Twitter: Rapoport: The Cowboys are still looking for edge help, hosting former Lions DE Jason Jones

[Rogerthat12]

I think you might just be surprised at the time they are putting in with Spence who is the absolute best pass rusher in this draft.

I think the time, you mentioned, with EE and the QB's is primarily putting out "chum in the water" to drum up interest in a trade which
I think they would love to do if it wasn't too far back. I think they want a WR and RB in the second round and a QB in the 3rd if it
works out.

I have no idea what they want by way of round but they are looking at both offensive and defensive players from all over the rounds as you would expect.

I have no doubt they like Spence, Marinelli was said to love him by a Cowboys media staffer at the senior bowl but @4 may be too rich for him even though he is the best pure pass rusher in this draft, he has other questions that may have him go in the 12-25 range in the first.

If they want Spence look for a trade down or trade up back into the first depending if he falls in the first.

I truly have no idea what they will do @4, we can speculate DE because of a lackluster free agency, Gregory issue and the obvious need but we really do not know at this point.

 

[LittleD]

I have no idea what they want by way of round but they are looking at both offensive and defensive players from all over the rounds as you would expect.

I have no doubt they like Spence, Marinelli was said to love him by a Cowboys media staffer at the senior bowl but @4 may be too rich for him even though he is the best pure pass rusher in this draft, he has other questions that may have him go in the 12-25 range in the first.

If they want Spence look for a trade down or trade up back into the first depending if he falls in the first.

I truly have no idea what they will do @4, we can speculate DE because of a lackluster free agency, Gregory issue and the obvious need but we really do not know at this point.

You are right that we don't know what we don't know. I know Broaddus spends time with McClay and the other Cowboy scouts and he says they
have a strong interest in him. They like Buckner too but, apparently Bosa not as much. They also like Ramsey so in the end, you are right...We
won't know how they will "wheel & deal" until
draft night.

 

[Rogerthat12]

You are right that we don't know what we don't know. I know Broaddus spends time with McClay and the other Cowboy scouts and he says they
have a strong interest in him. They like Buckner too but, apparently Bosa not as much. They also like Ramsey so in the end, you are right...We
won't know how they will "wheel & deal" until
draft night.

I think the variables in the first 3 picks in terms of possible trades for QB's and offers while they are on the clock will keep them flexible and fluid with the draft.

Sure, they will have the top options narrowed down @4 and will be ready to strike but we really will not know until they pull the trigger regardless.

I think they like Spence but I think @4 may be too rich, we shall see.

 

[robjay04]

Romo going down doomed us.

But we weren't the same team, even with Tony. Something had changed for sure. It took a miracle to beat NY on opening night. I saw those same old 8-8 teams written all over it.....................

We weren't the same team that went into GB and battled back from multiple really big mistakes to put ourselves in position to win the game, which was stolen from us.....

I just don't think we seen enough of Tony to really know what the team would've been if he didn't get hurt. Games are always close within the division. My memory is fading me but I would bet we had some close calls and tough breaks for NYG that led us to beat them both times in 2014 as well.

Regardless, we were rusty from not playing in the preseason. We were also very rusty to start 2014. It takes a lot of teams several weeks to find their groove.

 

[JoeBoBBY]

I just don't think we seen enough of Tony to really know what the team would've been if he didn't get hurt. Games are always close within the division. My memory is fading me but I would bet we had some close calls and tough breaks for NYG that led us to beat them both times in 2014 as well.

Regardless, we were rusty from not playing in the preseason. We were also very rusty to start 2014. It takes a lot of teams several weeks to find their groove.

And that's a legit observation. No real argument from me. I would've liked to see what we could've done with Romo. But, u know, Romo was there against Carolina.....

But for me to declare we were the same old 8-8 teams after the first game is a little unfair. not enough data to say that and defend it with any conviction. Its just what I sensed, after game 1. If Romo/Dez don't go down, and we win some of those close ones early on, maybe we could used the momentum and been stronger down the stretch.

We quit somewhere along the line. I think it was the NOs game. That game just sucked any "fight" we had left. Maybe the TB game...

 

[coult44]

I think you are likely to be very unhappy on draft day. The Cowboys are spending lots of time looking
at defensive line players and frankly just defensive players. Don't be surprised if you hear the name "Buckner"
or "Spence" called at the #4 pick if we don't have a trading partner.

Not unhappy on draft day at all, first round pick will play right away. Will only be unhappy if we screw up and make the dreaded "pass". I will wait to see y'all melt down though, when Tony has to miss time and those of us who wanted a top rookie QB to step in is not there.

 

[LittleD]

Not unhappy on draft day at all, first round pick will play right away. Will only be unhappy if we screw up and make the dreaded "pass". I will wait to see y'all melt down though, when Tony has to miss time and those of us who wanted a top rookie QB to step in is not there.

