robert70x7
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,075
- Reaction score
- 34
I went back and looked at Scouts, Inc. to compare players that were ranked 31 or greater by the company and then took each position and ranked both classes based on how many players were picked from each last year.
For example, only 11 quarterbacks were taken last year, so I compared their grades to the top 11 quarterbacks for '13. I know not everyone agrees with McShay, but it is the most user-friendly to deal with.
Quarterbacks
12 - 73.7
13 - 73.5
Lots of stash and develop guys, especially when you consider Dysert is graded as the 9th ranked QB in this class when you compare him to Kellen Moore from last year (also the 9th ranked). I was surprised the rankings were this close, but this looks like a deep QB class that lacks the Luck/Griffin from last year.
Running Backs
12 - 64.7
13 - 65.5
Once again it lacks elite talent but lots of talent towards the bottom of the 19. Productive guys like Robbie Rouse, Kerwynn Williams and Rex Burkhead looks like could be had later on. For comparison's sake, Ronnie Hillman and Johnathan Franklin were/are the 12th ranked RBs.
Wide Receivers
12 - 65.8
13 - 64.9
33 WR taken last year, so that muddies the waters a little bit. Common theme still lacks elite talent and this class has big shoes to fill from last year. With Coale/Beasley/Harris still on the roster I don't see this as a priority.
Tight Ends
12 - 63
13 - 74.1
I remember we were all crazy about the tight ends from last year with athletic guys like Egnew and Green and we came out okay with James Hanna in the 6th. Not sure if the Cowboys will draft another TE, despite the fact that we may still need another blocking type.
Tackle
12 - 68.8
13 - 73.8
Pretty deep tackle class and we've seen guys like Fisher and Thomas thrown around as potential targets for the Cowboys in the 1st. Could be a good time to grab some depth guys later on.
Guards
12 - 61.3
13 - 60.2
After Warmack and Cooper, this class falls off a cliff. No Zeitlers, Allens, Brooks or Silatolu's in this class. If we want a good one, I don't see why we should wait.
Centers
12 - 67.4
13 - 65
Barrett Jones is graded significantly lower than Konz from last year, and Khaled Holmes isn't far behind. I think someone reaches for Jones in the first, and Holmes falls to late 2nd, early 3rd.
Defensive Tackle
12 - 64.4
13 - 68.6
Maybe the deepest position in this draft, which bodes well for Cowboys. Just like last year, we'll hear lots of names linked to us, but this will be the year we need to actually pull the trigger in the first couple of rounds.
Defensive End
12 - 73.3
13 - 79.7
Another position that the Cowboys could look at early on. Includes tweeners and when guys like Okafor, Jeffcoat and Simon are ranked 9th, 12th and 15th, you know it's a deep class.
Inside Linebacker
12 - 63.4
13 - 77.2
Don't think you'll see the Cowboys look here, but after 2nd tier guys like Bobby Wagner and Mychal Kendricks making an impact it looks like another good year for this position.
Outside Linebacker
12 - 59.2
13 - 56.9
Cowboys took Wilber last year and I don't really see this being a priority considering most of the guys ranked here are 4-3 types.
Cornerbacks
12 - 66.1
13 - 64.9
Doesn't look like a big gap, but when you consider 30 cornerbacks were taken last year, it is pretty significant. Claiborne, Gilmore, Jenkins, Hayward and Norman have all made significant impacts this year. Might be an area we target later in the draft with the writing on the wall for Jenkins. You know Jerry has to be tickled at the possibility of grabbing the Honey Badger in the 4th round.
Safeties
12 - 59
13 - 67.6
This position was the main reason I wanted to do this. What I thought was a shallow class (Vaccaro is not Barron or Smith), is actually full of guys that would be upgrades for the Cowboys. This has to be an opportunity for us to capitalize in the draft, hopefully early on.
_____________________________________________________________
What does all this mean? Like most of the times that I do stuff like this, it leaves me with more questions than answers. However, I think when you look at the biggest holes in our team - the trenches and secondary/depth - the Cowboys will probably be in a good position to get three significant upgrades on both trenches and in the secondary.
