Scouting chief McClay hit it big with rookie class

[AsthmaField]

Tripping over themselves and taking our 5th or 6th choice at QB--then having him miraculously work out well-- is far more luck than skill. But to their credit...they DID at least draft him (Dak) after not taking him in the 2nd (Smith), 3rd (Collins), and 4th (Tapper). After failing in a attempt to trade up for Lynch and then losing out on Conner Cook--who they preferred over Dak. That's called being a blind squirrel finding a nut.

As for Zeke with the 4th overall pick. I think we can all agree that if you can't get a good player at the top of the draft, you need to be fired.
The bigger question there is could they have gotten more by trading that pick or maybe taking a stud defender. Time will tell...and Zeke will be good anyway.

I think there's actually true credit to be given if Collins and Brown work out.
Maybe Smith will be great to!

Well, that can likely be said for all of the team's drafts in the NFL. They just don't have Jerry telling anyone with a mic the inner workings of the war room.

Most teams tend to say that whoever they drafted was exactly who they wanted... but we all know that is usually hogwash.

This year, the Rams are the only team that we can be sure took who they wanted most with their first pick... and that, at this early point, looks like a whiff.

Maybe Philly would have rather had Goff. We don't know. Maybe Dallas really did want Bosa but he was gone.

Perhaps Jerry thought Lynch looks good in the shower and was going to give up too much for him, but Stephen, Garrett, and McClay didn't like him nearly enough to overpay. Maybe the whole room wanted Lynch. Maybe the whole room wanted Cook later. Maybe there were guys in the room that liked Prescott over Cook and that tempered what they were willing to give for a move up to get Cook.

I do know that the team seemed to spend a good bit of time with Prescott pre-draft and they did indeed seem to like him. Did they like other's more? Probably but again, that goes for any QB a team takes past the first two rounds.

I get calling it luck to get Dak. I do. And frankly, I have no issue with anyone calling it luck. However, there was a lot of time spent on him and clearly the team liked him and his potential. They didn't rule him out and they didn't think he couldn't potentially play QB in the NFL. They were well aware of his intangibles and leadership qualities. They knew how his team mates felt about him and how they'd do anything for him. Rightfully so, they factored in that moxie, charisma, it factor, or whatever you want to call it... and they knew it would be an important factor at the QB position.

The team was aware of and liked Prescott and they, not anyone else, chose to draft him when he was sitting there. Other team's passed on him repeatedly as well and had they known what everyone now knows, someone would have drafted him long before the end of the 4th.

So, if Dallas missed and just got lucky on Dak... then they at least missed less than every other team.

 

[DFWJC]

Well, that can likely be said for all of the team's drafts in the NFL. They just don't have Jerry telling anyone with a mic the inner workings of the war room.

Most teams tend to say that whoever they drafted was exactly who they wanted... but we all know that is usually hogwash.

This year, the Rams are the only team that we can be sure took who they wanted most with their first pick... and that, at this early point, looks like a whiff.

Maybe Philly would have rather had Goff. We don't know. Maybe Dallas really did want Bosa but he was gone.

Perhaps Jerry thought Lynch looks good in the shower and was going to give up too much for him, but Stephen, Garrett, and McClay didn't like him nearly enough to overpay. Maybe the whole room wanted Lynch. Maybe the whole room wanted Cook later. Maybe there were guys in the room that liked Prescott over Cook and that tempered what they were willing to give for a move up to get Cook.

I do know that the team seemed to spend a good bit of time with Prescott pre-draft and they did indeed seem to like him. Did they like other's more? Probably but again, that goes for any QB a team takes past the first two rounds.

I get calling it luck to get Dak. I do. And frankly, I have no issue with anyone calling it luck. However, there was a lot of time spent on him and clearly the team liked him and his potential. They didn't rule him out and they didn't think he couldn't potentially play QB in the NFL. They were well aware of his intangibles and leadership qualities. They knew how his team mates felt about him and how they'd do anything for him. Rightfully so, they factored in that moxie, charisma, it factor, or whatever you want to call it... and they knew it would be an important factor at the QB position.

