Next Year's Receiver Crop

[like a dog]

With both our starters over 30 and the questions about the ability of Quincy Morgan (who will be 28 this year anyways), the Cowboys clearly have a need for a dynamic young receiver. The good news for Dallas is that next year's draft appears to be very deep in receiver talent. I just picked up the Sporting News preview magazine and they are projecting as many as seven first round talents in next year's draft, depending on the number of underclassmen that choose to come out early. A few of these guys (Derek Hagan, Martin Nance) seem to be the type who will develop into solid, Reggie Wayne like #2 receivers, while others seem better suited for a slot receiver/returner role like Antwaan Randle-El (Steve Breaston). But there are three or four guys who seem to have the potential to be game breakers who the Cowboys should keep a close eye on:

1. Santonio Holmes, Ohio State, 6'0''/190 - Blazing speed (4.3 40), superb athleticism, good size, and great hands give this guy Chad Johnson like potential. Could have a huge senior season with Troy Smith taking over at QB and playing opposite Ted Ginn Jr. Needs to learn to run better routes but his physical skills should make him a top 10 pick.

2. Steve Smith*, USC, 6'1''/195 - Dosen't have the speed or athleticism of Holmes' but is a bigger, smoother, more skilled player. Like Holmes', might not even be the best receiver on his team with Dwayne Jarret opposite him. Should face plenty of single coverage surrounded by Trojans ridicolous talent (I would absolutely take their skill position players over that of any NFL team, including the Colts) and a good season should propel him into the teensif he chooses to leave early.

3. Greg Lee*, Pittsburgh, 6'2''/205 - Great speed, size and athleticism give Lee tremendous potential. Has a talented quarterback in Tyler Palko throwing to him. Will need to adjust to being the focal point of the offence and improve his route running. A good season could cause him to leave early. Would probably project as mid first round pick.

4. Andre Caldwell*, Florida, 6'1''/195 - Blazing speed, good hands, and outstanding run after the catch ability for this bigger version of Mark Clayton. Will have plenty of opportunities in Urban Meyer's spread offence and could put up huge numbers with Chris Leak throwing him the ball. Would probably project as a mid to late first round pick if he left early.

The interseting thing is that, as deep as the receiver class of 2006 has the potential of being, the class of 2007 looks to be truly special with some guys with Hall of Fame type potential like Dwayne Jarret and Ted Ginn Jr. highlighting another potentially deep group.

Though the Cowboys are getting older at receiver, there appears to be plenty of available help in the next two drafts.

 

[dargonking999]

Whihc is why we should leave alone this WR mess, we are ok for this year, and we have the next two years to build for the future, we cant have 20+ players at every single postion on the field. Sometimes i wish it was august

 

[LaTunaNostra]

1. Santonio Holmes, Ohio State, 6'0''/190 - Blazing speed (4.3 40), superb athleticism, good size, and great hands give this guy Chad Johnson like potential. Could have a huge senior season with Troy Smith taking over at QB and playing opposite Ted Ginn Jr. Needs to learn to run better routes but his physical skills should make him a top 10 pick.

Has Holmes been timed that fast?

The size looks off as well. Ohio State is legendary for a special helping of fudging its players' vitals, and they have Holmes listed a shade over 5'10", I believe, and about 185. Of course kids are still growing in their late teens and early twenties so he could be that big now.

If my eye last year was any decent judge tho, he's not.

Regardless, Santonio has another year to polish the route running. He's a tremendous athlete, imo, and I hope Dallas drafts him. Also a return specialist.

 

[wxcpo]

Has Holmes been timed that fast?

The size looks off as well. Ohio State is legendary for a special helping of fudging its players' vitals, and they have Holmes listed a shade over 5'10", I believe, and about 185. Of course kids are still growing in their late teens and early twenties so he could be that big now.

If my eye last year was any decent judge tho, he's not.

Regardless, Santonio has another year to polish the route running. He's a tremendous athlete, imo, and I hope Dallas drafts him. Also a return specialist.

Holmes is the real deal and would love to see the kid in a Cowboys uniform next season. That being said though he will be overshadowed by Ted Ginn Jr though who is a speed demon. He needs to get better at his route running, but once he does he could be a Heisman favorite in his Jr & Sr years.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

Holmes is the real deal and would love to see the kid in a Cowboys uniform next season. That being said though he will be overshadowed by Ted Ginn Jr though who is a speed demon. He needs to get better at his route running, but once he does he could be a Heisman favorite in his Jr & Sr years.

