The problem with justifying a QB at 4

[TheFinisher]

drafting a QB at 4 with the intent of sitting him behind Romo for multiple years is incredibly unconventional for an NFL team. Even the Colts just decided to move on from Peyton Manning and go full rebuild when they drafted Luck. If you have a QB you intend on moving forward with for the next few seasons there is no logical reason to select a QB top 5 as an insurance policy. It simply does not happen, and for good reason, that's way too much of an investment for what you are hoping for is zero return the first few years.

The team is still in a win now mode with Romo as the QB, you draft a QB with a top 5 pick then it sends a message that as a FO you have no clear vision or plan for the time being. If you're not committed to your QB and exhausting your resources to help him win then just move on and let Tony try to win elsewhere. Otherwise you're just in a purgatory state waiting for him to retire while the next guy gets ready, and that simply isn't how the NFL works.

 

[Killerinstinct]

I agree. It is one thing to use a late 1st rd pick or a 2nd rd pick on a QB to develop and it is entirely another thing to draft one at 4 that sits for 3 years.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I don't think any of the three QBs are as ready to play now as Andrew Luck was, hence why he went #1. But I also don't think this draft has a non QB that you just can't pass on. I don't see Bosa as a guy that will flirt with 15+ sacks, I don't see Ramsey as becoming an elite CB or S. I like Myles Jack as a prospect, and think he has more upside at his position than Bosa and Ramsey do at their's, but he's also raw. I wouldn't say he's a risky prospect, as much as I think it will take a while for him to reach his potential. Robinson who it seems is not being talked about at the top of the draft is the only guy (besides Tunsil, who I think will go #1) who I think has best in the NFL potential.

 

[Floatyworm]

Who says he's gonna sit?

I like the idea of having a 36 year old QB w/ playoff experience as our backup/mentor to our new franchise QB.

 

[Dallas_Cowboys50]

I don't think any of the three QBs are as ready to play now as Andrew Luck was, hence why he went #1. But I also don't think this draft has a non QB that you just can't pass on. I don't see Bosa as a guy that will flirt with 15+ sacks, I don't see Ramsey as becoming an elite CB or S. I like Myles Jack as a prospect, and think he has more upside at his position than Bosa and Ramsey do at their's, but he's also raw. I wouldn't say he's a risky prospect, as much as I think it will take a while for him to reach his potential. Robinson who it seems is not being talked about at the top of the draft is the only guy (besides Tunsil, who I think will go #1) who I think has best in the NFL potential.

I dont know who youve been reading, but all accounts of Jack Ive heard had him as a day 1 starter.....can play any of the LB spots....

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I dont know who youve been reading, but all accounts of Jack Ive heard had him as a day 1 starter.....can play any of the LB spots....

I'm not saying he isn't a day 1 starter, I'm saying between his injury that limited him to 3 games this year and playing 2 positions while at UCLA, he's still raw as a LB and won't hit the ground running the same way Luke Kuechly did.

 

[visionary]

In that case it is a good thing we are drafting him to play some next year when romo misses games as usual

 

[Western]

1. A team that was 4 -12 the previous season is not in a win-now mode (a competent GM would approach player development, player acquisition, & coaching hires with a re-building approach).

2. Drafting a QB (the most important position on the team) in the 1st round & having him sit is not unprecedented (Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Carson Palmer, Aaron Rogers, and Jay Cutler all had time on the bench before taking over the starting role). In fact, drafting a QB and having him sit is ironically the right approach in QB development.

3. To ignore, downplay, look-the-other way, and engage in a wishful miracle healing and a yearly on-the field play of an aging QB who is subject to injury by simple sacks, pressures, & hits after plays is neglecting the importance of the team and the younger players who do have a longer playing future with the team than Mr. Romo.

4. You draft for the future and anticipate 'holes' on your roster.

5. One player on your roster and his 'bad' contract should not hold the front office hostage in amassing talent for the rest of the team via the draft. Loyalty to the team should trump one player's captive hold on a front office.

6. Through the years percentages clearly dictate that finding quality starting QB's, the 1st round selection is a team's best opportunity to grab that QB (the earlier selection in the 1st round, the better).

7. Dallas will have a need for a starting QB in 2016 and beyond.
Draft a QB.

 

[waving monkey]

drafting a QB at 4 with the intent of sitting him behind Romo for multiple years is incredibly unconventional for an NFL team. Even the Colts just decided to move on from Peyton Manning and go full rebuild when they drafted Luck. If you have a QB you intend on moving forward with for the next few seasons there is no logical reason to select a QB top 5 as an insurance policy. It simply does not happen, and for good reason, that's way too much of an investment for what you are hoping for is zero return the first few years.

