Final Grade

[Vintage]

On talent alone, that was an A draft class. No one knew Roy Williams would digress. Gurode is playing well. AB has the talent he was just a head case, and so was Derek Ross.

We didn't seem to draft any head cases this time. So if this group is anywhere as talented as that draft class, an A grade looks nice.

So... IOW....

Bryant washed out with us, Roy eventually did too, Ross washed out with us....

So it wasn't an "A" then.

Results are what matters.

And the results say, only Gurode is still with the team, we got some burn out of Roy, and the rest was crap.

 

[RainMan]

Honestly, my early grade would be a C- or a D. I fully expect a D or an F from Goose.

First, I don't say that to lambaste the draft. I'm not overly pleased with it, but what do I know? But it's difficult to have what appears out of the gate to be a homerun draft without a selection in the top two rounds. It's much easier to be pleased with your draft in a year like 2005, when we had two firsts to work with. You go home figuring you just landed two Pro Bowlers if you use your picks (seemingly) right.

Conversely, you don't usually walk away from a draft in which your top pick is a 3rd rounder screaming, "Championship!"

So, without any high picks -- coupled with a few that were, to some, reaches -- it's hard for me to give this draft a great grade. As and Bs should be reserved for what appear to be the best of the best. If we're a B+, isn't every single other team? I mean every team went home tonight thinking they just outsmarted everyone else. But not everyone did.

But, to conclude, I'm by no means stuck to that grade long term. It's meaningless right now. This could be a Dirty Dozen draft, and we could be sitting on two or three unsuspecting Hall of Famers. But at first glance, it's difficult to see that potential in my opinion. I think we got a nice kickoff specialist that could be among the better guys at his craft, a possible key role player and eventual starter in Jason Williams and a smattering of backups. Thus my grade, as if it turns out to be that way, this was anything but a terrific draft.

 

[RainMan]

So... IOW....

Bryant washed out with us, Roy eventually did too, Ross washed out with us....

So it wasn't an "A" then.

Results are what matters.

And the results say, only Gurode is still with the team, we got some burn out of Roy, and the rest was crap.

No doubt. Classic case of a draft where a team mistakenly went home thinking it outsmarted everyone.

Roy was a good pick. Even for his short-lived dominance, he made several Pro Bowlers. Gurode turned out to be a terrific selection.

But Ross was a classic case of ignoring character problems, as was Bryant to a lesser degree. We don't get credit for him finally doing pretty well on his fourth NFL team. He was a pedestrian player for us.

Although, to be fair, how many drafts yield two Pro Bowlers as that one did in Williams and Gurode? So it wasn't all bad, but not nearly as good as we hoped that draft weekend. Don't forget, we also thought we landed our future star fullback in Jamar Martin.

 

[ReturnToGlory]

This was a special, special draft for the Cowboys. A+.

What's that? You also have to play offense and defense besides special teams? Darn!

At least we have two coverage units for training camp. One with veterans and another with only rookies.

 

[CowboyFaninMD]

C
but like others said with #11 B

 

[Joe Realist]

I give them D+

 

[Big Dakota]

This was a special, special draft for the Cowboys. A+.

What's that? You also have to play offense and defense besides special teams? Darn!

At least we have two coverage units for training camp. One with veterans and another with only rookies.

Thank you Rodney Dumdazzfield.

 

[RainMan]

This was a special, special draft for the Cowboys. A+.

What's that? You also have to play offense and defense besides special teams? Darn!

At least we have two coverage units for training camp. One with veterans and another with only rookies.

You don't spend premium draft picks on long-term special teams players. You spend premium draft picks on players who might start out as special teamers as they work their way up the depth chart, but with the goal of them eventually doing much, much more.

If Williams, Brewster and the lot eventually work their way into the offensive and defensive game plans, this draft has a chance to be special. But if we got five guys who can run down the field like maniacs a few times a game -- and that's all they ever do -- they'll mostly all be gone in three seasons.

Why do you think Keith Davis was twice purged off our roster in the last 12 or so months.

 

[CowboyWay]

Remember all the A's we got after we took Roy Williams, Andre Gurode, Antonio Bryant, Derek Ross, Jamar Martin?

If you draft two probowlers outta 5 picks, I think that deserves an "A" don't you?

And the way Antonio Bryant played last year, he could be a probowler next year.


As far as this draft goes, you never quite know for a year or three, but as it stands right now, I'd give it an F. To have 12 picks in a very weak draft and not come away with anyone on the first day, and not to have any picks moved into next year is unforgivable in my eyes.

Did you see how the patriots did it? Lots of 2nd rounders this year, and lots of 2nd rounders next year. There's a reason why they're the Patriots, and everyone else is everyone else.

 

[RainMan]

If you draft two probowlers outta 5 picks, I think that deserves an "A" don't you?