Isn't he a Junior this coming season?

 

[wxcpo]

Isn't he a Junior this coming season?

Nope only going into his sophmore season.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

Nope only going into his sophmore season.

I stand corrected, thought he was a junior this season. Btw, was he red-shirted?

nfldraftscouts.com has him listed at 5103 . 181.

That sounds more like his actual height and weight.

 

[wxcpo]

I stand corrected, thought he was a junior this season. Btw, was he red-shirted?

nfldraftscouts.com has him listed at 5103 . 181.

That sounds more like his actual height and weight.

Nope not redshirted. The guy can do it all, he is the same type of player as Chris Gamble was for the Buckeyes. Two way player that excels at both his natural position (DB) and on the offensive side of the ball (WR). OSU also uses him at QB from time to time because he is so athletic. I can easily see him being a top 3 pick if he comes out after his Jr season.

 

[Natedawg44]

Travis Wilson's name is gonna be up there when its all said and done as well. He is extremely physical at 6'3" 220 lbs and has some of the biggest arms for a WR this side of TO. If he can prove his deep speed in workouts he could emerge in round 1. He had a very good year sharing time with 3 NFL WRs in Clayton, Bradley and Jones now he is the number one option.

 

[whcarm]

I've also seen that the OT class next year is very strong. If Parcells and Bledsoe are still here then I think there is a good chance that we will take an OT in the first round and a WR in the second round.

But either way, I think, based on our team right now, that OT and WR will be our first two selections.

 

[dargonking999]

I've also seen that the OT class next year is very strong. If Parcells and Bledsoe are still here then I think there is a good chance that we will take an OT in the first round and a WR in the second round.

But either way, I think, based on our team right now, that OT and WR will be our first two selections.

i dont know, i never liketaking OL in the first round, and i think we have something Petti, but hey its a wait and see game now

 

[like a dog]

Holmes is listed at 6'0''/190 in Sporting News' College Football Preview. It has been reported that he has runs the 40 in the 4.3 but we all know that those college numbers can be a bit of a misrepresentation (i.e. Kevin Jones reportedly running a 4.2 in college but in actuality being barely able to crack a 4.4). You can tell the guy has dynamic speed and movenment skills though. Of all the receivers potentially in the 2006 draft he excites me the most right now. I think that he is going to have a big season opposite Ted Ginn and with Troy Smith at QB, especially in the Buckeyes can find a tailback.

As good as the 2006 receiver class is, the 2007 class has the potential to be truly special. Tedd Ginn, Calvin Johnson, Dwayne Jarret, and, my favorite, Lance Legget (think of a taller, faster version of Torry Holt) out of Miami will all be eligible. Factor in some of the underclassmen returning from the 2006 class and there is going to be some amazing talent at wide receiver in the 2007 draft, with some real potential game breakers.

The depth of wide receivers that are going to be available in the next two drafts are a boon to the Cowboys who need an infusion of youth and speed at the position. If Dallas uses a day one pick on a receiver in each of the next two drafts the concerns at wide receiver would be erased for years to come.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

Holmes is listed at 6'0''/190 in Sporting News' College Football Preview. It has been reported that he has runs the 40 in the 4.3 but we all know that those college numbers can be a bit of a misrepresentation (i.e. Kevin Jones reportedly running a 4.2 in college but in actuality being barely able to crack a 4.4). You can tell the guy has dynamic speed and movenment skills though. Of all the receivers potentially in the 2006 draft he excites me the most right now. I think that he is going to have a big season opposite Ted Ginn and with Troy Smith at QB, especially in the Buckeyes can find a tailback.

Well this guy's becoming more of mystery by the moment. I saw a half dozen sites this evening that listed him as junior, (including OSU's) and one as a sophomore, while one referred to him as a junior and a sophomore on the very same page. I also read he was a redshirt freshman in 2003. Saw another that had him down as playing a few games in 2002, but no yardage. His height and weight flutuate, but not as wildly as his timetable.

What it's going to take is a dynamite season to get the actual facts out there..

 

[Qwickdraw]

We should have drafted Terrence Murphy.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

We should have drafted Terrence Murphy.