The team is still in a win now mode with Romo as the QB, you draft a QB with a top 5 pick then it sends a message that as a FO you have no clear vision or plan for the time being. If you're not committed to your QB and exhausting your resources to help him win then just move on and let Tony try to win elsewhere. Otherwise you're just in a purgatory state waiting for him to retire while the next guy gets ready, and that simply isn't how the NFL works.

The investment works if the both QB's have adaptable personalities. Everyone knows that Romo is
at the end and has agreed that the heir apparent would not bother him.

 

[RS12]

The team is still in a win now mode with Romo as the QB

Win now or tank now is as fine a line as Romo remaining upright. Is that something you want to bet your season on?

 

[Direwolf63]

drafting a QB at 4 with the intent of sitting him behind Romo for multiple years is incredibly unconventional for an NFL team. Even the Colts just decided to move on from Peyton Manning and go full rebuild when they drafted Luck. If you have a QB you intend on moving forward with for the next few seasons there is no logical reason to select a QB top 5 as an insurance policy. It simply does not happen, and for good reason, that's way too much of an investment for what you are hoping for is zero return the first few years.

The team is still in a win now mode with Romo as the QB, you draft a QB with a top 5 pick then it sends a message that as a FO you have no clear vision or plan for the time being. If you're not committed to your QB and exhausting your resources to help him win then just move on and let Tony try to win elsewhere. Otherwise you're just in a purgatory state waiting for him to retire while the next guy gets ready, and that simply isn't how the NFL works.

You can try to win now AND plan for the future. The 2 options are not mutually exclusive. Win now with wise FA acquisitions and good draft picks in rounds 2 thru 7. Plan for the future in round 1.

It doesn't have to be one or the other.

Dez and the o-line are young enough to appreciate drafting for the future. After all, it's their future too. And they know they can't win without a QB. If they learned anything at all last year, it was that.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Only horrible GMs go into win now mode in the draft

 

[jnday]

Who says he's gonna sit?

I like the idea of having a 36 year old QB w/ playoff experience as our backup/mentor to our new franchise QB.

Exactly. There is very little chance that a QB drafted with the 4th pick is going to sit for long. Romo is at the end of his career due to his injuries. Why is that so hard to understand ?

 

[AzorAhai]

There is no problem with justifying a QB at 4. You can spin it any way you like, but you can come up with a list just as long, if not longer, on why you can justify a QB at 4.

 

[Maxmadden]

The Colts were a Superbowl contender the year before. They drafted Luck because they were in position to draft Luck. Who would you have drafted instead of Luck? They simply had to draft Luck. At no.4 we have some options but if they feel a franchise QB is there, they have to draft him whether they are rebuilding or contending you just can't passon the QB position.

 

[Nightman]

I dont know who youve been reading, but all accounts of Jack Ive heard had him as a day 1 starter.....can play any of the LB spots....

And we are pretty set at LB. We have Lee at WLB, Hitch at MLB or SLB if McClain re-signs which is probable.

We also have DWilson, Gachkar. Nzeocha and Smith for depth. Not exactly a dire need.

 

[hutch1254]

If Romo goes down again, no defensive player drafted at 4 is going to carry this team that can "win now" to the playoffs. Draft the QB. If Romo stays healthy then great, you get a run at the playoffs and a shot at a bowl. If he doesn't, you're playing the rookie QB who gets to learn on the job and you're welcoming another type 5 pick. You've already put the most important piece in place first and are ahead on your rebuild.

I get the whole defense wins championships thing but maybe 5 out of 50 super bowl teams have Trent Dilfered their way to a championship. Draft the QB.

 

[Vinnie2u]

People really think that Romo is going to be around 2-3 years. Jerry really got ya'll brainwashed.

 

[CCBoy]

That's right, explain one's way into a worse scenario for success...tread water just how long? Three years before what should be a positional blue chip player, instead, a QB gets into mode to lead what is in place then?

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

The team is still in a win now mode with Romo as the QB, you draft a QB with a top 5 pick then it sends a message that as a FO you have no clear vision or plan for the time being.

Glad we have you to tell the front office what the clear vision is. I'll trust our scouts and
draft personal on what the so called clear vision is for pick #4.