Jerry took risks in drafting on the defensive side of the ball, and in signing FA like Hardy, and we've paid for it. DLaw and Gregory getting suspended, Ro McClain self-destructing, Hardy still having issues, not being resigned, etc.
We've spent draft picks, but we keep using them on players with issues like Gregory or injury history, such as Jaylon Smith. I understand people want to draft defensive rookies for immediate help, but the front office has to look at what kind of immediate impact a rookie would have. They see the immediate help the offense is getting from Dak and Zeke and expect the same if we'd drafted on the defensive side of the ball instead.
When it's your turn to pick, you have to weigh in the scales immediate need vs. future development based on who's available at that pick.
Teams that consistently 'draft for need' tend to reach on players that never live up to their draft status or contracts. Of course the opposite of this is drafting for the future with players that never develop into what was hoped for.
Garrett placed a premium on building that offensive line, and he talked Jerry into spending 3 1st round picks on Smith, Martin and Frederick.
The emphasis since Garrett took over was building an offense around Romo to help him where he didn't have to do it all himself. That's been accomplished. The line was built in front of him. The only negative was having to choose between Dez & DeMarco and having our to watch our league-leading RB leave.
2012 draft, we went 5/7 picks on defense, trading up to get Mo.
The 2015 draft, we also went heavy on defense, taking defenders with 5/8 draft picks. You can argue 'wrong guys!' but it's not like there was no emphasis on defense in that draft.
This last draft, the way the board fell Elliott was the solid pick at #4. People who wanted to draft for need at that spot will simply have to disagree. They can also legitimately argue we shouldn't have risked our 2nd round pick on Jaylon Smith, a pick that might never pay off.
We did use 5/9 picks on defenders, Smith, Collins, Tapper, Brown and Frazier. If Smith's knee comes back that is a good pick, but we definitely are rolling the dice there.
The 10 defenders we drafted in the past 2 years, some of them will get better, turn into good players. There's been no 'lights out' defensive rookie for us like there's been on offense. That doesn't mean the defense hasn't been addressed. In next year's draft we'll likely go heavy on defense again. Picking the 'wrong' guys, of course.