The team was aware of and liked Prescott and they, not anyone else, chose to draft him when he was sitting there. Other team's passed on him repeatedly as well and had they known what everyone now knows, someone would have drafted him long before the end of the 4th.

So, if Dallas missed and just got lucky on Dak... then they at least missed less than every other team.

I agree with all of that.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

Bravo to McClay
As the fourth overall pick, the Cowboys expect Elliott to be special. He is third in the NFL in rushing with 274 yards.

Why do people keep saying he's third in the NFL in rushing? He's tied for second. It's so annoying. Haha.

 

[ConceptCoop]

I do know that the team seemed to spend a good bit of time with Prescott pre-draft and they did indeed seem to like him.

Had they not leaked their draft board, we could give them the benefit of the doubt and say - maybe they graded him as a late 2nd rounder and just had the other guys higher. But we know for a fact that they thought he was a 4th round prospect and from their own mouth, the DUI had nothing to do with that grade.

 

[bark]

Or the Raiders saving us from ourselves by selecting Cook who would've been our choice; thanks for the assist! I love Dak but we would've taken him earlier if he was really deemed "special". Similar to how we landed Martin. Worked out for us that Shazier was gone, etc.

As bad as we need defensive help, we dodged a bullett with shazier.
He's a good player but has had problemd staying on the field. Martin was a home run

 

[bayeslife]

They key untold story here and I'm glad they mention it is Jaylon Smith. We're talking about a generational linebacker before his injury. The Cowboys STILL haven't put him on IR...

As much grief as we give the front office for the resources they have put towards our defense (much deserved), they really made a good pick here (potentially). He can advance this defense tremendously.

We're talking superstar level talent here. We desperately need one on this defense

 

[erod]

Couldn't you say this about every team who drafted 3-4 defensive players? What have any of our rookie defensive players done to suggest they're quality starters? Couldn't you just as easily say we could have 0 quality starters, based on what we've seen to this point? Starting due to injury or suspension isn't really an accomplishment. The article makes it sound like Collins and Brown earned starting gigs in camp.

Jaylon Smith is projected as a special player if he returns to health. Maliek Collins is playing extremely well right now. Anthony Brown is playing really well for a rookie. If Tapper can play, too, then that would be 3 or 4 quality starting defensive players.

To go along with, a starting QB and RB.

That is a tremendous draft.

 

[LandryFan]

It's totally fair but what Dak is doing at a high level is just classic NFL football..

Kaepernick was killing people with zone reads and making big pass plays off of it.. So was RG3.

He's sitting in the pocket reading the defense and finding the open man.. When nothing is there he has the ability to run.

Yep, totally different styles of QB's.

 

[LandryFan]

The draft looks great because they lucked out on Dak. They graded him as a 4th rounder and wanted to draft Conner Cook ahead of him. I don't think he should get credit for anything more than that, when it comes to Dak.

Outside of Dak:
Elliott's been about what most expected, but started a little slow
Smith was a huge reach, but could go either way
Collins has been okay, but is only starting due to suspensions
Tapper is on IR
Brown has only played 70 snaps and only due to injury

It's far too early to give McClay and the rest of the FO kudos for this class. We had the 4th overall pick and a top 5 pick in each round. Of course we're going to get some talent. But, again, the only reason this draft class looks anything but average is Dak, which they lucked into.

A number of people have said we "lucked into" Dak, and I understand and even agree with that outlook, to an extent. If the front office/scouting department would have known Dak would be what, at least in the early going, he appears to be, they should have drafted him with the 4th overall pick. But they didn't, because they didn't know what he would be. However, we should realize that 31 other teams passed on him through those four rounds, as well. They knew even less, apparently. The only thing we should be doing is comparing the performance of our front office/scouting department against those of the other 31 clubs, not what we, as fans, know in hindsight. Here's what I know: Our front office/scouting department has performed pretty well in recent years when compared to those 31 other clubs. That's all that really matters to me.

 

[LandryFan]

Well, that can likely be said for all of the team's drafts in the NFL. They just don't have Jerry telling anyone with a mic the inner workings of the war room.

