The Downside of Filling F/A Holes Now

[Verdict]

Many of you are stating that we should sign Moore or Justice now for insurance. That sounds great, but realistically, I think it is a bad move unless you plan on starting them this year.

Let's say that the Cowboys are actually targeting the following players in the draft:

Lane Johnson
Cooper
Warmack
Warford
Armstead
Schwenke

Many fear that none of these players will be there when we draft in the round in which we would select them. But what if the exact opposite is true? It is conceivable that the draft could fall like this:

Johnson/Cooper/Warmack
Warford/Armstead
Schwenke

It is possible that we could conceivably get THREE of these players in the draft. In that event, we would end up thinning out guys and creating dead money on the cap.

The good news is that since we are not spending a lot of money in the off season to shore up our shoddy offensive line, it may be an indication that we are pretty sure we are going to be able to fill a position or two in the draft.

I am hoping we get one of the big 3 listed above in round one, but if all of the top guys we have on the board are gone, I could also see us trading back and getting Warford AND Armstead inn the second in a trade back.

 

[Tabascocat]

If the Cowboys can sign Moore now, they should do it before someone else does. The draft is no guarantee to get what they want. By getting Moore, it frees up another draft spot for another position of weakness.

 

[Nation]

Best Player Available always does the trick. Look at the Packers who follow that strategy to a tee as an example. They drafted Randall Cobb in the 2nd round in 2011 despite having Jennings, Nelson, Finley, Jones, and Driver. When 2013 free agency rolled around they were not stuck paying Jennings $9 million a year because they trusted the board as opposed to drafting based on perceived need.

 

[xwalker]

If you want to build a team, you have to take some risks on young players. If you try to fill all positions and backups to those positions with low to mid level Free Agents then it is difficult to develop young players.

Having said the above, you also can't have too many young, inexperienced players on the OLine together.

It appears that they did not restructure Livings contract which indicates a high probability of him being a June 1st cut. I would prefer Brandon Moore to Livings or Bernadeau. His experience at RG in Callahan's system would be very valuable, especially if an inexperienced player like Parnell starts at RT.

Bernadeau could be the game day backup at Center and Guard leaving LG open for a draft pick or young player like Leary.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Are we really worried about having too many good offensive linemen?

 

[Red Dragon]

Never count on something being available in the future. If you can sign or draft a good player now, you should never wait until later.

 

[DBOY3141]

Moore would be a good signing because we need two guards. I can see your thought on RT, doubt Johnson falls but if he does, great.

Don't think Warford is on their list. He does not move all that well and is not a fit for Callahan's system.

 

[Future]

Best Player Available always does the trick. Look at the Packers who follow that strategy to a tee as an example. They drafted Randall Cobb in the 2nd round in 2011 despite having Jennings, Nelson, Finley, Jones, and Driver. When 2013 free agency rolled around they were not stuck paying Jennings $9 million a year because they trusted the board as opposed to drafting based on perceived need.

With their defense as bad as it is, that was a mistake. Cobb won't be as successful when teams start to focus on him.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Never count on something being available in the future. If you can sign or draft a good player now, you should never wait until later.

This.

If there is a FA out there who can fill a need at guard or tackle, then Dallas needs to go after them if the price is negotiable.

 

[Nation]

We had a solid offensive line in 2007 and spent our first round draft pick on a player who was designed to be a complimentary #2 running back. Duane Brown went a few picks later, and I'm sure we would have been just fine having him around.

 

[Cowboys22]

We can play this game all day long. What if all the desirable free agent OL get signed between now and the draft by teams looking to shore up weaknesses before the draft? Then the draft comes and all the OL you are targeting are gone and keep going off the board round after round before you get on the clock.

 

[Chuck 54]

You must approach Free Agency as if there is no NFL draft, and you must approach the NFL draft as if there is no Free Agency and with little regard to who is already on your team.

Jimmy Johnson had Troy Aikman but still used a supplimental first round selection on Steve Walsh at QB. Walsh did absolutely nothing in Dallas but brought in a 1-2-3 in a trade. Great teams often have very good young players who could start elsewhere who have to earn their starting roles over 1 or 2 years; they don't just parade in from the draft as starters.

It's been said many times before, but the reason you always draft BPA unless there are multiple players closely rated on your board is because the more quality players you have, the better you are going to be now and for a long time, even if a position or two are weak. At #18, you don't have to take the top rated player on your board if there are 3 guys rated as worthy of #18 and the two who are B and C are a greater need than the A, but you should never take a player rated as worthy of the final 3rd of round 1 at #18 no matter how badly you need that position. That's how you build an average roster at best.

Then there is the case of injuries; most years you desperately need quality on the OL with your 6th and 7th guys because they may start half the season for you.

