How many Dt's currently available in the draft are better than Cedric Thornton?

[Killerinstinct]

Did we make a mistake by making our one real FA signing at a position that is widely available in the draft?

 

[Sydla]

I don't think so. And in the end, we didn't spend that much on him anyway. Not like his contract prevented us from signing Norman or someone else. We chose to be cheap and that had nothing to do with Thornton.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

No because Thornton replaced Hayden and now we can draft a rookie and be done with Hayden

 

[Killerinstinct]

I don't think so. And in the end, we didn't spend that much on him anyway. Not like his contract prevented us from signing Norman or someone else. We chose to be cheap and that had nothing to do with Thornton.

Well that is an interesting way of looking at it. The contract given to Thornton was significant and we were beaten out trying to sign Weddle, Long, and a couple of CB's that we tried to go cheap on.

 

[Sydla]

Well that is an interesting way of looking at it. The contract given to Thornton was significant and we were beaten out trying to sign Weddle, Long, and a couple of CB's that we tried to go cheap on.

We went cheap on those guys because we wanted to go cheap not because we had to after signing Thornton.

 

[speedkilz88]

Thornton is exactly the type that Marinelli has wanted at the 1T

 

[theebs]

We went cheap on those guys because we wanted to go cheap not because we had to after signing Thornton.

I am pretty positive having watched them piece this together for the past three years they go cheap on these older veterans because they are short term stop gaps. they have no illusions they are long term solutions.

 

[Killerinstinct]

Well there is our big FA acquisition and I suspect there will be better DT's available in the 4th round.

There are two ways to acquire talent. One is through the draft and the other is through FA. We will see what the finished product looks like. I hope for the best.

 

[kiheikiwi]

Thornton also has position flex to play the 3 tech at times. So while I thought in a deep, deep DT draft it was kind of eyebrow raising to grab him, it does not mean we shouldn't bolster the position.
The one disappointment in the whole 1st round for me was Carolina grabbing Vernon Butler late. I was already thinking he would be available at # 34 today, did the big NOOOOOO when they took him.
So long as we don't trade up - dumb, we should have a multitude of options DE, DT and CB I think would be atop the list.

 

[Sydla]

Well there is our big FA acquisition and I suspect there will be better DT's available in the 4th round.

There are two ways to acquire talent. One is through the draft and the other is through FA. We will see what the finished product looks like. I hope for the best.

I think you may be reaching that there will be better DTs available in the 4th round. You are selling Thornton way short if you think that a 4th round rookie is already better than him.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Did we make a mistake by making our one real FA signing at a position that is widely available in the draft?

Thornton is signed for 4 years at ~$4m AAV. He is a proven NFL commodity.

If they would have put significant cap resources towards a DT I see the argument. Not with that contract.

 

[Killerinstinct]

I think you may be reaching that there will be better DTs available in the 4th round. You are selling Thornton way short if you think that a 4th round rookie is already better than him.

Yeah it's pretty ridiculous to think that a 4th rounder would be better than an Undrafted Free agent lined up next to Fletcher Cox. We will see.

 

[Killerinstinct]

I hope he's great. He is our major FA acquisition and I see tons of DT talent available. Seems like we made a move towards the one position that is rife with talent in the draft.

 

[JohnsKey19]

I would say none. There may be guys more talented with more upside but Thorton is an experienced NFL runstopper, proven to be very good at this level. I wouldn't realistically expect any of the rookie DTs to give us the quality and quantity of snaps Thorton will give us.

 

[bayeslife]

Need pass rusher more anyway.

 

[Swanny]

I'd rather sign somebody that I know what Im getting than drafting a kid and hoping he pans out. Now if the contract was crazy then I would agree with what you are saying but the contract is fine.

 

[Dwight]

I would still draft one of those DTs.

That would give the team a nice rotation and help out Dallas' current LBs.

Having a good running game on offense and a strong middle defense with a healthy Romo will give our team a good chance of winning the NFC East.

 

[Killerinstinct]

I would still draft one of those DTs.

That would give the team a nice rotation and help out Dallas' current LBs.

Having a good running game on offense and a strong middle defense with a healthy Romo will give our team a good chance of winning the NFC East.

I think your right. Even though the one FA acquisition of consequence we made was at DT and we have hopes that Mcclain will finally make a contribution and Crawford will be healthy and Russell, Jack Crawford and David Irving can all contribute at DT and we might finally get a look at Whaley, I would still add a DT. There is some real talent available. I just wish we would have focused on other positions in FA or had more success with that focus.

 

[LocimusPrime]

We still need to sack the qb. Not looking promising so far but the draft isnt over although i understand that rookie DEs seldom make a difference.

 

[slick325]

Follow the Panthers game plan and load up with talent at DT. Guards and Centers aren't generally good athletes and the most direct route to the QB is up the middle. The Panthers have Star, Short, Solali (sp?) and Vernon Butler (added yesterday). Strengthen the middle of the defense if they can and don't let Thornton and Crawford keep them from doing so.