Most teams tend to say that whoever they drafted was exactly who they wanted... but we all know that is usually hogwash.

This year, the Rams are the only team that we can be sure took who they wanted most with their first pick... and that, at this early point, looks like a whiff.

Maybe Philly would have rather had Goff. We don't know. Maybe Dallas really did want Bosa but he was gone.

Perhaps Jerry thought Lynch looks good in the shower and was going to give up too much for him, but Stephen, Garrett, and McClay didn't like him nearly enough to overpay. Maybe the whole room wanted Lynch. Maybe the whole room wanted Cook later. Maybe there were guys in the room that liked Prescott over Cook and that tempered what they were willing to give for a move up to get Cook.

I do know that the team seemed to spend a good bit of time with Prescott pre-draft and they did indeed seem to like him. Did they like other's more? Probably but again, that goes for any QB a team takes past the first two rounds.

I get calling it luck to get Dak. I do. And frankly, I have no issue with anyone calling it luck. However, there was a lot of time spent on him and clearly the team liked him and his potential. They didn't rule him out and they didn't think he couldn't potentially play QB in the NFL. They were well aware of his intangibles and leadership qualities. They knew how his team mates felt about him and how they'd do anything for him. Rightfully so, they factored in that moxie, charisma, it factor, or whatever you want to call it... and they knew it would be an important factor at the QB position.

The team was aware of and liked Prescott and they, not anyone else, chose to draft him when he was sitting there. Other team's passed on him repeatedly as well and had they known what everyone now knows, someone would have drafted him long before the end of the 4th.

So, if Dallas missed and just got lucky on Dak... then they at least missed less than every other team.

Extremely well stated. I posted a similar thought before getting to your post. Had I read yours first, I wouldn't have responded...you hit the nail on the head!

 

[ConceptCoop]

Jaylon Smith is projected as a special player if he returns to health. Maliek Collins is playing extremely well right now. Anthony Brown is playing really well for a rookie. If Tapper can play, too, then that would be 3 or 4 quality starting defensive players.

To go along with, a starting QB and RB.

That is a tremendous draft.

I could have scouted Smith as an elite talent. That pick was about Jerry's ego, not the scouting department. Also, there's a chance he never plays again.

Collins is playing okay. He's made a couple nice plays away from the ball, but isn't getting much push.

Brown played very well over 70 snaps. But it's only 70 snaps and most of them came against Eddie Royal catching passes from Brian Hoyer.

Tapper might never play NFL football again. Due to no fault of his own, he's shown nothing. He's no more likely to be a starter than any other 4th round pick. Much less so, if you account for his injury issues.

I'll say this: If Brown is an above average #3 corner and Collins is a solid starting 3T, the draft will likely have been a success with or without the Dak luck. But it's silly to say that it's likely at this point. We're way too early into the process and the sample size is tiny.

 

[erod]

I could have scouted Smith as an elite talent. That pick was about Jerry's ego, not the scouting department. Also, there's a chance he never plays again.

Collins is playing okay. He's made a couple nice plays away from the ball, but isn't getting much push.

Brown played very well over 70 snaps. But it's only 70 snaps and most of them came against Eddie Royal catching passes from Brian Hoyer.

Tapper might never play NFL football again. Due to no fault of his own, he's shown nothing. He's no more likely to be a starter than any other 4th round pick. Much less so, if you account for his injury issues.

I'll say this: If Brown is an above average #3 corner and Collins is a solid starting 3T, the draft will likely have been a success with or without the Dak luck. But it's silly to say that it's likely at this point. We're way too early into the process and the sample size is tiny.

Collins is outplaying Crawford and Thornton inside. He's playing better than OK.

If Dallas got lucky with Dak (they did), then New England got lucky with Brady, Seattle got lucky with Wilson and Sherman, Denver got lucky with Simien, Dallas got lucky with Romo, Cincinnati got lucky with Dalton, etc. You can do that all day.

This draft might have produced the future starting QB, RB, MLB, DT, nickel CB, backup to Elliott, and who knows on Frazier or if Tapper ever heals.

Wow.

