Mel Kiper draft grade

Risen Star

Risen Star

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Dallas Cowboys: B​

Top needs entering the draft: TE, RB, WR, DT, K

After another early playoff exit that saw the offense sputter late in the season, the Cowboys fired coordinator Kellen Moore and promoted Brian Schottenheimer. Coach Mike McCarthy will go back to calling the plays, like he did in Green Bay. With tight end Dalton Schultz leaving in free agency and running back Ezekiel Elliott getting cut, Dallas had holes at both positions heading into the draft, and I thought it could address each of them on the first two days.

In Round 1, however, the Cowboys went a different direction, and I have no qualms about it. Mazi Smith (26) is the best run-stuffing defensive tackle in this class, a 323-pounder who will instantly improve their run defense. Their defensive line too often last season was blown up at the line of scrimmage, so adding an anchor like Smith will help the entire front seven. Look at the other NFC East teams, and Dallas needed to beef up to stop the run.

I would have taken other tight ends over Luke Schoonmaker (58), but he does have intriguing traits. Tucker Kraft and Brenton Strange were available and higher on my board. Schoonmaker will turn 25 as a rookie, so the question is about how much more room he has to develop. DeMarvion Overshown (90) is one of Louis Riddick's favorites in this class; he can be a heat-seeking missile as a blitzer.

Edge rusher Viliami Fehoko (129) had 23 sacks over the past three seasons; I highlighted him as a potential sleeper last December. Running back Deuce Vaughn (212) is a great player in a tiny, 5-foot-5 package. I'd love to see him succeed in Dallas, where his dad is a scout.

There's not much flash in this class, which is not usually how team owner Jerry Jones does things, but I can't knock many of these selections. Dallas did well.

It passed the hair test.
 
speedkilz88

speedkilz88

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Kraft is raw as a receiver and blocker.
Strange is more of an Hback and also is pretty raw at receiving and blocking himself.

Harbaugh's scheme prepared him for the nfl but was geared to run the ball. The ac injury didn't help.
 
speedkilz88

speedkilz88

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JohnsKey19 said:
There's not much flash in this class, which is not usually how team owner Jerry Jones does things

Why do people keep repeating this crap??? When was the last flashy move that Jerry(Cowboys) made.
Click to expand...
Mel still thinks it's the 90's.
 
lkelly

lkelly

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speedkilz88 said:
Kraft is raw as a receiver and blocker.
Strange is more of an Hback and also is pretty raw at receiving and blocking himself.

Harbaugh's scheme prepared him for the nfl but was geared to run the ball. The ac injury didn't help.
Click to expand...
Huh? Strange was a really good blocker last year. PSU’s running game took a big step forward with their freshman backs and on many long runs you would see Strange burying people it was alarming because that position and the OL in general was so bad years prior.
 
Beast_from_East

Beast_from_East

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I personally loved this draft!!!

We finally got a big fatty to put in the middle to stop the run, we drafted my boy and fellow UT alumni Overshown, and we got an absolute steal with "Mighty Mouse" in the 6th.

Yeah, we reached for a TE in the 2nd (I would have gone with O'Cyrus myself), but I aint gonna bust their balls over it.
 
drawandstrike

drawandstrike

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We finished, I believe, 22nd in the NFL vs the run in yardage surrendered on the ground. Only gave up 9 running TD's though.

8th against the pass, but gave up something like 23 TD's in the air.

We aren't going to make much headway in the division against rising Eagles and Giants & Commanders teams with such a weak run stopping defense. Got to get up to the top 10.

While simultaneously staying in the top 10 in passing yards surrendered, while cutting down on those TD's in the air. I see young guys on that defensive side of the ball already on the team from the last 2 drafts that are ready to step up in the 2nd and 3rd campaigns and improve the pass defense. I wasn't worried about that. I expect Dallas to stay in the top 10 there.

What I really want to see is Dallas plug the middle of the line and stop the constantly blowing of our defenders off the ball. Smith could be a huge addition there.

We met every need we have except kicker, and McCarthy should have a healthy competition for that spot in camp. Agree with Kiper giving it a solid B.
 
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