Last season, the Cowboys turned their 24th overall pick into two starting O-linemen.
Granted they played like rookies, at times, but how much better were the two O-linemen that were drafted after the trade, between 24th and 29th? Was Graham Barton or Jordan Morgan so impressive last season that we realize trading down was a bad philosophy?
How many players had 1st round draft grades in 2012 when the Cowboys selected Morris Claiborne with the 6th overall pick? Was it five?
Perhaps Nick forgot who the GM of this organization is. The higher you draft the more pressure there is to get this one right. Do we have so much faith in Cowboys management that there is no fear putting all the eggs in one basket.
I think the Cowboys need to take as many shots as they can, because some will definitely miss.
I agree that the Cowboys have drafted Hall of Fame talent at times. However, isn't it a little unsettling that the best Cowboys players this generation were drafted because Jerry couldn't get the guys he actually wanted?
Jerry didn't want Zack Martin, He wanted Johnny Manziel. He didn't want Micah Parsons. He wanted one of the CB's taken just in front of him. He even traded down after Horn and Surtain went off the board. If Jaycee Horn was sill there at #10, Jerry would have taken him over Parsons.
Even Jimmy Johnson once admitted that having plenty of extra draft picks meant he could take risks and if trhey didn't work out, he had plenty of ammunition left.
Go look at the Patriots draft history during Belichick's time. During the 12 year period from 2008 to 2019, the Patriots had 18 2nd round picks and 19 3rd round picks. That is an average of one extra 2nd round or 3rd round pick every year for 12 years. Belichick had also said something to the effect that acquiring extra picks by trading down made his process more mistake-proof.
Of course, thee are exceptions. i am in favor of trading down unless one of the top tier players begin to slide, a la Randy Moss, Aaron Rodgers, etc.
If somebody like Mason Graham is there at #12, you obviously don't ignore the miracle by trading down.