NFL.COM Charles Davis mock draft 5 4/21

[ABQCOWBOY]

I don't know that you can't comprehend it, just that you don't want to. You've already stated that you don't care about the cap.

Not exactly what I said. I said I cared about the cap right up to the point where we screwed ourselves and gave Tony a stupid contract that pretty much screwed the cap up for us. Since the fire is already started, might as well try and have a BBQ before it burns out.

 

[speedkilz88]

All of those are good points too.

I just think that with a little moving around, it wouldn't be difficult to come out of the first couple of rounds with exactly what you want. In the 2010 draft, the Cowboys were fresh off of losing a few players right before their pick (Max Unger was one) in 2009, so they were proactive in getting their players that year. They jumped up in front of Baltimore to get Dez (pissing off the Ravens I heard) and they also moved up a few spots to get Sean Lee in the second. The picks we lost for those guys are long forgotten and we have two players who are vital to the team.

With just a little work this year Dallas could move up a little and get Donald and then move up to make sure they got Crichton (assuming they like him as much as I think they do). Or Donald and Ryan Shazier if he falls a little into the 2nd.

I just want them to be proactive like Jimmy Johnson was when he liked a guy. Just make it happen and put together the team that you want... not whoever just so happens to drop to your pick.

JMO of course.

That 3rd round pick they gave up for Dez would have been NaVorro Bowman (Cowboys rated him a 1st round pick). Worth it but would have been nice.

 

[speedkilz88]

I want donald. I think that RIGHT NOW Barr is a better fit as a 3-4 OLB like Ware was for us not an every down DE. You are spending a 16 on a guy you are HOPING grows into being an every down player. Barr might be a great one! But he may not also. Donald would be a starter here for many years.

Tex

In the Cowboys system that RE doesn't have to be 275 pounds. It isn't a big run responsibility position. Charles Haley was smaller than Barr when the Cowboys traded for him. Haley was an "elephant" OLB for the 49ers up until that. Tony Tolbert was an OLB that Jimmy drafted to be a DE and he moved him to the strong side. Barr looks alot physically like Jason Taylor who was an OLB at Toledo and played DE for the Dolphins.

 

[JPostSam]

Pretty much how I feel about it too.

Donald will be plug and play, IMO. Barr will take a while to adjust.

I like Barr a good bit, honestly. I just like Donald so much and the 3-tech spot is so vital in Marinelli's scheme that Barr suffers in comparison. A good edge rusher is important to Marinelli too though, so I wouldn't be too upset with Barr if Rod thinks he is a good fit.

Here is the rub for me though... If you take Donald at 16 (or in a slight trade up to around 11) then there is Crichton in round 2 that I really like a whole lot. However, if you take Barr at 16, there honestly isn't going to be a DT in the 2nd that I like very much. If you could come out of the first two rounds with Donald and Crichton, then the DL would be greatly improved.

Basically, if we take Barr at 16, then I think the earliest we get a DT would be the 3rd... and that is too late IMO. Maybe the Cowboys like someone that I don't at DT though.

Dallas is drafting well enough now that I trust them to get the right guys, but I just think moving up a few spots to ensure Donald is the right thing to do.

i also get starry eyed at the thought of landing both donald and chrichton, but i fear that neither will be available for us.

 

[jnday]

It won't necessarily be a 3rd, and even that IMO isn't too expensive. The Cowboys will probably agree with you though, and not me.

I know you are sold on Donald, but there are some things to go consider. Many scouts see him as a part time player, meaning he will not hold up at his size and should only be used on passing downs. Another thing to consider is that they just invested resources on a top free agent that plays the same position as Donald , meaning Melton or Donald will not be in the game and they will not get full use out of their investment with one of the players. I don't care what they do, but I can see why Donald may not be a must-have player for them.

 

[xwalker]

Not exactly what I said. I said I cared about the cap right up to the point where we screwed ourselves and gave Tony a stupid contract that pretty much screwed the cap up for us. Since the fire is already started, might as well try and have a BBQ before it burns out.

The cap is far from screwed. The Cowboys status will be the best that it's been in 5 or 10 years at this time next year. The dead money will be down from 30M a couple of years ago to about 5M. Other than Romo, all of the big money will be going to younger productive players. Witten's number is not that big and everybody else will be under 30.

The cap issues the past few years have been from absorbing all of the massive contracts going back to when Garrett first took over. They had to push things forward to absorb all of those cap hits. That is basically all finished.

It is actually a really exciting time for the Cowboys for anybody that really follows the salary cap and all of it's ramifications.

I also believe that people are underrating the talent that is on the roster now. The offense is pretty solid at all positions except backup OG. They actually have solid starting options on most positions on defense, they just need to mix in some elite talent with the blue collar types that they have in place. Even without adding more elite talent, the defense will be a lot better if they can just play the games with the players that were in training camp and not have rookie UDFAs and rookie 6th round picks starting. McClain and Mincey might not be world beaters, be there are legit NFL players. Having them go through training camp and then play in the games is a big boost over having guys like Nevis, Wynn, etc., etc. come in off the street in the middle of the season. People that have not coached just don't realize how difficult it is to just plug players in without any off-season time in the scheme.