Free Agency: upgrade every position you can afford to upgrade and fill positions of need with players who can start if needed and are better than what you have...just don't pay them more than they deserve unless you know they are going to start come hell or high water. Most free agents should be paid to compete and contribute.

NFL Draft: Select only the players whom you rate for your system as completely worthy of the selection, look for bargains who were rated higher than you are selecting, and if no one is worthy of that spot for your team, move out of it for additional selections...but this is never done based on the rankings by Kiper, McShay, or anyone else, not even by consensus...players have to be ranked by their value in the offense or defense that you want to run. Yes, that changes from time to time, but if you select the best player available for your system, those changes are less likely to come around as often.

I have my pet cats in the NFL draft like everyone else, but that's because I think certain guys will be impact players for the Cowboys; I just have to accept that the scouts, coaches and gm might not view or rank that player in their system the way I view or rank that player.

 

[Nation]

With their defense as bad as it is, that was a mistake. Cobb won't be as successful when teams start to focus on him.

We will have to wait and see but he looks pretty damn good at age 22, and regardless of that one example I think if you look at the teams that draft for value versus those that draft for need you'll see a big difference in the success rates.

 

[cowboysooner]

If you want to build a team, you have to take some risks on young players. If you try to fill all positions and backups to those positions with low to mid level Free Agents then it is difficult to develop young players.

Having said the above, you also can't have too many young, inexperienced players on the OLine together.

It appears that they did not restructure Livings contract which indicates a high probability of him being a June 1st cut. I would prefer Brandon Moore to Livings or Bernadeau. His experience at RG in Callahan's system would be very valuable, especially if an inexperienced player like Parnell starts at RT.

Bernadeau could be the game day backup at Center and Guard leaving LG open for a draft pick or young player like Leary.

Walker, is Livings $1.7mm salary guaranteed this year?

I thought that was the last of his guaranteed money. Maybe we could trade him to the Jets for a bag of footballs and a Tebow autograph but realistically don't we have one spot for a guard and another for a swing tackle or Parnell competition?

 

[NJ22]

I think we could exclude the top 3 tackles from dropping to 18. Outside chance one of the Guards does. What hurts that chance IMO, is the lack of first round skill guys. Last year there were 7 of them 3 QB's, 3WR's and a running back in the top 20. There may only be 1 or 2 of these guys in this draft, which means everybody moves up a few spots. Also in this copycat league, teams see SF, and the Ravens with maybe the best lines in the league going to the superbowl.
I think our line is crap enough that I would get a Moore and a Clabo and still not rule out Warmack or Cooper if they were there. Livings and bernardo are awful and I would hate to risk my 118million dollar investment on Leary. The beauty is the vets are taking 1 and 2 year deals right now, so you would not have to commit long term and hinder the growth of a guy like Leary if he was blossoming.

 

[tm1119]

I'll be happy if Jerry takes 1 o lineman in the 1st 3 rounds, the idea of him taking 3 is flat out ridiculous to be honest. Doubtful he even takes 2.

We should be looking to make at least 2, if not 3, upgrades on the o line, the idea that signing a proven veteran isnt a good idea is just crazy.

 

[Chuck 54]

No way we want more than two new starters on the OL this year, not unless we want another building year.

For me, a new RT is more important than any of the interior guys, especially if our new FAs from last year are healthier and play better alongside Costa.

If we find a RT and a new OG, then someone can complete with Costa at Center and our entire depth is better.

But there's no way I value a new OG at the top and starting Free or Parnell at RT. I'm still hoping we sign a RT or draft one, which should be doable in rounds 1-2.

 

[jazzcat22]

Some nice posts, a lot covered. Though many different thoughts and ideas, opinions. I will just sit back and see how it unfolds. One can round and round with different concepts as to FA, draft, do nothing. And that's just within their own mind.

So what will be done will be what we will live with and hope for the best.
I have other things to concentrate on...ok select link to the cheerleaders page...there I said my piece...:laugh2:

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Some nice posts, a lot covered. Though many different thoughts and ideas, opinions. I will just sit back and see how it unfolds. One can round and round with different concepts as to FA, draft, do nothing. And that's just within their own mind.

So what will be done will be what we will live with and hope for the best.
I have other things to concentrate on...ok select link to the cheerleaders page...there I said my piece...:laugh2:

I thnk I am at that point now. :laugh1:

I have already stated my piece: Dallas will select DT/DE in the first round; a safety in the 2nd round; and, they will select a guard in the 3rd round. The RT position should be addressed now and not after the draft. There, I'm done!

 

[blackbull]

Best Player Available always does the trick. Look at the Packers who follow that strategy to a tee as an example. They drafted Randall Cobb in the 2nd round in 2011 despite having Jennings, Nelson, Finley, Jones, and Driver. When 2013 free agency rolled around they were not stuck paying Jennings $9 million a year because they trusted the board as opposed to drafting based on perceived need.

Yup, their defense has been fantastic lately. Lol