Looking back, did we overrate the 2012-14 drafts?

[wileedog]

We got Tony Romo in free agency. When was the last time most of the NFL got that kind impact for a free agent?

Considering you're citing a 13 year veteran who was acquired during the Parcell's era when Jerry was less involved, I think you just made my point for me.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

It'd going to be a long 9 months.

 

[LocimusPrime]

What do you guys think? Besides the 1st round, has drafting really improved around here? Is it too much to ask for more from our 2nd and 3rd day picks or this about consistent with the rest of the league? Interested in the board's thoughts.

2012:

• Morris Claiborne - one of the worst picks in franchise history. Kuechly, Poe, Gilmore, Cox drafted after him.
• Tyrone Crawford - good player, jumped the gun on a new contract but he's starting to wake up. 4 sacks on the season.
• Kyle Wilber - JAG
• Matt Johnson
• Danny Coale
• James Hanna - JAG
• Caleb McSurdy - drafted him instead of taking a flyer on Vontaze Burfict

2013:

• Travis Frederick - starter, pro-bowl
• Gavin Escobar - 26 catches in 3 yrs. wasted pick trying to copy the Patriots
• Terrance Williams - marginal #2 receiver, won't get a 2nd contract
• J.J. Wilcox - the project hasn't worked
• B. W. Webb - off the team
• Joseph Randle - jail
• DeVonte Holloman - retired

2014:

• Zack Martin - starter, pro-bowl
• Demarcus Lawrence - panthers got a better player at the same position (Kony Ealy) w/out having to trade up.
• Anthony Hitchens - starter who really should be a back up. I begged for Telvin Smith at this spot. He was drafted 30 spots after Hitchens and has more sacks, FF, int, and double career tackles.
• Devin Street - invisible
• Ben Gardner
• Will Smith
• Ahmad Dixon
• Ken Bishop
• Terrance Mitchell

@AsthmaField @Risen Star @RS12

Well it took me a few minutes but for jollies lets compare the cowboys draft picks 2012-2014 to the Mighty well run, well coached, draft kings: the Patriots


2012

• Chandlers Jones 31 tackles and 10.5 sacks this year (excellent)
• Donta Hightower 52 tackles 3.5 sacks (very good)
• Tavon Wilson 4 tackles and about to lose his roster spot No Bueno
• Jake Bequette Released Aug 2014
• Nate Ebner 9 tackles no impact will be cut
• Alfonso Denard Waived by the Patriots the signed by Cardinal. No waived by Cardinals
• Jeremy Ebert Waived

2013

• Jamie Collins 5 tackles and 4.5 sacks this year (kinda like jack Crawford)
• Aaron Dobson Currently on the IR has 13 career receptions for 141 yards below average player
• Logan Ryan 50 tackles 4 int (very good)
• Duron Harmon 10 tackles 3 ints (kinda like Heath)
• Josh Boyce Waived then put on IR After settlement he will be done
• Michael Buchanan Cut by Patriots sgned by Bills cut by Bills
• Steve Beuharnais Cut

2014

• Dominique Easley 13 tackles 1 sack JAG at best
• Jimmy Garoppolo Backup QB
• Bryan Stork was injured and activated on Nov 7th JAG
• James White back up rb with 10 carries for 34 yards below avg player
• Cameron Fleming Guard JAG
• John Halapio Cut
• Zach Moore Cut is currently on Minnesota PS
• Jemea Thomas Cut
• Jeremy Gallon Cut

Well, those are the Patriots draft picks. Its safe to say that drafts are not an exact science. All teams will have hits and misses and compared to the Patriots we are on point. I didnt believe it at first because there so may posters stating that the Patriots (and other teams) where better at scouting, drafting, an player acquisition. I'm working on the Commanders next, but they don't look good at all.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Compare those drafts to most teams in this league and you'll understand that is pretty good for a draft. There are a lot of starters we have gotten out of those drafts. See what the Seahawks got these past few years or the Patriots in comparison.

 

[Hardline]

Considering you're citing a 13 year veteran who was acquired during the Parcell's era when Jerry was less involved, I think you just made my point for me.

No. I was citing one example where the draft isn't an exact science and the Cowboys have hit on some good late round talent as every other team has.

 

[panchucko]

What should be happening with deep-pockets Jerry as the owner = There's no salary cap for NFL coaches or scouts.

What is happening with Jerry as the owner = There's also no one to challenge you or get in your way when you surround yourself with yes men.