The coaching staff is much more stable than it was last year. The Callahan West Coast guy as the OC with Garrett's offense mixed with the new defense caused a lot of instability. The massive number of injuries pushed the instability past the breaking point.

 

[xwalker]

I know you are sold on Donald, but there are some things to go consider. Many scouts see him as a part time player, meaning he will not hold up at his size and should only be used on passing downs. Another thing to consider is that they just invested resources on a top free agent that plays the same position as Donald , meaning Melton or Donald will not be in the game and they will not get full use out of their investment with one of the players. I don't care what they do, but I can see why Donald may not be a must-have player for them.

Yes, there is a better than 50 percent chance that Donald is available without a trade up, IMO. I would not give up a 3rd or 4th round pick when there is a really good chance that he is available anyway. The Giants rarely have smallish DTs and Chicago is likely to run a hybrid 4-3, 3-4 scheme. There is a good chance that Chicago plans to use their free agent DE Houston (6-3, 300) at DT in the nickel.

 

[DBOY3141]

The cap is far from screwed. The Cowboys status will be the best that it's been in 5 or 10 years at this time next year. The dead money will be down from 30M a couple of years ago to about 5M. Other than Romo, all of the big money will be going to younger productive players. Witten's number is not that big and everybody else will be under 30.

The cap issues the past few years have been from absorbing all of the massive contracts going back to when Garrett first took over. They had to push things forward to absorb all of those cap hits. That is basically all finished.

It is actually a really exciting time for the Cowboys for anybody that really follows the salary cap and all of it's ramifications.

I also believe that people are underrating the talent that is on the roster now. The offense is pretty solid at all positions except backup OG. They actually have solid starting options on most positions on defense, they just need to mix in some elite talent with the blue collar types that they have in place. Even without adding more elite talent, the defense will be a lot better if they can just play the games with the players that were in training camp and not have rookie UDFAs and rookie 6th round picks starting. McClain and Mincey might not be world beaters, be there are legit NFL players. Having them go through training camp and then play in the games is a big boost over having guys like Nevis, Wynn, etc., etc. come in off the street in the middle of the season. People that have not coached just don't realize how difficult it is to just plug players in without any off-season time in the scheme.

The coaching staff is much more stable than it was last year. The Callahan West Coast guy as the OC with Garrett's offense mixed with the new defense caused a lot of instability. The massive number of injuries pushed the instability past the breaking point.

I like your optimism. What is Carr's cap hit for next year.

 

[Aven8]

Yeah, Melton makes a big difference in this situation. Without him we would be sure enough desperate for a 3-tech, but with him, we can go DT at 16 or in another direction.

You're correct in thinking that I don't like Sutton very much, but that doesn't mean I'm right about that. Maybe he turns into a good player in the pro's... I just don't think he will.

I do like Caraun Reid a whole lot, and I think he could play a lot for us as a rookie if you get him in the 3rd or 4th.

For me, it is really pretty simple. I like Barr a lot, and I like Jernigan a lot, and a few others that I'd be ok with at 16... but Donald is head and shoulders above every one else. I don't remember a 3-tech coming out of college that I like as much as him since probably Warren Sapp (who I loved at the time). I liked Suh a little more as an all-around DT, but as a pure 3-tech that fits in a Marinelli scheme... Donald is a textbook example.

I think a guy like Barr will be in next year's draft, and I think a guy like Jernigan will be in next year's draft. I think there will be a Martin and a Ford in just about every draft... but a guy like Donald, with his production, motor, physical skills and intangibles, just doesn't come along very often IMO.

He's perfect for Dallas in this scheme, with their current needs. He fits the bill in every way a player possible could. He will be worth whatever it will take to ensure they get him.

I agree. If Marinelli is here to stay, I trade up.

 

[xwalker]

I like your optimism. What is Carr's cap hit for next year.

I'll have to look up his cap hit, but I know that his base salary is 7.5M.

 

[DBOY3141]

I'll have to look up his cap hit, but I know that his base salary is 7.5M.

Thanks. Seems like if he has a down year, quite a few folks want to run him out of town. Just wondering if financially we could do that without absorbing a lot of dead money.

 

[Iron_Man]

1. PICK NO.
   16
   
   ANTHONY BARR
   OLB
   UCLA
   
   One of the top pass rushers in the draft and a bargain pick for the Cowboys, who might make him a full-time DE.

Full Mock Draft
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/mock-drafts/charles-davis/200853

I hope this will be our pick. I think he is going to be a great player for years to come. I do not want ealy.

 

[waving monkey]

I know you are sold on Donald, but there are some things to go consider. Many scouts see him as a part time player, meaning he will not hold up at his size and should only be used on passing downs. Another thing to consider is that they just invested resources on a top free agent that plays the same position as Donald , meaning Melton or Donald will not be in the game and they will not get full use out of their investment with one of the players. I don't care what they do, but I can see why Donald may not be a must-have player for them.