For example, only 11 quarterbacks were taken last year, so I compared their grades to the top 11 quarterbacks for '13. I know not everyone agrees with McShay, but it is the most user-friendly to deal with.
Quarterbacks
12 - 73.7
13 - 73.5
Lots of stash and develop guys, especially when you consider Dysert is graded as the 9th ranked QB in this class when you compare him to Kellen Moore from last year (also the 9th ranked). I was surprised the rankings were this close, but this looks like a deep QB class that lacks the Luck/Griffin from last year.
Running Backs
12 - 64.7
13 - 65.5
Once again it lacks elite talent but lots of talent towards the bottom of the 19. Productive guys like Robbie Rouse, Kerwynn Williams and Rex Burkhead looks like could be had later on. For comparison's sake, Ronnie Hillman and Johnathan Franklin were/are the 12th ranked RBs.
Wide Receivers
12 - 65.8
13 - 64.9
33 WR taken last year, so that muddies the waters a little bit. Common theme still lacks elite talent and this class has big shoes to fill from last year. With Coale/Beasley/Harris still on the roster I don't see this as a priority.
Tight Ends
12 - 63
13 - 74.1
I remember we were all crazy about the tight ends from last year with athletic guys like Egnew and Green and we came out okay with James Hanna in the 6th. Not sure if the Cowboys will draft another TE, despite the fact that we may still need another blocking type.
Tackle
12 - 68.8
13 - 73.8
Pretty deep tackle class and we've seen guys like Fisher and Thomas thrown around as potential targets for the Cowboys in the 1st. Could be a good time to grab some depth guys later on.
Guards
12 - 61.3
13 - 60.2
After Warmack and Cooper, this class falls off a cliff. No Zeitlers, Allens, Brooks or Silatolu's in this class. If we want a good one, I don't see why we should wait.
Centers
12 - 67.4
13 - 65
Barrett Jones is graded significantly lower than Konz from last year, and Khaled Holmes isn't far behind. I think someone reaches for Jones in the first, and Holmes falls to late 2nd, early 3rd.
Defensive Tackle
12 - 64.4
13 - 68.6
Maybe the deepest position in this draft, which bodes well for Cowboys. Just like last year, we'll hear lots of names linked to us, but this will be the year we need to actually pull the trigger in the first couple of rounds.
Defensive End
12 - 73.3
13 - 79.7
Another position that the Cowboys could look at early on. Includes tweeners and when guys like Okafor, Jeffcoat and Simon are ranked 9th, 12th and 15th, you know it's a deep class.
Inside Linebacker
12 - 63.4
13 - 77.2
Don't think you'll see the Cowboys look here, but after 2nd tier guys like Bobby Wagner and Mychal Kendricks making an impact it looks like another good year for this position.
Outside Linebacker
12 - 59.2
13 - 56.9
Cowboys took Wilber last year and I don't really see this being a priority considering most of the guys ranked here are 4-3 types.
Cornerbacks
12 - 66.1
13 - 64.9
Doesn't look like a big gap, but when you consider 30 cornerbacks were taken last year, it is pretty significant. Claiborne, Gilmore, Jenkins, Hayward and Norman have all made significant impacts this year. Might be an area we target later in the draft with the writing on the wall for Jenkins. You know Jerry has to be tickled at the possibility of grabbing the Honey Badger in the 4th round.
Safeties
12 - 59
13 - 67.6
This position was the main reason I wanted to do this. What I thought was a shallow class (Vaccaro is not Barron or Smith), is actually full of guys that would be upgrades for the Cowboys. This has to be an opportunity for us to capitalize in the draft, hopefully early on.
_____________________________________________________________
What does all this mean? Like most of the times that I do stuff like this, it leaves me with more questions than answers. However, I think when you look at the biggest holes in our team - the trenches and secondary/depth - the Cowboys will probably be in a good position to get three significant upgrades on both trenches and in the secondary.
