The Cowboys couldn't ask for a better opportunity

[Everson24]

If the best player available is graded as heads and shoulders above everyone else we have on our board, and that player is a receiver, do we take the receiver? The obvious answer is to trade down for a king's ransom so that the team that moves up can get that high value player. But reality is that maybe you can't do that.

I believe that you should almost always take the best player available if that player is ranked far ahead of your need player. Not sticking to our draft board has gotten us to where we are today. Case in point: LeSean McCoy. The Cowboys had him rated very high and he was there and clearly the best player left on their board. But what did Jerry do? He traded the pick to get more picks that turned out to be Robert Brewster and Victor Butler.

The Cowboys thought they had their running backs in Marion Barber,Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. But how would McCoy look on this team right now? We could have easily traded Felix or Choice for more picks and we would be in much better shape today.

 

[erod]

I completely disagree. The right thing to do, 100 times out of 100, is to take the top 5 player. That's an absolute dream come true and I could only wish Dallas winds up in that situation this year (and yes, if that means Matt Barkley becomes a Cowboy, so be it)

As tempting as it is, reaching for players or passing on top end talent due to need is a surefire way to wreck your franchise.

I agree with you, but I also get the point of Babe Laufenberg, who says "why not get the best available player at the position of need?" As Babe says, the draft is such a crapshoot, why not take the risk on missing on what you need, rather than missing on something you don't need?

Guys like Larry Allen, Jason Witten, Darren Woodson, Jay Ratliff, Tony Romo, Jay Novacek, Nate Newton, Leon Lett.......none of them were even first-round picks, let alone the best player available.

So yes, give me the best player available, but then again, how do you really know?

 

[Alexander]

totally agree with the original post, don't get distracted Jerry.

It is pretty rare to see a draft fit what perceived needs are this closely.

Imagine being a team that had huge holes at quarterback or running back in this draft?

What you said is key. There undoubtedly will be some intriguing shiny objects that will lure Jerry Jones away from the lines.

It cannot be denied he will go for flash over substance when given the opportunity. It is the marketer in him.

 

[Apollo Creed]

It is pretty rare to see a draft fit what perceived needs are this closely.

Imagine being a team that had huge holes at quarterback or running back in this draft?

What you said is key. There undoubtedly will be some intriguing shiny objects that will lure Jerry Jones away from the lines.

It cannot be denied he will go for flash over substance when given the opportunity. It is the marketer in him.

Yeah, Jonathan Cooper or Chance Warmack jerseys wont sell very well.

 

[Silverstar]

2 OL and a safety sound good to me as well.

I like these players...

1. OT Lane Johnson or OG Jonathan Cooper
2. FS Eric Reid or OT Terron Armstead
3. OG Alvin Bailey or FS Phillip Thomas

 

[JBond]

erod...Thank you for a readable post with positive ideas. It takes a lot more work than the "insert cowboy player/coach/front office" sucks. Good posters like you are the reason I still come here.

 

[cowboys2233]

I would not be disappointed if Dallas' first three picks in April were linemen -- offense or defense!

Why should we stop there? Heck, make it the first seven picks. Just based on the sheer numbers alone, some of them are bound to be good, right?