Good observation but the three tech is a Marinelli under tackle. Donald is said to be prefect for this 3T. Melton being there Donald's rookie year seems kinda sweet to me.
That rotation would be fresh till the last down. If Barr is the choice that ain't bad.

 

[xwalker]

Thanks. Seems like if he has a down year, quite a few folks want to run him out of town. Just wondering if financially we could do that without absorbing a lot of dead money.

There will be dead money; however, when you cut players with big contracts, not having their base salary often offsets the dead money. They would actually gain about 6M in cap space if they cut him after June 1st of this year and they would have about 600K of extra cap space in 2015.

 

[jterrell]

I know you are sold on Donald, but there are some things to go consider. Many scouts see him as a part time player, meaning he will not hold up at his size and should only be used on passing downs. Another thing to consider is that they just invested resources on a top free agent that plays the same position as Donald , meaning Melton or Donald will not be in the game and they will not get full use out of their investment with one of the players. I don't care what they do, but I can see why Donald may not be a must-have player for them.

Seattle doesn't emply any DL more than 70% of the snaps and do OK.
Jimmy Johnson used the same system and that worked out OK also....

The current Dallas Cowboys roster on their own website lists Melton as a DE.
Fair imho to say Dallas would have no issue finding reps for Melton AND Donald together.

I think it is extremely likely Donald is gone at 16 but arguments against drafting him are somewhere between foolish and insane. This guy is the Randy Moss of 3Ts with the character of Roger Staubach. He isn;t a system fit for everyone and yes he may need to rotate but again that's the very design of the system we are using. Explosive, rotational players that can rush the passer from SDE. 3T and WDE.

Right now Aaron Donald would be our best WDE. He'd be our fastest, strongest, most explosive player there BY FAR. So yes if made it to 16 and we drafted him this team would find a way to use him.

 

[jterrell]

I like your optimism. What is Carr's cap hit for next year.

Carr is over 12 in cap hit for 2015 but also over 12 in dead money. He is basically a break even if cut pre June.
Far more likely he gets the one last restructure and is cut in 2016. BUT, the team could bite the bullet and cut him at a 3-4M cap savings in June 2015.

The way Stephen structured Carr to get him in under a tight cap in 2012 was an extreme case and means we will definitely eat a lot of money when he leaves.

What you'd like to see is Carr take a pay cut next year... like we hoped for Ware this year. He is a very capable but imperfect player that is vastly overpaid.

 

[DBOY3141]

There will be dead money; however, when you cut players with big contracts, not having their base salary often offsets the dead money. They would actually gain about 6M in cap space if they cut him after June 1st of this year and they would have about 600K of extra cap space in 2015.

good to know. wonder if they take that into account during this draft. say one of the top CB's is there and can't trade out, do they take the player with the idea of cutting Carr to create extra cap room to sign say Dez/Tyron.

 

[xwalker]

good to know. wonder if they take that into account during this draft. say one of the top CB's is there and can't trade out, do they take the player with the idea of cutting Carr to create extra cap room to sign say Dez/Tyron.

I don't think they are focused on Carr per se, but it's an example of the logic that good team use. You could use similar logic with WR Mike Evans. If he is available and is the overwhelming BPA, then they could draft him and not give Dez a new mega-contract. The 10M+ per year that would go to Dez could be used to sign the top free agent next off-season.

The Cowboys could have drafted LeSean McCoy in 2009 with their 2nd round pick. They had him rated as a 1st round pick but already had Felix and Barber. Their first two picks ended up being Robert Brewster and Jason Williams. It's a lesson in taking the Best Player Available.

 

[Idgit]

...I think it is extremely likely Donald is gone at 16 but arguments against drafting him are somewhere between foolish and insane...

I'd be surprised if he's there, but not shocked. Other than the Bears, where's he likely to go? Giants, maybe, at 12. Or Dallas. And all three of those teams have good arguments for going in other directions, even if he's there. Now, I think the Bears take him and don't look back, but if they go secondary--and they very likely could--I think Donald is there for Dallas if we want him.

 

[jterrell]

I'd be surprised if he's there, but not shocked. Other than the Bears, where's he likely to go? Giants, maybe, at 12. Or Dallas. And all three of those teams have good arguments for going in other directions, even if he's there. Now, I think the Bears take him and don't look back, but if they go secondary--and they very likely could--I think Donald is there for Dallas if we want him.

He could go anywhere because he's a DL with the best measurables outside Clowney and best on field numbers in this class.
Any team that wants him could leap Dallas at 16.

There are no where near 15 better football players than Donald in this draft.
I'd be more shocked if he went 16 than if he went 5.

I don't know that I'd trade up for him but I do know he is a heck of a player with every box checked.

In the CBS panel of experts mock. 2 guys pick him 10th to Detroit and the other 2 guys pick him 14th to Chicago.

Tennessee at 11 is a possibility. As is anyone jumping to 15 to take him since Pitt wants a CB desperately have no real competition for one in our area.

I'd LOVE to land him at 16 but I I gave up on that pipedream.