McShay's Best 1st Rd Picks: Dallas is one of them

[DFWJC]

Dallas Cowboys: Notre Dame OT Zack Martin at No. 16

"Nothing against Johnny Maziel, and I get that than Tony Romo is 34 years old and coming off a back injury, but drafting Manziel would have created a nightmare in Dallas. Given the needs at other positions and the potential friction it would have caused in the quarterback room and across the offense, I think the Cowboys would have run the risk of losing the locker room if they had taken Manziel. I also think Martin (the No. 9-ranked player on our board) can step in right away and contribute at right tackle or left guard, and his arrival makes this a really formidable group. The Cowboys have now spent three first-round picks on offensive linemen in the past four years, solidifying an area that was once a major weakness. That's good roster management."


http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2014/story/_/id/10906504/2014-nfl-draft-best-picks-first-round

 

[NeonNinja]

Martin was absolutely the correct pick IMO. Good to see trenches being targeted.

 

[starfrombirth]

I went to draft breakdown because I had never really paid any attention to him (not really impressed with Notre Dames modern program). What I saw was a dominant olineman. His man NEVER caused pressure. He always blocked his man on the run and was able to get to the 2nd level easily. He was very "slippery" and didn't let dlinemen get their hands on him. Really good pick since we couldn't get a defensive player worth our pick or trade down. Very happy. Not the pick I was hoping for going in but very good pick nonetheless.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Yes, his game tape is very impressive.

Anyone can nitpick....but I have went to about 10 different draft sites and he is in the top 16 ranked players on just about EVERY board. So the consensus BEFORE the draft is that the guy had the talent to be taken in the top 16. So the only potential arguments are that there was a better talent left on the board or there was a better player at a bigger position of need. I don't think that is the case either way you look at it.

So the people bagging on the pick...they are just haters or are just trying to stir the pot.

 

[Kaiser]

Martin was absolutely the correct pick IMO. Good to see trenches being targeted.

Its not a sexy pick in the heat of the moment where fans dream of a Top 5 pick falling to 16, whenever you look back at drafts in the past you would take a All Pro OG, who you have in the top 10, at the 16th pick every single time.

If you go back and look at Larry Allen, teams would take him first or second in the 1994 draft. So Dallas taking their 9th rated player at 16 is a very solid move. And speaking of going back in time, in that Larry Allen draft of 1994 the third pick of the draft was the Commanders drafting Heath Shuler!!