Laufenberg: Why Cowboys should draft a QB early and not worry if they've 'reached'

[HappyOnions]

If we didn't have Tony Romo on this roster, then I would be okay with reaching for a QB with our pick.

Draft season will cause a stir about all sorts of players who shouldn't be drafted as high as they are, especially at the QB position. Look at guys like Ponder, J. Russell, Gabbert, Locker, EJ Manuel, Johnny, Weeden, Tannehill, Tebow, etc. And those guys are from 2010 until now.

We should address the back up QB position, but why draft a guy at #4 who can't come in and make an immediate impact. I don't think the gap (if any) is that wide between the QBs in this draft. There isn't much convincing me that Paxton Lynch or Jared Goff is any better than guys like Cardale Jones, Vernon Adams, Jake Coker, etc.

 

[AdamJT13]

Imagine all the teams since 2001 who have failed using this logic. Just cause they get drafted top 5 doesnt make them franchise QBs.

Because the only QB taken that high to have one a superbowl was eli.

On the other hand, imagine if Cleveland had "reached" for Aaron Rodgers with the No. 3 pick in 2004. Or Chicago at No. 4, or Tampa Bay at No. 5 or Tennessee at No. 6.

Instead, those teams took Braylon Edwards, Cedric Jones, Cadillac Williams and Pacman Jones, and all of them struggled at quarterback for the next decade.

 

[waving monkey]

On the other hand, imagine if Cleveland had "reached" for Aaron Rodgers with the No. 3 pick in 2004. Or Chicago at No. 4, or Tampa Bay at No. 5 or Tennessee at No. 6.

Instead, those teams took Braylon Edwards, Cedric Jones, Cadillac Williams and Pacman Jones, and all of them struggled at quarterback for the next decade.

ding,ding,ding

 

[HappyOnions]

ding,ding,ding

That logic can be used both ways. Titans reached for Locker, Jaguars reached for Gabbert, missed out on JJ Watt.

Vikings reached for Ponder, and missed out on...well, pretty much anyone other than him.

It's not as if we're going into the season with Cassell and Kellen Moore as our only options....we still have Tony Romo and some free agents to take a look at.

I just think we can get a good QB in the 2nd or 3rd round and spend our 1st round pick on someone who can come in and make an immediate impact.

 

[tyke1doe]

That logic can be used both ways. Titans reached for Locker, Jaguars reached for Gabbert, missed out on JJ Watt.

Vikings reached for Ponder, and missed out on...well, pretty much anyone other than him.

It's not as if we're going into the season with Cassell and Kellen Moore as our only options....we still have Tony Romo and some free agents to take a look at.

I just think we can get a good QB in the 2nd or 3rd round and spend our 1st round pick on someone who can come in and make an immediate impact.

I don't remember Locker, Gabbert and Ponder being considered as highly as Lynch, Goff and Wentz. In fact, there's was pretty much shock that Ponder and Gabbert were picked where they were.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

For the people saying we should address backup QB, which backup QBs in the NFL this past year do you think could've come in and done a better job than Weeden/Cassell/Moore? Seriously. Backups are backups for a reason. And some of the more reliable ones are veterans with experience as a starter (and preferably success as well). Matt Cassell fits that criteria perfectly. You also want a backup who steers the ship and doesn't ruin things by making costly mistakes. Weeden did that this season in Dallas perfectly. Problem was, our team was so bad that we needed a QB talented enough to win games for us. Backup QBs can't do that. Heck, most starters can't. I just don't see which 2015 NFL backup QB would've come to Dallas and saved the day, or even kept us afloat. But name one. I'm open to ideas.

 

[bodi]

were not looking for a back up we are looking for ROMO'S REPLACEMENT

which I figure is in 2 years

that is of course can last that long

 

[waving monkey]

That logic can be used both ways. Titans reached for Locker, Jaguars reached for Gabbert, missed out on JJ Watt.

Vikings reached for Ponder, and missed out on...well, pretty much anyone other than him.

It's not as if we're going into the season with Cassell and Kellen Moore as our only options....we still have Tony Romo and some free agents to take a look at.

I just think we can get a good QB in the 2nd or 3rd round and spend our 1st round pick on someone who can come in and make an immediate impact.

whose going to come ibn and help right away as a rookie
certainly selected that hgh they should start but we always talk
about rookie mistakes and learning and the catching up with the speed

 

[waving monkey]

I don't remember Locker, Gabbert and Ponder being considered as highly as Lynch, Goff and Wentz. In fact, there's was pretty much shock that Ponder and Gabbert were picked where they were.

ding ding ding

 

[waving monkey]

disagreeing on this subject of selecting a QB @ 4 for the Cowboys seems unAmerican

 

[Silverstar]

Might not even pick at 4 by the time Jerry gets off the phone

 

[LatinMind]

On the other hand, imagine if Cleveland had "reached" for Aaron Rodgers with the No. 3 pick in 2004. Or Chicago at No. 4, or Tampa Bay at No. 5 or Tennessee at No. 6.

