If we take a Tackle in Round 1 don't get your hopes up

[TheFinisher]

I know we need offensive line help but you're not going to find it through the draft, at least not anyone that can help this year. This Tackle class is historically bad, like Micheal Jackson bad, and just because of the premium on the position guys like Nate Solder and Tyron Smith are being labeled as first rounders.

Take a look at the past 2 drafts and the Tackles who were selected in round 1.

2010: Trent Williams, Russell Okung, Anthony Davis, Bryan Bulaga

2009: Jason Smith, Andre Smith, Eugene Monroe, Michael Oher

These guys were leaps and bounds better than the Tackles in this draft who fans seem to be desperately pushing into round 1 just because of premium of the position.

"But we need an offensive tackle, this class can't be THAT bad. Look, Nate Solder is big and used to play Tight End, and Tyron Smith is really small but he looks like he can move well. Gabe Carimi played at Wisconsin, he's gotta be good. See.... we can make this class look decent."
- Desperate Cowboys fans

If any of these guys are asked to start in their rookie seasons they will be labeled a bust faster than Jerry Jones can say "How Bout Them Cowboys!!". None of them are ready, Tackle is one of the hardest transitions to make from college to the pros and you want to throw one of these guys into the Lions Den when they didn't even dominate in college?

If we take a Tackle in round 1 then so be it, we have zero depth and could use youth to develop, but I'm not naive enough to think that whoever we took will be a starter for us this year and I hope none of you guys are either.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

My draft plan doesn't have one tell round 2 atleast.

 

[28 Joker]

The Cowboys have not drafted an OT in round 1 since 1981, but they finally drafted a WR number one last year.

Derek Sherrod could for sure start at RT for Dallas this year and has LT ability. The run on the OTs will start at 9 or around 13-17, and there are only 5 or 6 blue chip players in this class.

Tyron Smith could start at RT for the Cowboys and be the future at LT. He has Pro Bowl potential at LT and big upside at LT. He's a great run blocker and pass protector at RT. The draft process isn't over, and Smith (a 20 year old junior and potential top 5 pick in 2012) is a top 10 talent. If Smith's draft season goes as planned, he will be a top 15 pick.

Is there a worse RT in the NFL than Marc Colombo right now?

You can't get any worse.

A sixth round pick started at RT in 2005, and it worked until Adams got hurt. Then, Dallas had zero offensive tackles.

Hmm.

Your LT getting hurt. That is even another strong argument for taking the top rated OT at 9 (who has LT ability), especially if all the blue chip players are gone.

 

[jnday]

The Cowboys are at least two years behind addressing the OL . The current situation is a hard choice in many ways. Overpay on free agents or start drafting an OL for the future. IMO the Cowboys should start drafting this year and investing in the OL. I just don`t care for the free agent route, too expensive. If Patrick Peterson is there at the 9th pick , I would just as soon have Jerry get his " wow" pick out of the way and take him. I don`t care for the pick ,but I think the Cowboys will. In the second , start with the OL and spend 2 or 3 quality picks. If Peterson is gone, I am all for trading down and start addressing the OL , Sherrod or Carimi . Marcus Cannon and John Moffitt are a couple of more players that I would like in a Cowboy`s uniform. Carimi , by most reports , seems to be the most NFL ready. This class may not be the strongest , but I wouldn`t be surprised if Carimi or Sherrod could take over the ROT by mid-season. This class doesn`t have a top 10 pick, but a couple in the class could start in their rookie year. Considering the current state of the Cowboy`s line , starting may come sooner rather than later. Two rookie linemen , taken in last year draft will start Sunday in the Superbowl . The top couple of prospects in this year`s draft are considered late first rounders in most draft years. My question to the OP is why can`t a late first round talent start in Dallas ? My biggest concern with the whole situation is that the Cowboys have undervalued the OL positions and I really don`t know if that will change in this draft. If Jerry hasn`t changed his attitude about the OL , then the fans can expect the same results as this year.

