Perfectly put by Mike Fisher

[silver]

Zeke is BPA. But the idea that a running back is going to stay for 12 years just doesn't line up with reality.

We only need him for the next 3 years to make a last run with Romo.

 

[superonyx]

LOL. You draft talent at positions you need. The Cowboys have followed this and have done well with it. That quote is nothing to me. You need a pass rusher, a linebacker and a corner or safety. Go and get the best one.

Now when you are trading for a need in the draft that's when it comes back to bite you. But you sit there at #4 and you take the best player for a need? I don't see how that is a problem or how it will bite you.

In 2007 the Bucs needed a pass rusher. They drafted Gaines Adams for need. 3 players later the Vikings drafted Adrian Peterson. Peterson was a better college player than Gains Adams. This is what is meant by drafting the best player instead of the best player at your position of need.

 

[Proximo]

The idea of a player being number 1 on a board and another being number 2....people take that relative rank way to strictly.

This.

Obviously you don't want to draft for need, but you'd be an idiot to not consider the state of your roster when determining who to take when you're on the clock.

With that being said, I wonder what Jerry and co will do if SD takes Ramsey and we're staring at Tunsil. I'd be cool with a trade down; just not too far down.

 

[Hoofbite]

In 2007 the Bucs needed a pass rusher. They drafted Gaines Adams for need. 3 players later the Vikings drafted Adrian Peterson. Peterson was a better college player than Gains Adams. This is what is meant by drafting the best player instead of the best player at your position of need.

You can't be entirely ignorant to the current makeup of your roster.

Tampa drafted Cadillac Williams 5th overall in 2005. I'm not sure there's any team in the league that would be so slavish to BPA that they would use two Top 5 picks on the RB position in a span of 3 years.

BPA is great until BPA just happens to play a position where you have someone. BPA may be how you miss out on an Adrian Peterson, but it also seems to be how you end up with Martellus Bennett and Gavin Escobar riding the bench for entire careers with the team that drafted them. Bennett didn't necessarily ride the bench but it's hard to imagine the BPA process that drafted him had him pegged as a 6th OL.

 

[Hoofbite]

We only need him for the next 3 years to make a last run with Romo.

The risky assumption being that Romo plays for 3 more years.

 

[cowboyblue22]

the draft is more luck than any thing but drafting for need is a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

This.

Obviously you don't want to draft for need, but you'd be an idiot to not consider the state of your roster when determining who to take when you're on the clock.

With that being said, I wonder what Jerry and co will do if SD takes Ramsey and we're staring at Tunsil. I'd be cool with a trade down; just not too far down.

You trade down or you take Bosa. To me it's clear cut.

 

[AbeBeta]

We only need him for the next 3 years to make a last run with Romo.

Free agents are for short-term approaches. #4 overall shouldn't be

 

[superonyx]

You can't be entirely ignorant to the current makeup of your roster.

Tampa drafted Cadillac Williams 5th overall in 2005. I'm not sure there's any team in the league that would be so slavish to BPA that they would use two Top 5 picks on the RB position in a span of 3 years.

BPA is great until BPA just happens to play a position where you have someone. BPA may be how you miss out on an Adrian Peterson, but it also seems to be how you end up with Martellus Bennett and Gavin Escobar riding the bench for entire careers with the team that drafted them. Bennett didn't necessarily ride the bench but it's hard to imagine the BPA process that drafted him had him pegged as a 6th OL.

Well said.
Our OL is an example this year where you may look the other way on BPA if Tunsil is available.

 

[Proximo]

You trade down or you take Bosa. To me it's clear cut.

Admittedly I do not follow college ball; but a lot of folks seem to think Bosa has bust written all over him. I wonder what the Cowboys think of him. If they do take him 4th overall, I just hope it's because they truly believe he's the truth, and they aren't reaching.

 

[boysfanindc]

So the standard draft rule of drafting BPA should stand...however some confuse this with Best Athlete Available....

So if Ramsey is the BAA and Zeke is the BPA....who should you take?

There is no way the draft could fall, based on the first 2 teams taking QB's that would make Zeke the BPA @ 4.

 

[Hoofbite]

Well said.
Our OL is an example this year where you may look the other way on BPA if Tunsil is available.

Which wouldn't be bad. Wouldn't be bad if they took him either, I don't think.

Dallas is in a good position to get a quality player. I just hope they get one, no matter the position. Whether or not you go BPA or by need, if you're making the right call and picking players that can play, I think you'll be okay.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Admittedly I do not follow college ball; but a lot of folks seem to think Bosa has bust written all over him. I wonder what the Cowboys think of him. If they do take him 4th overall, I just hope it's because they truly believe he's the truth, and they aren't reaching.

I haven't heard bust a lot.

Just a well above average guy who will play a decade.

Nothing exceptional. Exceptional is fun.

Above average is boring.

 

[Proximo]

I haven't heard bust a lot.

Just a well above average guy who will play a decade.

Nothing exceptional. Exceptional is fun.

Above average is boring.

I haven't heard any rumors regarding how the Cowboys feel about Bosa. I just hope that if they do take him it's for the right reasons.

It seems like Ramsey would be the preferred pick. I'm starting to lean towards hoping they trade down if the SD takes him. Hopefully they can get someone to pay a ransom for Tunsil. This is where "state of the roster" comes into play, in my opinion. We don't need to use the 4th overall pick on an O lineman.

 

[Fredd]

I think of it in ratios...BPA is about 90% of the decision in rd 1 with the other 10% being need....as the draft moves on, that goes to more of a 50-50 split...

 

[visionary]

I've said this for years, but never as succinctly as Mike Fisher put it.

"Drafting for need is football suicide. Needs come and go. Talent stays for 12 years."

That's exactly right.

Why oh why did Fisher have to hold this gem of wisdom until a week before the draft

Now all NFL teams are likely scrambling to scrap their drafts and redo their draft strategy

 

[conner01]

And that is why you stay away from Bosa at 4.

Why I think it's either Ramsey or Elliot.

well I haven't seen a single ranking with Zeke rated above Bosa do wouldn't Zeke be the wrong pick if you go bpa

 

[conner01]

I think of it in ratios...BPA is about 90% of the decision in rd 1 with the other 10% being need....as the draft moves on, that goes to more of a 50-50 split...

I agree
BPA is great but you aren't going to draft a guard with your top pick 3 yrs in a row
And BPA is a bit subjective since different people grade players differently

 

[silver]

The risky assumption being that Romo plays for 3 more years.

True. Which is why we need to also draft the heir apparent.

 

[9darter]

That's my biggest concern in the draft room, scouts' voices getting drowned out by coaches. Coaches looking short term and scouts looking at long term/best talent.

False dichotomy.

It's a good thing that coaches feel the pressure and want to win in the short term. They should. Unless you have declared a rebuild.

Scouts are not FO decision makers. They add a specialized input. But at some point you will involve your coaches in the scouting process. They are very capable as scouts, and you want to know their input when making decisions. They are a valuable ressource. I mean, they should be. It's important.

It takes way more than a qualified scouting department to perform on draft day. This is where less competent coaches, a weak GM or interfering owner could ruin the decision making.