Our DE need

Risen Star

Risen Star

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It seems like most everyone considers DE to be the most critical need area on the team. It's not a want it's a must get. Early in the draft if not in FA and there doesn't look to be anyone realistic in FA. At least with all their fingers and toes.

Here's the deal though. It's not what you think. It's not what I think. It's what the team thinks that's going to actually shape our offseason.





I'm sure there will be a lot of eye rolling to those tweets but these are two recent draft picks. Lawrence has proven he can play in the league, Tapper hadn't had his chance to fail. There's no reason the Cowboys would feel any differently toward his talent now than they did a year ago drafting him in the 4th round. Both appear healthy and ready to go for next year medically.

So is it possible that while the entire Cowboys fan base views this offseason as pass rusher or bust that the team sees it differently? Not that they will have no interest in a pass rusher at some point but the need isn't nearly as critical as the fans believe it is.

Food for thought. Don't dismiss it. This could easily be true and lead to a lot of Coughlin faces on draft week.
 
robjay04

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Someone on here made a point that we really will not have a ton of open roster spots for DE. It's easy to say we need to add 2-3 pass rushing defensive ends but who do you cut for them?

Lawrence is a roster lock and in the second half of 2015, he showed his upside, Mayowa seems like a good player and really turned it on after he got benched and you don't give up on Tapper yet. A lot of our interior guys are roster locks as well because of their position flex. Irving, Thornton, Crawford and Collins will all be back. I would suspect Irving to play both inside and out. If we resign McClain that will be 8 positions that will almost surely be roster locks. 5 of those players should see significant time at DE. We have room for maybe two more players and I am sure the team would love to add a draft pick or two on the DL as well.
 
Bullflop

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While it's encouraging to hear Lawrence and Tapper are doing well in the post-operation states of health, I'd be inclined to draft a promising DE anyhow, just in case. Back problems have a way of returning more often than not. Not saying it will happen but it could. Of course, that's also assuming a highly desirable DE would be draftable at the right time. I'd like to think the staff would attend to it provided it's practical, though.
 
Killerinstinct

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I wouldn't be surprised at all if we don't see a DE drafted early. There are a lot of needs and factor in the way the team usually try's to address needs that will come up in the future as well. TE and OT are two positions that I would wait a year on but the team might see it differently. The secondary needs at least a couple and maybe more additions. We might need two WR's. We could even draft a RB especially one that doubles as a kick returner. Even backup QB could see a player. With the way this team focuses on DT's I wouldn't be surprised if they jump on one if the right guy is there.

If they added a one trick pony late in the draft at DE like say a Darius English I would not be the least bit surprised.
 
Silverstar

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Ryan Anderson and Carroll Phillips are the only potential pass rushers they have talked to so far.

It could mean, they will try and sign a pass rusher before the draft and not target one at #28.

Anderson/Phillips are probably slated as later picks etc.
 
Nation

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My guess would be the team views DE, RT, CB, S, TE, WR, and maybe even LG as positions of interest if the value is there at the end of the first. They'll likely hit all their immediate need spots with short term cheap money fixes in free agency and build their core through the draft. Which is the smart approach in my eyes.
 

camaro69

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Bullflop said:
While it's encouraging to hear Lawrence and Tapper are doing well in the post-operation states of health, I'd be inclined to draft a promising DE anyhow, just in case. Back problems have a way of returning more often than not. Not saying it will happen but it could. Of course, that's also assuming a highly desirable DE would be draftable at the right time. I'd like to think the staff would attend to it provided it's practical, though.
Click to expand...
Is its just me or did a bad back end Haley's career. I hope D Lawrence comes back better but not bigger he looks to Big
 
WillieBeamen

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We need a RDE on this roster badly. Tank is better suited at LDE as well as both Crawfords and Irving. With that said, I would not be shocked if they didnt address the need in the early rounds like everyone is expecting. They will be more focused on improving the secondary than the DL :facepalm:
 
FuzzyLumpkins

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DE talent takes time to develop. Just because there is no instant fix does not mean you don't do it. Marinelli is a quality development coach.

Tapper and DLaw are two guys that very well may develop too. That doesn't mean you don't put more irons in the fire.
 

Sydla

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Risen Star said:
It seems like most everyone considers DE to be the most critical need area on the team. It's not a want it's a must get. Early in the draft if not in FA and there doesn't look to be anyone realistic in FA. At least with all their fingers and toes.

Here's the deal though. It's not what you think. It's not what I think. It's what the team thinks that's going to actually shape our offseason.





I'm sure there will be a lot of eye rolling to those tweets but these are two recent draft picks. Lawrence has proven he can play in the league, Tapper hadn't had his chance to fail. There's no reason the Cowboys would feel any differently toward his talent now than they did a year ago drafting him in the 4th round. Both appear healthy and ready to go for next year medically.

So is it possible that while the entire Cowboys fan base views this offseason as pass rusher or bust that the team sees it differently? Not that they will have no interest in a pass rusher at some point but the need isn't nearly as critical as the fans believe it is.

Food for thought. Don't dismiss it. This could easily be true and lead to a lot of Coughlin faces on draft week.
Click to expand...


The phrase you are lookin for is "fool's gold".
 
darthseinfeld

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Risen Star said:
It seems like most everyone considers DE to be the most critical need area on the team. It's not a want it's a must get. Early in the draft if not in FA and there doesn't look to be anyone realistic in FA. At least with all their fingers and toes.

Here's the deal though. It's not what you think. It's not what I think. It's what the team thinks that's going to actually shape our offseason.





I'm sure there will be a lot of eye rolling to those tweets but these are two recent draft picks. Lawrence has proven he can play in the league, Tapper hadn't had his chance to fail. There's no reason the Cowboys would feel any differently toward his talent now than they did a year ago drafting him in the 4th round. Both appear healthy and ready to go for next year medically.

So is it possible that while the entire Cowboys fan base views this offseason as pass rusher or bust that the team sees it differently? Not that they will have no interest in a pass rusher at some point but the need isn't nearly as critical as the fans believe it is.

Food for thought. Don't dismiss it. This could easily be true and lead to a lot of Coughlin faces on draft week.
Click to expand...

Biggest issue with Lawrence and DE need is 2017 is a walk year and he has had back issues. He is a guy that can notch 10 sack seasons, but you need to make a commitment to him very soon. I dont question him so much for the 2017 season. I do question giving him 12 million a year if he notches a 10 sack season with the health issues he has had
 
revospeed

revospeed

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I'm fully prepared to see the Cowboys draft a TE, guard and running back with the first three picks.
 
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