JD_KaPow
jimnabby
- Messages
- 11,069
- Reaction score
- 10,833
https://www.footballoutsiders.com/walkthrough/2023/nfl-draft-2023-non-grades
Mike Tanier
in
Walkthrough
Used Resources Well: B-
Met Needs: B
FINAL PPA: B
We enter every draft expecting the Cowboys to do loopy, splashy stuff. In most cases, they just add a collection of big/strong/fast guys, most of whom fill a need and come with a round-appropriate scouting report, perhaps with a dash of splash.
Mazi Smith is going to make Micah Parsons and Tank Lawrence better by munching about 45 double-teams per game. I also enjoyed Parsons' "no more sneaks" messaging. I don't think defenses can solve the quarterback sneak issue with manpower, but it's interesting to watch teams and players try to address the problem.
Luke Schoonmaker is a talented athlete and a sturdy blocker. He's a solid system fit for a team that probably plans to feature its receivers and use the tight end as a safety valve in the passing game, though Schoonmaker is fast enough to beat linebackers up the seam.
Yes, Deuce Vaughn's father works for the Cowboys, and he's only 5-foot-5. Vaughn's a thick little bocce ball, though, and the fact that the Cowboys pursued a Tony Pollard change-up in the sixth round instead of a Zeke Elliott surrogate in the first or second round illustrates the difference between Cowboys philosophies and Cowboys Internet memes.
The rest of the Cowboys draft class isn't all that interesting, and they didn't do any significant trading. Like the Bills, Bengals, and Chiefs (but not the Eagles), they acted like a Super Bowl contender just looking to plug holes and fine-tune the roster. But they are the Cowboys, so we always expect something more, or less, or just more COWBOYS.
Mike Tanier
in
Walkthrough
NFL Draft 2023 (Non) Grades
Dallas Cowboys
Improved Roster: BUsed Resources Well: B-
Met Needs: B
FINAL PPA: B
We enter every draft expecting the Cowboys to do loopy, splashy stuff. In most cases, they just add a collection of big/strong/fast guys, most of whom fill a need and come with a round-appropriate scouting report, perhaps with a dash of splash.
Mazi Smith is going to make Micah Parsons and Tank Lawrence better by munching about 45 double-teams per game. I also enjoyed Parsons' "no more sneaks" messaging. I don't think defenses can solve the quarterback sneak issue with manpower, but it's interesting to watch teams and players try to address the problem.
Luke Schoonmaker is a talented athlete and a sturdy blocker. He's a solid system fit for a team that probably plans to feature its receivers and use the tight end as a safety valve in the passing game, though Schoonmaker is fast enough to beat linebackers up the seam.
Yes, Deuce Vaughn's father works for the Cowboys, and he's only 5-foot-5. Vaughn's a thick little bocce ball, though, and the fact that the Cowboys pursued a Tony Pollard change-up in the sixth round instead of a Zeke Elliott surrogate in the first or second round illustrates the difference between Cowboys philosophies and Cowboys Internet memes.
The rest of the Cowboys draft class isn't all that interesting, and they didn't do any significant trading. Like the Bills, Bengals, and Chiefs (but not the Eagles), they acted like a Super Bowl contender just looking to plug holes and fine-tune the roster. But they are the Cowboys, so we always expect something more, or less, or just more COWBOYS.
