lomu-not a great class looking for a tackle, especially a left tackle. Some of these players might even be considered Guards by some teams. Gap isn't large from the top to the next tier.

Safety, Edge appear to be the widest gaps, where CB it McCoy then a wide gap to the next group. This suggests do not trade away from Downs, Bain/Bailey or McCoy. If you get wiped out and can find a trade partner, make the deal.

Where’s Reese?? He’s a top 5 player but he deserves a mention at LB IMO.

 

[Cowboyny]

Where’s Reese?? He’s a top 5 player but he deserves a mention at LB IMO.

I don’t consider him cause the odds of him falling to 12 is very unlikely at this stage

 

[Killerinstinct]

If they trade down from 12 and take Terrell, Hood or Cisse and then trade down from 20 and grab Allen or Hill then they could end up with enough picks to grab 2 starting safeties in the 2nd round and probably another LB in the 3rd, Golday, Lawson, Trotter etc. Fix DE in Free agency or via trade and suddenly you have the possibility of 6 new starters on Defense.

 

[visionary]

I wanted to do a post looking at our positions of need determining how great of a drop-off between the top prospects to the next tier:

Safety-Downs-Thieneman. Downs is considered to be one of the best players in the entire class.

Linebacker-Styles-Allen/Hill. Gap isn't too wide. All three project as plug and play starters.

Edge-Bain/Bailey-Mesador/Height/Howell. I just included the top pure pass rushers. 2nd tier has two prospects who are 24 and another who has short arms. Think 2nd tier are more floor type players, where the 1st tier has elite upside potential.

Corner-McCoy/Delane-Cisse/Terrell/Hood-think all would project as year 1 starters, although Terrell might be more of a slot corner. However, big gap from McCoy (if healthy) to everyone else.

Tackle-Mauigoa/Fano-Proctor/Lomu-not a great class looking for a tackle, especially a left tackle. Some of these players might even be considered Guards by some teams. Gap isn't large from the top to the next tier.

Safety, Edge appear to be the widest gaps, where CB it McCoy then a wide gap to the next group. This suggests do not trade away from Downs, Bain/Bailey or McCoy. If you get wiped out and can find a trade partner, make the deal.

Where is Faulk?

 

[Cowboyny]

Where is Faulk?

He is more of a run defender right now

 

[visionary]

He is more of a run defender right now

Still an edge

 

[cnuball21]

I wanted to do a post looking at our positions of need determining how great of a drop-off between the top prospects to the next tier:

Safety-Downs-Thieneman. Downs is considered to be one of the best players in the entire class.

Linebacker-Styles-Allen/Hill. Gap isn't too wide. All three project as plug and play starters.

Edge-Bain/Bailey-Mesador/Height/Howell. I just included the top pure pass rushers. 2nd tier has two prospects who are 24 and another who has short arms. Think 2nd tier are more floor type players, where the 1st tier has elite upside potential.

Corner-McCoy/Delane-Cisse/Terrell/Hood-think all would project as year 1 starters, although Terrell might be more of a slot corner. However, big gap from McCoy (if healthy) to everyone else.

Tackle-Mauigoa/Fano-Proctor/Lomu-not a great class looking for a tackle, especially a left tackle. Some of these players might even be considered Guards by some teams. Gap isn't large from the top to the next tier.

Safety, Edge appear to be the widest gaps, where CB it McCoy then a wide gap to the next group. This suggests do not trade away from Downs, Bain/Bailey or McCoy. If you get wiped out and can find a trade partner, make the deal.

Agree on your top Safeties but the boys from LSU and USC could help...day 2 guys.

Check out the LBr Trotter.

 

[stilltheguru]

I don't think colton Hood is as far behind or behind the top guys at all.

 

[Cowboyny]

Agree on your top Safeties but the boys from LSU and USC could help...day 2 guys.

Check out the LBr Trotter.

Appears to be a deep linebacker and safety class, would love to add an additional pick to get either.

Really interested to see if they cut or keep Logan and Hooker as they can save money by releasing both, but open up even more holes.

 

[Cowboyny]

Still an edge

He is, but I’m looking for the best pure pass rushing prospects as we can always find a run defender later on

 

[darthseinfeld]

I wanted to do a post looking at our positions of need determining how great of a drop-off between the top prospects to the next tier:

Safety-Downs-Thieneman. Downs is considered to be one of the best players in the entire class.

Linebacker-Styles-Allen/Hill. Gap isn't too wide. All three project as plug and play starters.

Edge-Bain/Bailey-Mesador/Height/Howell. I just included the top pure pass rushers. 2nd tier has two prospects who are 24 and another who has short arms. Think 2nd tier are more floor type players, where the 1st tier has elite upside potential.

Corner-McCoy/Delane-Cisse/Terrell/Hood-think all would project as year 1 starters, although Terrell might be more of a slot corner. However, big gap from McCoy (if healthy) to everyone else.

Tackle-Mauigoa/Fano-Proctor/Lomu-not a great class looking for a tackle, especially a left tackle. Some of these players might even be considered Guards by some teams. Gap isn't large from the top to the next tier.

Safety, Edge appear to be the widest gaps, where CB it McCoy then a wide gap to the next group. This suggests do not trade away from Downs, Bain/Bailey or McCoy. If you get wiped out and can find a trade partner, make the deal.

Id put Parker after Bailey right now. However given our DC interviews, or DE's will likely be rushing the passer standing up, so Howell would likely be preferred. I do wonder how much the arms will drop him. He seemed to build moment in season. Doing some research the shortest arms I could find for a successful DE was Melvin Ingram at 31 inches. Howell's are supposedly 30

 

[CowboyoWales]

Also, not to hijack your thread but we need to talk about the LT position. It's completely unsettled based on Schotty's comments about Guyton becoming a swing AND Tyler's reluctance to move from his All-Pro position. In other words......we ended the season w/o a clear-cut starter. What are the chances of using one of the 1st on OT if the board is wiped out of defensive targets?

No, just no to drafting a LT in the 1st. If the draft isnt going our way on defensive players and they start going, we actually want to trade up (possibly NO at 8), get the defensive piece we want, and if we us 12 and 20 to move up we may get no 42 and 73,

So what's the difference between 20 and 42 (plus 1st RD Grade defensive piece)?

We are going to have make do on Offense (after Javonte and Pickens)..... we cant skimp of the defensive rebuild.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

The Dallas team is usually pretty good at telegraphing their positional targets for 1st-rounders. They also seem to look at first-rounders as a chance to replace a starter, especially at premium positions. For example.......drafting Guyton and Booker to replace Tyron Smith and Zack Martin.

****CB......Bland surgery last month on the same foot. Word is he will be ready for offseason workouts. 2026 is the final year of guaranteed money on his recently signed contract extension.
*****LBer....We don't have a starting MLBer
*****Edge....Need a starter opposite EZ. The problem here is EVERY team wants another starter. So don't expect a projected blue-chipper to fall in your lap.


I agree with KD here, except for Love



If any of these players made their way to No. 12, Cavanaugh would be very happy to make the selection for Dallas, at least at this point before all-star games, combines and pro days. And while he states his love for the cornerbacks in this draft, none of them make the cut, nor do the bevy of wideouts expected to go in the round. Click on each prospect to visit their

1. Safety Caleb Downs, Ohio State
2. RB Jeremiah Love, Notre Dame
3. LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
4. Edge/LB Arvel Reese, Ohio State
5. Edge Ruben Bain, Miami
6. Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech