Mosley: Time for Cowboys to draft Tony Romo's successor

[DanteEXT]

And there will be holes next year. And the year after. While yes, technically it is not the best time to take the QB in the first, it has to be at the back of our minds with every pick.

We are no longer "set" at the position with Romo, although I can all but guarantee you that Jones still thinks this way.

We are at the same crossroads the Packers were with Favre and they took an opportunity when it presented itself. That is the correct mindset.

And you cannot just assign "rounds" to where you start thinking about it seriously. That is what we did with McGee. He went where he "should have" gone, but he could not play.

Teams will be reaching for QBs more and more. We have seen that with people like Ponder and Manuel going in the first round when it is pretty clear they had no business going where they went. You just have to be opportunistic and never think things are right.

Russell Wilson was a headscratcher since the Seahawks just paid a steep price for Flynn. Kaepernick was coming in just as Alex Smith seemed to be getting it.

You just cannot wait thinking you can get someone unless you tank or trade away the draft for people like Griffin.

Similar crossroads, not quite the same. Favre was turning 36 that year I believe and was going into his 15th season in the NFL. And they didn't target Rodgers, he fell into their laps. If a projected top 5 pick QB falls to 16/17 sure, consider it. But don't package picks to move up like the article suggested as something to do.

 

[JBS]

I'm not going to lie. The lack of arm strength is a big problem for me.

 

[Alexander]

Similar crossroads, not quite the same. Favre was turning 36 that year I believe and was going into his 15th season in the NFL. And they didn't target Rodgers, he fell into their laps. If a projected top 5 pick QB falls to 16/17 sure, consider it. But don't package picks to move up like the article suggested as something to do.

Oh I agree about that part. We are not good enough to package choices. Besides, we need to save those for the next cornerback we think is Deion Sanders.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

There is no need to take a QB until they need one. The myth of taking a QB and having him be some kind of understudy is just that. Today's college quarterbacks have been playing in sophisticated offenses since high school. You don't spend a first on a quarterback and stash them, you play them. And most quarterbacks that aren't 1st or 2nds simply can't play in the NFL, regardless of how slow you bring them along.

I am in the camp that feels Manziel is special and would be a perfect Cowboy, but someone will come along and make us forget about him... probably as soon as next fall.

 

[cml750]

I know from personal experience that Romo has a good chance to never be the same after a ruptured disc and surgery. I have had two back surgeries for two different ruptured disc in my lifetime and I am not near the man I used to be and I don't get hit by 300 lbs. guys for a living. I have serious doubts Romo will EVER be the QB he was. It is time to draft a replacement.

Johnny "Football" will be either feast or famine in the NFL. If he fell to us it would be hard to not take him.

 

[xwalker]

He does remind me a lot of a young Romo.

But is very hard to be a QB in Dallas, unquestionably harder than it is anywhere else.

Not sure if Manziel's personality type is the best fit. He is a celebrity QB and is not exactly the most mature kid.

The most scrutinize position is sports is probably the QB of the Dallas Cowboys. Manziel almost got himself suspended as the A&M QB and had multiple character/personality type off-field issues and didn't handle the press very well. There is a very high probability that he can't handle the pressure of playing QB for the Dallas Cowboys. It would be much better for him to play for a team like Jacksonville where the spotlight in minimal.

 

[Sasquatch]

This is Jones' biggest weakness as a GM. There is no room for personal sentiment in that role. All players should be viewed as replaceable at any time.

He treats people the way he likes to be treated by stroking their egos and being "loyal."

 

[Alexander]

There is no need to take a QB until they need one.

Quincy Carter.

 

[Sasquatch]

I don't think JG is the right coach for Manziel who needs someone creative enough to adjust their offense to suit his strengths. This is not JG"s strong suit as he is too dogmatic and inflexible with his approach.

 

[Alexander]

I think his biggest weakness is just a general lack of respect for the position of GM and of course his complete inability to evaluate talent.

You and your darn titles.

 

[dragon_mikal]

Quincy Carter.

I don't know what you mean by this but Jerry Jones picked Quincy because the Dallas Cowboys needed a QB.

He was the QB Jerry wanted. What makes you think he'll do any better picking before Romo leaves than after?

I agree that the time has come to start looking for an eventual replacement but not in the first round this year because quite frankly QB isn't their biggest need at the moment. If they decide to look they should eye someone in the 3rd or later or wait until next year when they'll have a better idea of how Romo looks post surgery.

I personally think Romo will be fine. That's just my opinion, though. I'm no doctor but with the advancement in medicine and the quality of care NFL players receive on a weekly basis I think he'll return to form.

 

[Risen Star]

You and your darn titles.

I'm a stickler like that.

We've got an owner who sees the GM as a middle man nuisance between the owner and head coach.