Jerry and Stephen not at all interested in paying a "rookie non-playing" player millions to stand on the side line holding
a clipboard. Moore will do, according to the OC, for at least a couple of years. If Romo gets hurt again, the team will tank
and we'll once more be picking in the top 5 and the picking will hopefully be better.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Not unhappy on draft day at all, first round pick will play right away. Will only be unhappy if we screw up and make the dreaded "pass". I will wait to see y'all melt down though, when Tony has to miss time and those of us who wanted a top rookie QB to step in is not there.

A rookie isn't going to be able to come in and save the '16 season... You're way, way, way too optimistic.

And they may not have much impact on the '17 season.

 

[coult44]

A rookie isn't going to be able to come in and save the '16 season... You're way, way, way too optimistic.

And they may not have much impact on the '17 season.

I don't know if that's true. With a good surrounding cast, look at Russell Wilson, RG3, and Big Ben. Even look at last year with Mariota and Winston.

 

[superonyx]

I'm 2014 we were #2 in turnovers. Just saying.

Yea but we were also 28th I sacks in 2014 and after signing Hardy, Drafting Gregory ,B Jones and having Lawrence step up we finished 2015 25th in sacks and 32nd in turnovers.

Even looking back to his first season as a defensive coordinator (2013), our defense has been awful. I don't feel optimistic that any moves we could make in the draft will be enough to suddenly have a top flight defense under Marinelli. I hope I am wrong.

 

[revospeed]

Seems like the Cowboys find more contributing players in undrafted free agents than they do in Rounds 3-7. I may be wrong but it seems that way. Scandrick is the last real "hit" we've had after round 3.

I feel like I'm the later rounds we'd rather take a guy with injury issues, position transition issues, small school transition. or character issues as opposed to a good college player from a big school who played well, but might not have the upside. Thats just my perception though.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I don't know if that's true. With a good surrounding cast, look at Russell Wilson, RG3, and Big Ben. Even look at last year with Mariota and Winston.

All those guys were getting plenty of snaps as the #1 during training camp and during the season.

The guy coming into Dallas ain't.

Not only that Moore is going to get those 2nd strings snaps.

A rookie QB is going to have no impact this season and negligible impact next.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

All those guys were getting plenty of snaps as the #1 during training camp and during the season.

The guy coming into Dallas ain't.

Not only that Moore is going to get those 2nd strings snaps.

A rookie QB is going to have no impact this season and negligible impact next.

I couldn't agree more. The Cowboys are in win-now mode and will be until Romo retires. I have a big problem using the 4th overall pick on a player that's going to sit all this year and maybe next.

If Romo goes down this year, the Cowboys will stink again and will have a chance to draft their QB next year (Clemson's DeShaun Watson??). In the meantime, they can't go into this draft worried about the 2018 quarterback situation.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I couldn't agree more. The Cowboys are in win-now mode and will be until Romo retires. I have a big problem using the 4th overall pick on a player that's going to sit all this year and maybe next.

If Romo goes down this year, the Cowboys will stink again and will have a chance to draft their QB next year (Clemson's DeShaun Watson??). In the meantime, they can't go into this draft worried about the 2018 quarterback situation.

Exactly right.

 

[Risen Star]

A rookie isn't going to be able to come in and save the '16 season... You're way, way, way too optimistic.

And they may not have much impact on the '17 season.

And a cornerback will have no impact every season.

 

[Risen Star]

I couldn't agree more. The Cowboys are in win-now mode and will be until Romo retires. I have a big problem using the 4th overall pick on a player that's going to sit all this year and maybe next.

If Romo goes down this year, the Cowboys will stink again and will have a chance to draft their QB next year (Clemson's DeShaun Watson??). In the meantime, they can't go into this draft worried about the 2018 quarterback situation.

It's cool, guys. We'll get the franchise QB on our own schedule. When we're desperate and have none. What could possibly go wrong?

 

[fivetwos]

Not participating in the draft? What are you talking about. Come back to reality.

You used the team's first two draft picks as an example of an effort to improve. What was the alternative? Not make the picks?

 

[fivetwos]

Nothing against Ramsey but I would be very skeptical of the impact he may be able to make with a suspect pass rush, and every rule in the book making things difficult on DBs.

 

[cowboyblue22]

right about now the cowboys are pretty desperate along the defensive line looks like the first pick will be a defensive lineman

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I'm a fan of hardy and imo I really think he checked out when we started losing so much. When he first got here we were 2-2 And he tore Brady a new one. Then week after week we kept losing with no end in sight. Then those pictures came out and everyone was all on his case again. I bet it was very mentally exhausting to him.

you very well may be right, but jmo, not the type of guy you ultimately want to commit to long term. we *could* resign him to a 1 year deal, but at some point, he's going to sign long term with somebody or take a 1 year deal with someone else, hoping they resign him long term. so I feel if he isn't in our long term plans, then he's in essence a progress stopper. giving RGregory's own troubled history, I want to give him a chance to sink or swim this year, before it likely makes sense to cut bait with him.