 

[TheCount]

Yeah, I think desperation is forcing people to think these guys are worth Top 10 consideration.

 

[TheFinisher]

The Cowboys have not drafted an OT in round 1 since 1981, but they finally drafted a WR number one last year.

Derek Sherrod could for sure start at RT for Dallas this year and has LT ability. The run on the OTs will start at 9 or around 13-17, and there are only 5 or 6 blue chip players in this class.

Tyron Smith could start at RT for the Cowboys and be the future at LT. He has Pro Bowl potential at LT and big upside at LT. He's a great run blocker and pass protector at RT. The draft process isn't over, and Smith (a 20 year old junior and potential top 5 pick in 2012) is a top 10 talent. If Smith's draft season goes as planned, he will be a top 15 pick.

Is there a worse RT in the NFL than Marc Colombo right now?

You can't get any worse.

A sixth round pick started at RT in 2005, and it worked until Adams got hurt. Then, Dallas had zero offensive tackles.

Hmm.

Your LT getting hurt. That is even another strong argument for taking the top rated OT at 9 (who has LT ability), especially if all the blue chip players are gone.

Sherrod is very meh, he could be a decent RT but he has a low ceiling with limited tools. He'll never be a Pro Bowler and in a few years we will be looking to upgrade him. Those guys don't go First Round.

Tyron Smith is pure potential, he only projects to LT and has never even played there. Smith looks like he's 275 lbs, again not characteristics that a First Round Tackle should have.

It makes much more sense to add a RT through FA who can be solid rather than waste a first rounder on one of these duds.

If we're gonna address OL in this draft we should target interior OL early, like 2-3 Round. The interior class is actually pretty good, I'd much rather spend a 2nd on a guy like Pouncey or Cannon instead of using a first on one of the Tackles.

 

[jnday]

Yeah, I think desperation is forcing people to think these guys are worth Top 10 consideration.

I don`t think there is any Top 10 linemen in this class , but I think several should be considered mid to late first round picks capable of playing as rookies.

 

[TheFinisher]

I don`t think there is any Top 10 linemen in this class , but I think several should be considered mid to late first round picks capable of playing as rookies.

If you made a list that combined the past 3 Tackle classes(this year, last, and 09), none of the tackles in this class would sniff the top 10.

 

[TheCount]

I don`t think there is any Top 10 linemen in this class , but I think several should be considered mid to late first round picks capable of playing as rookies.

That is a perfectly reasonable statement.

 

[TheFinisher]

The Cowboys are at least two years behind addressing the OL . The current situation is a hard choice in many ways. Overpay on free agents or start drafting an OL for the future. IMO the Cowboys should start drafting this year and investing in the OL. I just don`t care for the free agent route, too expensive. If Patrick Peterson is there at the 9th pick , I would just as soon have Jerry get his " wow" pick out of the way and take him. I don`t care for the pick ,but I think the Cowboys will. In the second , start with the OL and spend 2 or 3 quality picks. If Peterson is gone, I am all for trading down and start addressing the OL , Sherrod or Carimi . Marcus Cannon and John Moffitt are a couple of more players that I would like in a Cowboy`s uniform. Carimi , by most reports , seems to be the most NFL ready. This class may not be the strongest , but I wouldn`t be surprised if Carimi or Sherrod could take over the ROT by mid-season. This class doesn`t have a top 10 pick, but a couple in the class could start in their rookie year. Considering the current state of the Cowboy`s line , starting may come sooner rather than later. Two rookie linemen , taken in last year draft will start Sunday in the Superbowl . The top couple of prospects in this year`s draft are considered late first rounders in most draft years. My question to the OP is why can`t a late first round talent start in Dallas ? My biggest concern with the whole situation is that the Cowboys have undervalued the OL positions and I really don`t know if that will change in this draft. If Jerry hasn`t changed his attitude about the OL , then the fans can expect the same results as this year.

We all know RT needs to be upgraded, but it doesn't justify reaching for one of these Tackles in the first round. You're thinking strictly from a need standpoint, the draft doesn't work like that.

