Important strategic questions to guide draft decisions this week

[StarOfGlory]

Excellent post. Really well laid out. The BPA vs draft by need is always an interesting discussion. It usually is a little of both but this year, with the Cowboys having so many needs, a BPA approach in rounds 1-2 makes a lot of sense.

Just a side note, chiefs GM is Brett Veach, not Bill.

Oops, correct. Thank you for correcting me.

 

[ScotsCowboy]

Love your carefully considered threads, Bob!

 

[dupree89]

I like reading Bobhaze. I disagree on some things but not very much. I appreciate the effort.

i like bobby too. he's a good one

 

[rags747]

Feel like I’m back in kindergarten! Hickory Dickery dock, Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, Jack and Jill went up the hill each with a buck and a quarter, Little Boy Blue and last but not least Old Mother Hubbard. I miss anything?

 

[Bobhaze]

Feel like I’m back in kindergarten! Hickory Dickery dock, Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, Jack and Jill went up the hill each with a buck and a quarter, Little Boy Blue and last but not least Old Mother Hubbard. I miss anything?

Yes, quite a bit.

 

[BHendri5]

My question is how long has it been since we have had a bad draft? I would say it’s been 12yrs could go back to 2010, but definitely from 2014 when we Wil McClay influence started taking over. So there’s no reason for people to be stressing about the draft.

 

[rags747]

Yes, quite a bit.

Right over your head Bob but I expected that.

 

[Bobhaze]

Right over your head Bob but I expected that.

It’s a joke. Lighten up Francis.

 

[75boyz]

It’s no secret the Dallas Cowboys have roster needs at multiple positions. RB, DT, WR, OL, Secondary, LB…it’s almost everywhere. With the all important draft this week, my hope is that our FO follow a wise strategic path and not reach for positions or pet cats as most fans do, lol. Getting this draft right will dictate a lot not only this season but in a few seasons ahead as well.

So here are some guiding questions that might be helpful in making some key decisions during the upcoming draft:

• What type of team are we trying to be and does this player fit that philosophy?
• (For round 1-3 players) Can this player start and have impact immediately or will he need more developmental time?
• (In each round) What player is rated highest on our board and does he make sense at this moment?
• Using our scouting system, player evaluations and draft board ratings, which position of need has the deepest number of impact players?
• Using the above thinking, here’s an example question: If the RB position (or WR, DT, OL etc) is deep, can we get a comparable player in the next round or pick at the same position?
• Are we potentially missing a great player because we are too focused on a position?
• Before trading down in round one, ask the question, “Are we missing a great player only to settle for a good player?”

These are just a few of the many questions all NFL executives likely ask themselves before and during a draft. I hope the Cowboys FO has a clear idea of what kind of team they are trying to be and draft the best players that fit that vision. It hasn’t always been obvious what kind of team we’re trying build here.

When I read much of what’s on the draft forum here, many fans are zeroed in on a pet cat or a position that needs to be drafted in certain rounds.Thats ok, that’s what we as fans do. But I think good NFL front office people do their homework, follow their draft board and never get locked in on certain players.

Here’s to a great draft this weekend!

The goal is to ultimately marry up impact, value and need.

This draft's strength is at the DT and RB positions. 2 positions of which the Cowboys have desperate needs.

The opportunity is in their face.
Stop the run and run the ball and this team will win playoff game(s).
Plural.

Get 2 impact DTs and the whole defense changes.
Combine this with a legit bellcow RB and the difference is night and day as compared to recent past teams.

That's my answer.

 

[CowboyoWales]

• Are we potentially missing a great player because we are too focused on a position?
• Before trading down in round one, ask the question, “Are we missing a great player only to settle for a good player?”

Every commentator says the available player at 30 wont be that much inferior to the player at 12, with any differential made up (or more likely exceeded) by the players drafted with the additional picks.

The problem with the standpoint of 'missing a great player' (in that this draft), is that its conceivable that the great player is anywhere in that 1st Rd cohort.

Indeed, im a fan of TMAC, his ability to catch balls thrown behind him and his threat in the Red Zone will be massive, however, trading back and getting say a Bech/Savion W (and dangerous RD (rather than accepting what's left) and maybe an upgrade at RG) will enhance the whole Offense in many facets.

