My Offseason and Draft Lamentations

[ghst187]

1) Sadly, although i can swing it in fanspeak with lots of trades back, it def isn't realistic for me to acquire all of the pet cats I have in this draft. DEs Orchard and one of Preston Smith, Chickillo or Owa, DT Bennett or Brown and Cattleman, LB Heeney, Lockett, any one of the two FSU Guards or the Duke kid, CB Kevin Johnson or Golson, RB Cobb, Either OT from OU.
2) Which brings me to #2, I hate to admit it but I fear our D will not make the jump forward without a significant FA addition (plus bringing back most of our UFAs). I know this strategy has busted more times than it has worked for most teams but it did get us over the hump in the 90s with Haley and again with Deion. I love the Jerry Hughes option as he's NOT Suh, he costs less, and he'd allow us to go elsewhere with our 1st round pick. However, I have say that Suh would transform our D faster than anyone available, and its not close. Suh, next to Crawford, with DLaw, Spencer, and someone like Orchard would suddenly be one of our strongest units. Bottomline, IMO we HAVE to bring someone expensive in along the DL to have any real flexibility in the draft.
3) I really would like to add to our OL. Its strong, but Leary had some issues. I love the two FSU Gs and the kid from Duke. Would LOVE to add one of them but it will cost us a top 3 round pick and that's a luxury I don't see us having. Ditto for one of the top OTs.
4) I would REALLY like to draft WR Lockett. I think he'd be our 3rd best WR on the roster by mid-season and a real ST dynamo, also allows us to let Harris walk. Although I really like Harris, Lockett will be much better. Once again, this is a bit of a luxury pick that will cost us at least our 3rd round pick and Lockett could even be long gone by then.
5) LOVE to draft one of the RBs like Coleman, Gurley, or Cobb,as it gives us options if we have to franchise Murray and let him walk year after next. However, don't think we have enough high picks.
6) Hate hate hate that we spent $50+million on a CB and a first + second on a CB and here we are needed CB help again. This is a DEEP CB draft but IMO there is a precipitous drop off after Golson and once again, going to likely require a rnds 1, 2, or 3 pick to get the talent I'd like.

 

[xwalker]

1) Sadly, although i can swing it in fanspeak with lots of trades back, it def isn't realistic for me to acquire all of the pet cats I have in this draft. DEs Orchard and one of Preston Smith, Chickillo or Owa, DT Bennett or Brown and Cattleman, LB Heeney, Lockett, any one of the two FSU Guards or the Duke kid, CB Kevin Johnson or Golson, RB Cobb, Either OT from OU.
2) Which brings me to #2, I hate to admit it but I fear our D will not make the jump forward without a significant FA addition (plus bringing back most of our UFAs). I know this strategy has busted more times than it has worked for most teams but it did get us over the hump in the 90s with Haley and again with Deion. I love the Jerry Hughes option as he's NOT Suh, he costs less, and he'd allow us to go elsewhere with our 1st round pick. However, I have say that Suh would transform our D faster than anyone available, and its not close. Suh, next to Crawford, with DLaw, Spencer, and someone like Orchard would suddenly be one of our strongest units. Bottomline, IMO we HAVE to bring someone expensive in along the DL to have any real flexibility in the draft.
3) I really would like to add to our OL. Its strong, but Leary had some issues. I love the two FSU Gs and the kid from Duke. Would LOVE to add one of them but it will cost us a top 3 round pick and that's a luxury I don't see us having. Ditto for one of the top OTs.
4) I would REALLY like to draft WR Lockett. I think he'd be our 3rd best WR on the roster by mid-season and a real ST dynamo, also allows us to let Harris walk. Although I really like Harris, Lockett will be much better. Once again, this is a bit of a luxury pick that will cost us at least our 3rd round pick and Lockett could even be long gone by then.
5) LOVE to draft one of the RBs like Coleman, Gurley, or Cobb,as it gives us options if we have to franchise Murray and let him walk year after next. However, don't think we have enough high picks.
6) Hate hate hate that we spent $50+million on a CB and a first + second on a CB and here we are needed CB help again. This is a DEEP CB draft but IMO there is a precipitous drop off after Golson and once again, going to likely require a rnds 1, 2, or 3 pick to get the talent I'd like.