Of course he doesn't really believe that, but that's what he's got to say to continue excusing his presence in the GM's chair.

 

[Wolfpack]

I'm a stickler like that.

We've got an owner who sees the GM as a middle man nuisance between the owner and head coach.

Of course he doesn't really believe that, but that's what he's got to say to continue excusing his presence in the GM's chair.

I think he sees himself as the head coach personally.

 

[Alexander]

I don't know what you mean by this but Jerry Jones picked Quincy because the Dallas Cowboys needed a QB.

That is exactly what I meant.

He was the QB Jerry wanted. What makes you think he'll do any better picking before Romo leaves than after?

Because he will not be responding to the flavor of the moment. He wanted a McNabb clone at the time, it made Quincy Carter a must have.

The problem was, Aikman was deteriorating for years and there was no attempt to ever find someone to replace him until he was finished, literally.

No foresight. Just bad logic coupled with panic. A horrible combination when you have an immediate need at the most important position on the football field.

I personally think Romo will be fine. That's just my opinion, though. I'm no doctor but with the advancement in medicine and the quality of care NFL players receive on a weekly basis I think he'll return to form.

It is just a matter of time with Romo. I anticipate by the end of the next season or two, he is done.

Just an opinion of course, but I have felt that way even since before the injury. He is not that talented that the residual non-physical qualities he possesses can carry him at the elite level we almost demand of him.

 

[Wood]

Jerry has the most fragile ego of any GM in football. Its what precludes this team from having any amount of success. He simply can't entertain the idea that he is wrong most of the time so he does what any other maniacal dictator does...he ignores it. The team absolutely should be looking at QB in draft but they wont because they have a cancer that sits at top.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

Quincy Carter.

Sam Bradford? Is there a point you are trying to make?

Edit: didn't see your reply to the other person.

 

[Alexander]

Jerry has the most fragile ego of any GM in football. Its what precludes this team from having any amount of success. He simply can't entertain the idea that he is wrong most of the time so he does what any other maniacal dictator does...he ignores it. The team absolutely should be looking at QB in draft but they wont because they have a cancer that sits at top.

In a way. I think he honestly knows he cannot find another QB so he would rather hope than seriously think about it. Denial is one of his more destructive qualities.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

Sam Bradford? Is there a point you are trying to make?

Edit: didn't see your reply to the other person.

Edit: now that I read it, you still don't have a point. Regardless of when you make the pick, the player still has to get on the field. In truth, Carter probably needed the time as an understudy. Today's quarterbacks don't.

 

[xwalker]

Time for Cowboys to draft Tony Romo's successor
Matt Mosley
FOX Sports

The Cowboys need to give themselves a chance to win while Romo is still playing. Drafting a QB early would be a significant negative impact to that goal.

Draft picks are a salary cap management tool. You have to get as much production as possible out of draft picks during the initial 4 year rookie contract while they have low salaries in order to manage the cap. It's highly likely that a QB drafted in 2014 would be on the bench for at least 2 years.

When trades are made during the draft, current picks are worth a round higher than the next years pick. The 1st pick in round 3 of the 2014 draft is basically worth the 1st pick in round 2 of the 2015 draft or a pick somewhere in the 1st round of the 2016 draft. If you take a QB in the 3rd round and he does not play until 2016, you're basically paying the equivalent of a 2016 1st round pick for the player; however in 2016 you only have him under his rookie contract for 2 more years, whereas you have the 2016 1st round pick under contract for 4 years with a 5th team option year.

If you carried 3 QBs at any time during 2014 or 2015, then it has cost you even more. That extra roster spot has value. You only have a few truly developmental players on the roster each year. Reducing that number by 1 greatly reduces the odds of hitting on a good developmental player.

On the flip side, carrying an older veteran backup QB is also has a negative impact on probabilities. If you can find a young NFL free agent QB or later round draft pick to immediately be the #2 QB, then you have given yourself a chance that player develops and is ready when the starter is gone. Having Orton as the backup is both expensive in cap dollars but it also gives you no chance that the backup is going to develop into the future starter. If they had been able to keep Tanney on the PS and develop him into the #2 in 2014, they would at least have a chance that he could develop into a #1. There is basically zero chance that Orton could take over for Romo because Orton is already 31.

If injured QBs like Mettenberger or Aaron Murray fall to the late rounds of the draft, you could stash them on IR their rookies season. That would prevent having to carry 3 QBs on the roster and give them time to develop into the #2 QB in their 2nd season. The Cowboys probably should have kicked Tanney in the shin and put him on IR.

 

[Alexander]

The Cowboys need to give themselves a chance to win while Romo is still playing. Drafting a QB early would be a significant negative impact to that goal..

It would not have any more of a significant negative impact than taking an accessory tight end in the second round which we have done multiple times in the past half decade.