We'd be much better getting a RT in FA.

 

[jnday]

If you made a list that combined the past 3 Tackle classes(this year, last, and 09), none of the tackles in this class would sniff the top 10.

That is the point that I made. No top 10 tackles , but there is a couple with mid to late first round talent that can play.

 

[TheFinisher]

That is a perfectly reasonable statement.

My only problem with it is that all of the top Tackles in this class are very flawed. If we spend a first on one of these guys this year we will be looking back 3 years from now asking "why did we reach for so-and-so in the first round that year?" and we will already be looking to upgrade.

None of these guys are long term solutions.

 

[TheFinisher]

That is the point that I made. No top 10 tackles , but there is a couple with mid to late first round talent that can play.

I know what you meant, what I mean is make a top ten list of the past 3 Tackle classes and none of the guys in this class would make the cut.

 

[CATCH17]

Carimi is going to be a stud and nothing will make me think otherwise.


I'm not sold on anyone else but I'll buy every bit of Gabe Carimi stock there is.

 

[jnday]

I know what you meant, what I mean is make a top ten list of the past 3 Tackle classes and none of the guys in this class would make the cut.

I understand exactly what you are saying . Usually there are 1 or 2 sure top 10, LOT quality tackles. This year doesn`t have it. I wouldn`t reach on a tackle this year. I do think a couple would have value as a pick later in the first. Solder and Tyron Smith would be to much of a reach IMO. Both are project players that are a couple of years away from contributing.

 

[TheFinisher]

I understand exactly what you are saying . Usually there are 1 or 2 sure top 10, LOT quality tackles. This year doesn`t have it. I wouldn`t reach on a tackle this year. I do think a couple would have value as a pick later in the first. Solder and Tyron Smith would be to much of a reach IMO. Both are project players that are a couple of years away from contributing.

Yea I just want to stay away from Tackle in the 1st all together, I think Tyron and Solder are going to wow at the combine and be overdrafted. Whoever gets stuck with them are going to be trying to develop them for years, no thanks.

Gilbert is actually a pretty solid RT prospect and for some reason his stock is a lot lower right now than what it should be. To me he is much better than guys like Solder, Costanzo, Sherrod yet he's getting pushed to the 3rd.

 

[jnday]

We all know RT needs to be upgraded, but it doesn't justify reaching for one of these Tackles in the first round. You're thinking strictly from a need standpoint, the draft doesn't work like that.

We'd be much better getting a RT in FA.

I disagree with getting a free agent. This is the route the Cowboys have been going and I really don`t like the results. You will always pay for more than what you get. If a good FA was asking for a reasonable salary , he would be retained by his team. Teams let players walk when they start asking for more than they are worth. Other teams that picks these players up usually overpays.

 

[jnday]

That is a perfectly reasonable statement.

Thank you. Thank you very much. May I say that I have noticed some reasonable statements coming from you lately.

 

[jnday]

Yea I just want to stay away from Tackle in the 1st all together, I think Tyron and Solder are going to wow at the combine and be overdrafted. Whoever gets stuck with them are going to be trying to develop them for years, no thanks.

Gilbert is actually a pretty solid RT prospect and for some reason his stock is a lot lower right now than what it should be. To me he is much better than guys like Solder, Costanzo, Sherrod yet he's getting pushed to the 3rd.

I wouldn`t put Sherrod with the others. He is not the 2 or 3 year project that the others are. He is close to being very good and he has room to get better.

 

[TheFinisher]

I disagree with getting a free agent. This is the route the Cowboys have been going and I really don`t like the results. You will always pay for more than what you get. If a good FA was asking for a reasonable salary , he would be retained by his team. Teams let players walk when they start asking for more than they are worth. Other teams that picks these players up usually overpays.

That's not necessarily true, we've done pretty well going the FA route in the past. Lots of good players hit FA every year, teams just can't afford to keep everybody and there will be some solid RTs out there this year.

Even if we were going to change our philosophy, this would be a terrible year to start.