Interesting thoughts.

I agree the the biggest impact FA would be Suh. I think it's highly unlikely that they get him because it will be over 12M per season with a lot of guaranteed money. I would look at:
Hardy
McPhee
Hughes
Graham
Sheard

Hopefully, they get a quality FA DL and can go BPA in the draft.

I've have reservations about smallish WRs in the top 3 rounds. If you think he's a DeSean Jackson type, then go for it; however, with Beasley already getting a lot of snaps, it would be difficult to have 2 smallish guys active on game days. Lockett would be a returner but likely wouldn't be on coverage units. It would be nice to have a burner.

They will not franchise Murray, IMO. The tag for RBs will be about 10M. They've reportedly offered him 4M per year. There is a big gap between 4M and 10M. Also, they have to keep the tag available for Dez.

Cobb/Coleman combined with Randle/Williams could get it done this year if Murray is gone. I don't know if Gurley will play this season due to the ACL, but the analysts don't seem to think he will drop much in the draft. It would be hard to use a 1st on Gurley if he can't play in 2015.

They either have to give Carr a huge pay cut or replace him with a free agent. Cromartie played on a 1-year, 3.5M contract this season. He would be a good short term replacement. Either way, they need to draft a CB at some point if possible. All of the young CBs on the roster are small and probably have limited upside.

 

[dwreck27]

I would love for us to grab Hughes seems like a no brainer...

But if we can grab Hardy with a incentive laden deal i would take that too

 

[BAT]

6) Hate hate hate that we spent $50+million on a CB and a first + second on a CB and here we are needed CB help again. This is a DEEP CB draft but IMO there is a precipitous drop off after Golson and once again, going to likely require a rnds 1, 2, or 3 pick to get the talent I'd like.

What is really sad is that Cowboys are unable to develop corners instead relying on having to pay for one in FA or draft one at top of draft. Seahawks play a very similar defense that relies on their corners to be very physical. Seahawks drafted Sherman in 5th, Browner was a UDFA and Maxwell was a 6th rounder. Seahawks love the big corners while other teams try to convert big corners into safeties. Cowboys need to start bringing in in big corners and play them at corner, maybe even sign the small school safeties with some speed and physicality and convert them.

Henderson has not impressed me and Jerry should look into stealing some talent from the Seahawks before Quinn gobbles them all up. Would love to at least bring Kenny Norton back home.

 

[slick325]

Jerry Hughes as an option has grown on me. I want to see what happens with the Greg Hardy case this month and he is my top pick at free agent DE and now Jerry Hughes is my #2 pick.

Totally agree that Suh would make the most impact but as has been said countless times....the financial commitment is going to be astounding!

 

[btcutter]

Based on what Stephen Jones has already said I am pretty certain that the Cowboys plans to add a significant DEFENSIVE FA.
I believe that the front office understands that it's too hard for a draft choice even a 1st round DL to have enough impact to put this D over the top. FO also believe that RB can be had through draft or FA. We may not get the 1800 yards but a committee of RBs can generate 1500 yards with this line.

 

[BAT]

Based on what Stephen Jones has already said I am pretty certain that the Cowboys plans to add a significant DEFENSIVE FA.
I believe that the front office understands that it's too hard for a draft choice even a 1st round DL to have enough impact to put this D over the top. FO also believe that RB can be had through draft or FA. We may not get the 1800 yards but a committee of RBs can generate 1500 yards with this line.

Hope you are right. Even Jerry has said that 90's Cowboys do not even spell SuperBowl without missing piece on D, Charles Haley. Cowboys need a catalytic player on DL that other teams must game plan for. If this acquisition has some of Haley's nastiness and intimidation as well, even better.

 

[btcutter]

Hope you are right. Even Jerry has said that 90's Cowboys do not even spell SuperBowl without missing piece on D, Charles Haley. Cowboys need a catalytic player on DL that other teams must game plan for. If this acquisition has some of Haley's nastiness and intimidation as well, even better.

Because of these repeated references to Haley and Cowboys of the 90's makes me believe that's what in the works in FA.