We are not one player away, and that that difference making player isnt there at 5 or 6, let alone 12.

 

[csirl]

You can still have a bad draft even if the players selected arent busts. No point in having multiple good players in one position when you've got holes elsewhere.

You could argue that the past 4-5 drafts have been bad solely on the failure to address or QB issues from both a strength and depth perspective. We still have the weakest QB room in the league.

 

[Hadenough]

Here’s to a great draft this weekend!

I'm looking forward to the clown show. Jerry never fails to disappoint. Remember when time ran out and he hadn't made his pick yet. Should of lost his turn.

 

[Hadenough]

No point in having multiple good players in one position when you've got holes elsewhere.

Exactly! Drafting a WR, TE, DE would be the dumbest move when RB, LB, DT and OL are very weak positions. Not to mention drafting a McMillan just tells the world our offense has not changed and we're placing everything on Daks shoulders.

 

[Creeper]

A couple of years ago I thought they were maybe 2 players away from having a competitive team. How did we fall so far so fast?

This is not getting fixed in 1 draft or offseason. Jerry signs rejects as free agents so we need 2 maybe 3 really good drafts to get back to where we were. If they take the outside in strategy, then we may have a longer wait.

 

[Bobhaze]

Exactly! Drafting a WR, TE, DE would be the dumbest move when RB, LB, DT and OL are very weak positions. Not to mention drafting a McMillan just tells the world our offense has not changed and we're placing everything on Daks shoulders.

I hear what you’re saying. But it depends on who’s available each round.

For example - when you have major needs at multiple positions- if at 12 an outstanding TE like Warren falls to you and you have him rated as a potential All Pro for a decade and you instead draft a WR less talented because that’s where you want to draft a WR, you can really miss.

When we drafted Parsons and Lamb, it was because they fell to us and even though we had not necessarily planned to draft a LB or WR that early, we ended up drafting two of the best players on our roster.

 

[dupree89]

I hear what you’re saying. But it depends on who’s available each round.

For example - when you have major needs at multiple positions- if at 12 an outstanding TE like Warren falls to you and you have him rated as a potential All Pro for a decade and you instead draft a WR less talented because that’s where you want to draft a WR, you can really miss.

When we drafted Parsons and Lamb, it was because they fell to us and even though we had not necessarily planned to draft a LB or WR that early, we ended up drafting two of the best players on our roster.

agree 100%. If the TE is available, I would take him over a WR. They say this guy is something.

 

[Bobhaze]

agree 100%. If the TE is available, I would take him over a WR. They say this guy is something.

And some will say, “We already have a decent TE in Ferguson.” I don’t see Jake Ferguson as a second contract guy. He’s not bad. He’s just not great.

I’m not saying we have to draft Warren. I’m just saying if he falls to us, we should consider it strongly. Great players are better than good players,

 

[fivetwos]

I hear what you’re saying. But it depends on who’s available each round.

For example - when you have major needs at multiple positions- if at 12 an outstanding TE like Warren falls to you and you have him rated as a potential All Pro for a decade and you instead draft a WR less talented because that’s where you want to draft a WR, you can really miss.

When we drafted Parsons and Lamb, it was because they fell to us and even though we had not necessarily planned to draft a LB or WR that early, we ended up drafting two of the best players on our roster.

These are the type of dilemmas that arise when you put yourself in a spot to have “needs” going into a draft.

Now, you may be in a place where you’re still building….in which case you should focus more on BPA anyway. That’s not what these two are thinking.

A team that has designs on contending should not be trying to fill obvious holes with draft picks….why? Because too many of them bust. That’s what free agency is for once you’ve had some nice drafts in a row.

But….Jerry and son apparently have their own plan that they don’t intend to change. “Secret sauce” I believe the kid called it. Back for much more as if it’s actually working.

Theirs is coming Bob. You know it is.

 

[dupree89]

And some will say, “We already have a decent TE in Ferguson.” I don’t see Jake Ferguson as a second contract guy. He’s not bad. He’s just not great.

I’m not saying we have to draft Warren. I’m just saying if he falls to us, we should consider it strongly. Great players are better than good players,

i gotcha. im with you. you made a great point bro.

 

[csirl]

I"ve a bad feeling this draft is going to be very underwhelming - we'll pick a bunch of jags.