And the way Antonio Bryant played last year, he could be a probowler next year.


As far as this draft goes, you never quite know for a year or three, but as it stands right now, I'd give it an F. To have 12 picks in a very weak draft and not come away with anyone on the first day, and not to have any picks moved into next year is unforgivable in my eyes.

Did you see how the patriots did it? Lots of 2nd rounders this year, and lots of 2nd rounders next year. There's a reason why they're the Patriots, and everyone else is everyone else.

I can't find much fault in your logic on the two Pro Bowlers = an "A" thing. But I do disagree on Bryant. He busted here. Even threw a towel in the coach's face on his way out to boot. :laugh2: No way do we get credit if, three teams later -- including a one-year stint out of the league altogether -- he finally gets it someplace else. We couldn't make it work, and that's all that really matters as it relates to our draft grade IMO.

No more than the Commanders are geniuses for introducing Nate Newton or the Bears for picking Colombo in the first. Guarantee you Chicago fans don't look back at the draft and smile knowing they selected a guy that ended up being a good, solid starter in this league.

 

[CF74]

B+:starspin

 

[CowboyWay]

Good points, but at the end of the day, you're rating the players a team took, not which teams they'll end up playing for.

I loved that draft when it happened. I still say Derek Ross could have been special had he tried harder, and if Antonio can keep his head on straight could be in the top 10 recievers in this league. So much talent that kid has.

 

[davey999]

D+....

 

[fan62]

For now D. Reminds me of the mid to late 90's draft. Did Jerry forget everything he was taught about drafting by Parcells? With 22 Million in dead money and huge contracts for BIG Name players that wouldn't get a quarter of the $$ from other teams, Jerry is reaching again.
I have to agree that probably 2 of these players will be here in 5 years and possibly one will be a pro-bowler (maybe).
Jerry doesn't have to money to spend make this a good draft. Remind you of a few years ago? I thought Jerry would learn his lesson, but I guess not.

Sure hope I am wrong, but I don't think so.

 

[wileedog]

C-

It was by all accounts a down draft class, so I didn't go in with any expectations, and Jerry complied in not fulfilling any of them.

I like a lot of the guys we drafted, just not necessarily where we drafted them. And I seriously have problems with trading out of the 2nd round only to reach on two guys in the 3rd round.

I think we did just flat out get unlucky this year with some of our guys getting picked right before us, and you have to factor that in. But then again I think with 11 2nd day picks we could have been a heck of a lot more aggressive moving up a spot or two to get one or two of them.

Bottom line, this became a draft all about special teams, especially the moment they picked a KO specialist in the 5th. I don't see how you can grade a draft like that much higher than average, even in a down year. We aren't a team just missing a few special teams players, and if we are why isn't Keith Davis re-signed yet?

 

[DaBoys4Life]

....f

 

[NeonNinja]

....f

:bang2:

 

[jobberone]

D

We will be lucky if 4 of these players are still on the roster 3 years from now. Some are projects and there is now a serious numbers crunch at LB and DB. When we draft 6-8 players in the next 2-3 drafts, most of these guys will get moved out. Thats why we should have moved up a few times to get 2-3 guys that can stick longterm and then filled out the special teams.

I can't disagree a lot here although I'd say some of the players drafted are likely to stick around. I really thought we would get some picks for next year.

C-

It was by all accounts a down draft class, so I didn't go in with any expectations, and Jerry complied in not fulfilling any of them.

I like a lot of the guys we drafted, just not necessarily where we drafted them. And I seriously have problems with trading out of the 2nd round only to reach on two guys in the 3rd round.

I think we did just flat out get unlucky this year with some of our guys getting picked right before us, and you have to factor that in. But then again I think with 11 2nd day picks we could have been a heck of a lot more aggressive moving up a spot or two to get one or two of them.

Bottom line, this became a draft all about special teams, especially the moment they picked a KO specialist in the 5th. I don't see how you can grade a draft like that much higher than average, even in a down year. We aren't a team just missing a few special teams players, and if we are why isn't Keith Davis re-signed yet?

Good post. I don't think this draft was all about STs even though I suspect STs will be much better with some of these players. People thought Bennett was a joke. Some of these guys are going to impress.

 

[NeonNinja]

It's have to give any grade at the present time, hopefully these guys become good players and help this team. It's only fair to give everyone one of them and the management a shot before we judge someone that hasn't even played one down in the NFL.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

My grade: C.

I'm only considering the picks, not the Roy Williams trade. In all honesty, if I were going to include Roy Williams, I would probably append a lower grade; a team normally experts more than 198 yards and 1 TD out of a receiver selected in the first round.

I've never graded a Cowboys draft so low, and sadly, I think I'm being generous.

Of course, in the absence of actual production, we can only assess the picks using the eyeball test. Although it means very little, most of the expert eyeballs have looked away unimpressed.