My post draft takes

[BoyzBlaster]

Gallimore

It speaks volumes that the best answer is a 3rd rounder from 5 years ago. That's the problem in a nutshell.

 

[Creeper]

This draft is about perspective. The Top 3 guys are talented and I think the consensus is they all fall into the top 35 or so. From a talent perspective, they did well, I think.

But the question is, was this a good draft for the Dallas Cowboys? They had two glaring weaknesses coming into this draft - again. RB and DT. They are also in need of a talent upgrade at WR. And let's not fool ourselves. The Free Agent additions are not top tier players that will move the needle. I suspect most will not even make the team. This team puts its eggs in the draft basket so if they are going to fill holes it will be in the draft.

They did not draft a DT until the 7th round, and took a role playing RB in the 5th, then another RB in the 7th. In terms of addressing needs, the failed miserably, IMO. Some argue that's a good thing that targeting positions leads to mistakes. I see that point of view, but at the same time if they never address the weaknesses they have they can never get better. To not address DT and RB until late in the draft in a draft full of talented RBs and DTs is shocking, IMO. At some point they must target certain players at those positions and go get them. Has anyone noticed how the Eagles move up to grab players they want? The Eagles traded up to get Carter and now Campbell. The Eagles traded up for Jordan Davis too. Last year they traded up in the 2nd round to take Cooper DeJean. And who could forget the Eagles trading up in front of Dallas to take Dallas Goedert? Sometimes you have to make things happen. It is not always luck.

Booker was a reach, IMO. Good player but not great. Taking a OG only at 12 was not getting value from the pick.

Ezeiruaku looks like a good player too. But they already have Sam Williams. Williams is coming off a knee injury but should be ready well before Camp. Will Ezeiruaku start over Williams? And what about Fowler? I am not sure this was a good choice for the Cowboys. Again, good player, not sure where he fits.

Revell is a good player and a great value if he is healthy and ready to play. If he misses training camp it may be next year before we see him play up to his potential. I really can't find anything wrong with this pick because I do think he will recover and he will play well for Dallas, and it is a position of need since Diggs may not be back for a while.

I cannot argue with the talent the Cowboys drafted. But how long can they ignore their weaknesses and claim to improve?

I get the post draft optimism every team's fans are feeling right now. And of course, no one know how any of these players will play until they take the field. Most of them will not stick in the NFL and many will be JAGs regardless of their draft position. Then there will be some drafted on day 3 who will be outstanding players.

 

[darthseinfeld]

It speaks volumes that the best answer is a 3rd rounder from 5 years ago. That's the problem in a nutshell.

Thats three 3T's drafted in the top 90 in 6 years though. The problem isn't that they ignore the position. The problem is they dont draft well at the position. One every two years in the top 90 isnt ignoring the position. But hitting on 1 out of 3 in the top 90 is bad

 

[RS12]

Cowboys seem intent on seeing of Mazi progresses. I mean I get, that was a big investment in a 1T. They seemed to have little interest in big DT's this cycle. They seemed to be interested in another 3T. I wonder if the debate was Booker V. Nolen? Personally I would have taken Nolen

Three year rule applies to Mazi. However players usually make their biggest improvement between year 1 and 2. If that is his biggest improvement, he will be at best a one contract player. Completely agree with your take on Diggs and hated that contract the second it was signed.

 

[BoyzBlaster]

Thats three 3T's drafted in the top 90 in 6 years though. The problem isn't that they ignore the position. The problem is they dont draft well at the position. One every two years in the top 90 isnt ignoring the position. But hitting on 1 out of 3 in the top 90 is bad

You keep saying top 90. Top 90 is not good enough. You get what you pay for in the draft in general.

 

[BoyzBlaster]

Three year rule applies to Mazi. However players usually make their biggest improvement between year 1 and 2. If that is his biggest improvement, he will be at best a one contract player. Completely agree with your take on Diggs and hated that contract the second it was signed.

The problem with Mazi is that pick was just a mistake because he was just an average player in college, so the odds of him becoming a substantially better player in the pros relative to his peers is really small.

 

[Kwyn]

It is amazing how this team loves the OL in the first found but then constantly ignores the DL.

We can't develop mid- and later-round picks on the OL, but at DT that's all we try to do.

By DL, you mean tackle?

We took D line in the second round at the most important defensive position on a team

 

[darthseinfeld]

You keep saying top 90. Top 90 is not good enough. You get what you pay for in the draft in general.

Top 90 should net you a starter. Its 6 years we have drafted a DT in the 1st, a DT in the 2nd and 2 in the 3rd. Thats 4 in draft slots expected to produce starters. Of those 4, we have 1 quality starters. Thats not inattention. Thats poor scouting and drafting

 

[Cowboyny]

Cowboys seem intent on seeing of Mazi progresses. I mean I get, that was a big investment in a 1T. They seemed to have little interest in big DT's this cycle. They seemed to be interested in another 3T. I wonder if the debate was Booker V. Nolen? Personally I would have taken Nolen

Their thinking is, you only play a run DT 20% of the time, you want your DT's to get up the field and disrupt the QB. The likes of Nolen/Stewart sacred me. Think I would of taken either Harmon or Grant at the spot, both have pass rush upside at the position and can play either spot.