 

[Risen Star]

I don't know how he keeps doing it. He's like a magician.

 

[ConceptCoop]

Collins is outplaying Crawford and Thornton inside. He's playing better than OK.

If Dallas got lucky with Dak (they did), then New England got lucky with Brady, Seattle got lucky with Wilson and Sherman, Denver got lucky with Simien, Dallas got lucky with Romo, Cincinnati got lucky with Dalton, etc. You can do that all day.

This draft might have produced the future starting QB, RB, MLB, DT, nickel CB, backup to Elliott, and who knows on Frazier or if Tapper ever heals.

Wow.

If we want to say the class is great because of Dak, I'm fine with that. But let's put that on hold for just a moment and talk about the rest.

Of course if we get a starting MLB, DT, CB (Nickel is pretty much base these days), backup RB in addition to Elliott it will be hugely successful class. But the odds of that happening are close to zero.

Collins isn't outplaying Crawford and Thornton. Thornton plays a different position and Crawford just happens to be playing better at end. When DL comes back, Crawford will go back to starting at the 3T spot. Seriously, can somebody tell me what Collins has done? He's made two nice hussle plays yards away from the line. But he's been invisible otherwise. I'm not saying that's a red flag for a rookie DT. But let's stop pretending that he's a quality starter today, or that he's shown signs of being one soon. He's not and he hasn't. At all.

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

The draft looks great because they lucked out on Dak. They graded him as a 4th rounder and wanted to draft Conner Cook ahead of him. I don't think he should get credit for anything more than that, when it comes to Dak.

Outside of Dak:
Elliott's been about what most expected, but started a little slow
Smith was a huge reach, but could go either way
Collins has been okay, but is only starting due to suspensions
Tapper is on IR
Brown has only played 70 snaps and only due to injury

It's far too early to give McClay and the rest of the FO kudos for this class. We had the 4th overall pick and a top 5 pick in each round. Of course we're going to get some talent. But, again, the only reason this draft class looks anything but average is Dak, which they lucked into.

You could say the Eagles lucked into Wentz. They weren't guaranteed him, they may have had to settle for Goff if the Rams had changed their mind

 

[SportsGuru80]

I want to see Brown tested before I get optimistic. He already gave up a td the one time he was targeted.

The coverage was there, just an outstanding throw/catch.

 

[ConceptCoop]

You could say the Eagles lucked into Wentz. They weren't guaranteed him, they may have had to settle for Goff if the Rams had changed their mind

True.

If Dak goes on to be a franchise QB, he will have been worth all the other picks combined. So if Dak is the next, slightly better Russell Wilson and every other pick in the draft is a bust - did McClain do a good job? There are dIfferent ways to look at it. I would say no. If you would say yes, that's fine too. But my opinion is that he would have done a poor job overall and got by on one very lucky pick.

I'm not saying he did a poor job, either. I'm saying it's just way too early to say he did a good job.

 

[boysfanindc]

I think it was all Jerry, not sure why he even needs scouts.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I try to stay positive and no doubt Dallas got at least two good ones this year. Maybe even more than that. I generally am in McClay's corner to some degree.

However
Tripping over themselves and taking our 5th or 6th choice at QB--then having him miraculously work out well-- is far more luck than skill. But to their credit...they DID at least draft him (Dak) after not taking him in the 2nd (Smith), 3rd (Collins), and 4th (Tapper). After failing in a attempt to trade up for Lynch and then losing out on Conner Cook--who they preferred over Dak. That's called being a blind squirrel finding a nut.

As for Zeke with the 4th overall pick. I think we can all agree that if you can't get a good player at the top of the draft, you need to be fired.
The bigger question there is could they have gotten more by trading that pick or maybe taking a stud defender. Time will tell...and Zeke will be good anyway.

I think there's actually true credit to be given if Collins and Brown work out.
Maybe Smith will be great to!

People screw up the top of the first round every year. There's going to be some busts in the top 10 of this draft.

 

[ConceptCoop]

I think it was all Jerry, not sure why he even needs scouts.

Zeke and Smith were for sure. Lynch and Cook would have been too.