No there isn't a cap on coaches, but there is an ego that won't let someone get more credit than him
Until jerry gets past it we will probably struggle

 

[Boyzmamacita]

It'd going to be a long 9 months.

We might as well all be pregnant then. Anxious, anticipating, optimistic yet worried, moody and sometimes depressed, limited in what we can do about it - for 9 months.

 

[Risen Star]

We might as well all be pregnant then. Anxious, anticipating, optimistic yet worried, moody and sometimes depressed, limited in what we can do about it - for 9 months.

If we were pregnant that means we'd all be carrying Jerry's kid.

Last one to the abortion clinic is a Campo.

 

[Risen Star]

Considering you're citing a 13 year veteran who was acquired during the Parcell's era when Jerry was less involved, I think you just made my point for me.

Exactly right. It reeks of desperation.

 

[Zekeats]

I don't think it's that we don't draft good players. I don't think we have good coaches to get the most and the best out of the players we draft.

 

[StylisticS]

There is a real arrogance to our front office. You'd think two decades of failure would humble a man. Not those two. They talk as if they're experts and we should all shut up and listen to their brilliance.

It really showed in the offseason. They really thought that anyone could run behind this league. May not want to come out and say it but going into the season with Randle and McFadden was laughable. I also could be mistaken, but did not St Louis or Baltimore not consider Garrett because of had an arrogant persona or something similar about him? Basically, you have mediocre coaching on top of questionable draft picks and questionable depth headed by a terrible general manager.

 

[wileedog]

No. I was citing one example where the draft isn't an exact science and the Cowboys have hit on some good late round talent as every other team has.

Like who? Point to me an elite talent on this team not acquired in the 1st round in the last 5 or 6 years? The best I can see is Demarco Murray in the 3rd 4 years ago, and really we got one elite type season out of him and he's now an Eagle. (And he's showing with them that his eliteness was largely a by product of our Oline and being fed the ball 300 times.)

Yes, I get it, the draft is sometimes a crapshoot and other teams have had their issues too. But other teams can and do find impact players in later rounds, which we demonstratively do not.

The narrative around here is that the drafting has gotten "better" the last several years. I think the OP made a pretty good, definitive post that outside of what we do with our 1st round pick, it really has not.

 

[DandyDon52]

I would have to say yes they were overrated.
We somehow missed a lot of players that turned out to be good. and we could have had them.
Some of the ones we drafted turned out to not contribute much, and that could be on coaching and scheme etc.

 

[DFWJC]

Can't recall too many people being happy with that 2012 draft.

 

[WillieBeamen]

I wasnt a fan of the 2012 (didnt like the trade up for Claiborne) and 2013 (even though fred is a beast, I didnt like the trade back at all considering we didnt get good value in return) drafts at all. 2014 was meh (did not like the trade up for DLaw, couldve gotten Jeremy Hill, Carlos Hyde or Jarvis Landry).


2015 I liked the most in recent memory. We walked away with 3 first round talents, two of which are playing at a high level already. With that said, we still missed out on drafting a back and I felt we reached for Chaz Green.


2016 might be the most important for us for the future of the team. We need to get a QB and some more talent up front on the defense. And please please please, get Wilcox out of here!

 

[casmith07]

I remember a thread like this last year talking about how we nailed 2012-2014 drafts.

 

[cowboys1981]

1) There's a difference between souring on somebody and saying their impact on the team hasn't matched what it cost to acquire them. Can you honestly say he's exceeded or even met expectations?

2) DeMarcus Lawrence played in 7 regular season and 2 postseason games last year, in addition to 11 games this season. Let's stop talking about him as if he sat on IR his entire rookie season and it's the first month of the 2015 season. He provides a 20 game sample size to draw conclusions from. It should be evaluated.

To be fair Lawrence did get a sack fumble vs Detroit to seal the win and also had one on Rodgers as well the following week.

 

[cowboys1981]

We might as well all be pregnant then. Anxious, anticipating, optimistic yet worried, moody and sometimes depressed, limited in what we can do about it - for 9 months.

Wow pregnancy is supposed to be a thing of beauty lmao

 

[hornitosmonster]

The NFL as a whole waste a lot of money on draft picks that are not ready for the NFL. There really needs to be a developmental league (Not a European league) for guys out of high school or early college drop outs (for maybe guys like Leonard Fournette).

 

[StylisticS]

Can't recall too many people being happy with that 2012 draft.

I never cared to trade up and get Claiborne. Seems like a reactionary pick from not getting a chance to get Peterson and to defend rg3.