Instead, those teams took Braylon Edwards, Cedric Jones, Cadillac Williams and Pacman Jones, and all of them struggled at quarterback for the next decade.

If Cleveland wouldnt drafted Rodgers he wouldve been a bust. Rodgers was developed in GB. Or the same with any of the other teams you mentioned IMO. He got to sit and wait. He wasnt ready to start right away. Coming out of college Alex Smith was the better QB. ONly difference is Rodgers got to sit and watch a great QB. And it helped GB had great offensive minds.

 

[Risen Star]

I don't remember Locker, Gabbert and Ponder being considered as highly as Lynch, Goff and Wentz. In fact, there's was pretty much shock that Ponder and Gabbert were picked where they were.

People are way undervaluing these QBs. They took a generally sound premise that they may not be #1 overall worthy in a "normal" year to the point where I'm reading 2nd to 4th round picks. It's nonsense.

They are over drafted every year in terms of ability relative to the ability of players at other positions. Meaning they may not develop into a better QB than that DE will develop at his position. But in terms of impact on the field they are not over drafted. A very good, not great, QB is more impactful to their team than an All Pro at any other position. No position can compare to QB.

So if the choice would be the Cowboys getting a QB at 4 who may not be Brady/Manning/Rodgers level but will still be top 10 worthy over his career or drafting the best player in the league at any other position, I'll take that QB. That's how important they are. I simply can not build a future without one and the Cowboys are staring at a QB-less future on the horizon.

 

[tyke1doe]

If Cleveland wouldnt drafted Rodgers he wouldve been a bust. Rodgers was developed in GB. Or the same with any of the other teams you mentioned IMO. He got to sit and wait. He wasnt ready to start right away. Coming out of college Alex Smith was the better QB. ONly difference is Rodgers got to sit and watch a great QB. And it helped GB had great offensive minds.

And you know this how?

 

[waving monkey]

People are way undervaluing these QBs. They took a generally sound premise that they may not be #1 overall worthy in a "normal" year to the point where I'm reading 2nd to 4th round picks. It's nonsense.

They are over drafted every year in terms of ability relative to the ability of players at other positions. Meaning they may not develop into a better QB than that DE will develop at his position. But in terms of impact on the field they are not over drafted. A very good, not great, QB is more impactful to their team than an All Pro at any other position. No position can compare to QB.

So if the choice would be the Cowboys getting a QB at 4 who may not be Brady/Manning/Rodgers level but will still be top 10 worthy over his career or drafting the best player in the league at any other position, I'll take that QB. That's how important they are. I simply can not build a future without one and the Cowboys are staring at a QB-less future on the horizon.

I couldn't have said it better

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Aside from the obvious reasons, we need to draft our QB with the 4th pick so that he can be mentored, trained and coached by Romo. Waiting until Romo retires will put the rookie at the mercy of Wade Wilson, Jason Garrett and Scott Linehan. Think about that for a minute! That alone should change every naysayers mind!

 

[WillieBeamen]

If Cleveland wouldnt drafted Rodgers he wouldve been a bust. Rodgers was developed in GB. Or the same with any of the other teams you mentioned IMO. He got to sit and wait. He wasnt ready to start right away. Coming out of college Alex Smith was the better QB. ONly difference is Rodgers got to sit and watch a great QB. And it helped GB had great offensive minds.

Isnt that going to happen with whomever we draft at 4 if we go Qb?

 

[ghst187]

If you reach at QB but he turns out to be good then your team should be competitive for the next 10-15 years, if you don't draft a QB high at some point you end up parading in cast offs and hoping for lottery odds. The position is literally everything, don't have a good QB, you don't have a team. There are some lottery like stories out there, Romo, Brady, but most starters worth anything were first round picks.

 

[AdamJT13]

If Cleveland wouldnt drafted Rodgers he wouldve been a bust. Rodgers was developed in GB. Or the same with any of the other teams you mentioned IMO. He got to sit and wait. He wasnt ready to start right away. Coming out of college Alex Smith was the better QB. ONly difference is Rodgers got to sit and watch a great QB.

First of all, that is complete speculation. There's no way to know whether Rodgers would have been a bust on any other team.

Secondly, isn't that EXACTLY what we would be trying to do if we take a quarterback early?

 

[waving monkey]

take a QB early train him be done with it