 

[Cowboyny]

How many 3Ts have we taken early in the last many years? Osa and Trysten Hill and who else?

They have used a lot of day 2 picks: Osa, Hill, Gallimore, Collins. Players like Crawford/Golston were tweeners who could player either 3T or DE.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Gallimore

True, I forgot him.

So that's, what, two 3Ts in the first three rounds in the last six years?

Counting Mazi, who is a bust, that's three interior DL in the last six years.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

They have used a lot of day 2 picks: Osa, Hill, Gallimore, Collins. Players like Crawford/Golston were tweeners who could player either 3T or DE.

I know time flies and all, but do you realize how long ago Hill and Collins were?

 

[darthseinfeld]

Three year rule applies to Mazi. However players usually make their biggest improvement between year 1 and 2. If that is his biggest improvement, he will be at best a one contract player. Completely agree with your take on Diggs and hated that contract the second it was signed

I think Mazi might be a good run defender this year. Based on his play the 2nd half of the season, Im actually fairly confident he will be a solid there this year. I just dont think he is ever going to be a 3 down player though

 

[BoyzBlaster]

Top 90 should net you a starter. Its 6 years we have drafted a DT in the 1st, a DT in the 2nd and 2 in the 3rd. Thats 4 in draft slots expected to produce starters. Of those 4, we have 1 quality starters. Thats not inattention. Thats poor scouting and drafting

Where we differ is I am saying you need better than just a "starter" at that position. A starter can be an average or even below average player. You need a dominant player, maybe more than one. It's no mystery many teams including the eagles and chiefs do this, and your best chance is drafting guys in the first round, the higher the better. Occasionally the second round. That's what we don't do.

 

[Cowboyny]

I have a slightly different take on the draft which many people here will not like

In the end, what is the objective of the draft? Acquire talent to make the team better

So, yes, draft is about talent acquisition but there is a reason teams have tiers, because need’ has to factor in somewhat

In isolation, i think we had a very very good draft. The players in the top rounds have the potential to be really really good. My problems are below

Booker: very good player, not worth #12. Wr dont have a LT or a RT and we are loading up on OGs. Not going to “bully” anybody if our LT and RT are weak links. The only way this pick makes any sense is if we plan to move Smith to LT. Otherwise it would have been way better to move down to 25 and take Simmons

EZ: very very good player and talent. Great for a team that has a real DE opposite him. If EZ and Parsons are the 2 DEs on the field with Mazi and Osa on 2nd or 3rd and 5-7, as the opposing OC, im running at them everyday if im a good run team like Pilly or GB or Detroit or SF. So, EZ can spell Parsons but at least this year and probably next few years he and Micah will be on the field together very little unless Micah lines up at LB

Revel: great pick if he comes back healthy

Blue: lot of potential but not a 3 down RB. If hes on the field, the defense knows its a pass play most likely. If you run him a lot you will injure him or wear him down

More dart throwing at 1T DT

No #2 WR
No real 1T DT
No true RB

Good players? Yes

This is the kind if draft that can be great for a team that is active in FA
Great draft for this team? Not really

Problem is, this front front creates too many holes with ignoring free agency every year, where they are forced to draft for need. I like the BPA approach, but they have huge holes now within their roster.

 

[darthseinfeld]

True, I forgot him.

So that's, what, two 3Ts in the first three rounds in the last six years?

Counting Mazi, who is a bust, that's three interior DL in the last six years.

Eagles draftes 3 DT's in the in that same span. Difference is they hit on theirs

 

[Cowboyny]

I know time flies and all, but do you realize how long ago Hill and Collins were?

Point is, they used high resources at the position, but are terrible at scouting the position as their success rate has been awful.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Where we differ is I am saying you need better than just a "starter" at that position. A starter can be an average or even below average player. You need a dominant player, maybe more than one. It's no mystery many teams including the eagles and chiefs do this, and your best chance is drafting guys in the first round, the higher the better. Occasionally the second round. That's what we don't do.

One problem is we really haven't had that available where we have drafted in the passed. Maybe thats why they reached on Smith. Squinted too hard and saw Payne maybe. Thats where I would have taken Nolen instead of Booker

 

[BoyzBlaster]

One problem is we really haven't had that available where we have drafted in the passed. Maybe thats why they reached on Smith. Squinted too hard and saw Payne maybe. Thats where I would have taken Nolen instead of Booker

I think you are dead on about the Mazi pick, and I am right there with you on Nolen.

 

[atlantacowboy]

Agree. Booker should be a plug and play G but not great draft value. The next 2 picks were great draft value, particularly Shevel if he's healthy. The DE from BC should upgrade the pass rush, but who's throwing the ball on us? Philly is going to run the ball down our throats and there won't be much we can do to stop it.