No kidding. He fell off a bit last year, but I read recently some teams still had him rated as their top receiver..plus all the praise coming out of Green Bay does not seem like "get Walker to end his hold out" smoke.

Shudda, mos def.

And the Brown Sugar connection made it a given.

 

[Qwickdraw]

No kidding. He fell off a bit last year, but I read recently some teams still had him rated as their top receiver..plus all the praise coming out of Green Bay does not seem like "get Walker to end his hold out" smoke.

Shudda, mos def.

And the Brown Sugar connection made it a given.

He's gonna be one of the star WRs outta this draft, IMO.

Watch his highlight clip... nothing too impressive but he seems to have "it".

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/gnb

 

[MiStar]

Murphy and Roby had the best highlight clips of the recievers on Yahoo, imo.

 

[like a dog]

I've also seen that the OT class next year is very strong. If Parcells and Bledsoe are still here then I think there is a good chance that we will take an OT in the first round and a WR in the second round.

But either way, I think, based on our team right now, that OT and WR will be our first two selections.

I disagree. For one I think that Torrin Tucker is going to solidify the position with another year of experience. And yes, despite all the reports of him being overweight and people all ready writing him off and talking about Pettit, who hasn't even played a snap, as the surefire answer I think that Tucker will win the job. He has by far the most physical talent. Playing next to a true pro like Marco Rivera will be a boon to him as well.

Even if Tucker fails, a right tackle can be had in free agency for not too much money. Even now, Chris Terry, a solid NFL starter, is available. With all the money already sunk into the OL I don't think Dallas can afford to sink more money into a first round OT.

The positions that intrigue me in the first round next year, besides wide receiver, are LB and DT. Both positions have two potential stars that would fit perfectly in the 3-4 scheme Dallas is moving to. At NT you have:

1. Haloti Ngata*, Oregon, 6'4''/340 - Huge powerful man with obscene athleticism for his size. Needs to refine his technique, but has the potential to be a dominating player against both the run and the pass.

2. Gabe Watson, Michigan, 6'4''/335 - Another monsterous, powerful nose tackle. More of a traditional nose tackle, does not have Ngata's quickness and pass rush ability. He is smoother and more refined in technique and the intricacies of the position though.

At LB you have:

1. Chad Greenway (WLB), Iowa, 6'4''/245 - Strong, physical player who combines prototypical size with excellent athletic skills. Excels in all phases of the game and has shown the ability to get after the QB. Projects as a WLB in the 3-4. Has the frame to put on the 5 or 10 pounds of muscle that would make him the prototypical 3-4 WLB. Rumor has it that he is rated the preseason #1 prospect by the prestigous Blesto scouting service (which the Cowboys subscribe to as opposed to the alternative, National).

2. Ahmad Brooks* (SILB), Virginia, 6'4''/250 - Another strong physical player who excels at the point of attack. Also has tremendous athletic skills. Plays in the 3-4 in college and has been a monster from his SILB position. Potential off field concerns could drop him, but he will surely be a first rounder.

*Junior

The two LBs are particularly exciting, Greenway in particular. A duo of Ware at SLB and Greenway at WLB is almost unfair. Two guys with 10+ sack potential and the size and athletic ability to dominate against the run and the pass. They project as the perfect prototype for 3-4 OLBs. However, Greenway is considered by most to be neck and neck with Leinart as the top preseason prospect and is the best LB prospect since Lavar Arrington. If projections hold, he will not make it out of the top 10, and probably not out of the top 5. This hopefully but unfortunately means that, barring a trade, Dallas has no shot at Greenway.

Brooks would also transform Dallas' LB corps. He would immediately slide in at SILB, pushing Nguyen to WILB where he is far better suited to play. If James or Burnett (who needs to put about 10 to 15 pounds on in the next year) show potential at the WLB spot then Brooks might actually be a better fit as his addition would put everybody at their ideal position:

SLB - DeMarcus Ware, 6'4''/260
SILB - Ahmad Brooks, 6'4''/250
WILB - Dat Nguyen, 5'11''/245
WLB - Kevin Burnet, 6'2''/245

Either NT is perfect for the 3-4 and would provide depth/rotation and step in to start when Fergueson hangs it up.b

 

[DallasKnight]

Off TOPIC***

Quickdraw, that is an awesome sig bud. ROFlmao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hostile]

Off TOPIC***

Quickdraw, that is an awesome sig bud. ROFlmao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree, a classic.