The top of our last 5 drafts explain it all

Bobhaze

Bobhaze

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The Cowboys front office reminds us every year that this team will be built almost exclusively through the draft. For several years, the Cowboys did pretty well at the top their drafts and built a roster full of immediate starters and even a few stars.

They also choose to not use free agency much more than as a dumpster dive for one year stop gap fillers (look at all the FA additions on cheap one year deals) to temporarily address problems.

But this philosophy creates a potential problem. It puts all the pressure on the top of your draft because if you don’t hit on your day one and two picks (rounds 1-3) you are in a bad roster hole if they aren’t strong. Without serious FAs to fill holes left in the draft, and a low hit rate at the top of your draft. you get behind in the talent race. That’s exactly where we are now.

When you look at the last 5 years of Day 1 and 2 Draft picks, look at how few of those picks from rounds 1-3 have really added talent. Here are the picks from rounds 1-3 from the last 5 years.
  • 2021
    • Round 1 LB/DE Micah Parsons (All pro - traded to GB)
    • Round 2 CB Kelvin Joseph (Bust traded to Mia)
    • Round 3 DT Osa Odighizhua (current starter on second contract) DT Chauncey Goldston (lost in FA) CB Nashon Wright (released in 2023)
  • 2022
    • Round 1 OL Tyler Smith (All Pro, just signed extension)
    • Round 2 DE Sam Williams (not much production in 4 years)
    • Round 3 WR Jalen Tolbert (occasional starter, mediocre at best)
  • 2023
    • Round 1 DT Mazi Smith (complete bust)
    • Round 2 TE Luke Schoonmaker (plays a little; a bust for a 2nd rounder)
    • Round 3 LB DeMarvion Overshown (shown great flashes; can’t stay healthy)
  • 2024
    • Round 1 T Tyler Guyton (too early but hasn’t lived up to first round expectations)
    • Round 2 DE Marshawn Kneeland (still early but hasn’t lived up not been much beyond average)
    • Round 3 G/C Cooper Beebe (instant starter at C and has looked fairly good but hurt now) and LB Marist Liafau (not playing much)
  • 2025
    • Round 1 Tyler Booker (instant starter and shows great promise; out for a month with injury)
    • Round 2 DE Donovan Ezeiruaku (plays about 20 snaps a game; looks small. Has potential to improve)
    • Round 3 CB Shavon Revell (still recovering from bad knee injury in college. Question mark)
So we have drafted 18 players in rounds 1-3 the last 5 years. Four of those 18 are no longer on the team including our first round pick in 2021. It’s too early to write off the 2024 and 2025 drafts but 2023 was a disaster.

Of those 14 players still here:
  • Starters: 7 (50%) Need that number to be a lot higher.
  • Currently injured and can’t play: 4 (29% currently not playing. We can expect all them back at some point)
  • Busts: Kelvin Joseph, Mazi Smith, Luke Schoonmaker
  • Underperformed: Sam Williams, Nashon Wright, Jalen Tolbert
When looking at our defense giving up huge chunks of yardage and our offense getting 14 points at Chicago, it’s pretty clear the top three rounds our last 5 drafts - where we need more than 50% of them starting and contributing regularly - aren’t doing enough for us to compete.

Three words sum it all up: NOT ENOUGH TALENT
 
Too many gambles in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Jerry likes trying to get a steal but that hasn’t really worked out. I don’t mind addressing the trenches in round one but it really needs to be BPA, preferably a playmaker if it isn’t a stud DT or Tackle. Drafting is a hit or miss but more homework is needed from these guys.
 
Tabascocat said:
Too many gambles in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Jerry likes trying to get a steal but that hasn’t really worked out. I don’t mind addressing the trenches in round one but it really needs to be BPA, preferably a playmaker if it isn’t a stud DT or Tackle. Drafting is a hit or miss but more homework is needed from these guys.
Click to expand...
Mad Genius loves to think that he’s a football guy and draft players who drop because of injury or character concerns.

But I can’t recall a single time that it’s ever actually worked out.

Jaylen Smith, Pot-smoking Nebraska DE (Randal Gregory), Bossman Fat (gangbanger Kelvin Joseph), and others come to mind.
 
They choose to only draft and develop and “sign our guys because we like them” because that’s so much simpler when it comes to roster management than to constantly roster churn, which requires attention to detail and actual real world knowledge about the talent available in the football landscape.

Roseman could tell you right now if you asked him off the cuff who the top five tight ends on the league’s practice squads are and which one he’d poach in a pinch.

Jerry can’t even tell you who starts on our defense. He literally can’t do it, let alone tell you the top 5 WRs projected in the 2026 draft. It’s beyond ridiculous that this complete tool of a GM is a major filter in the decision making process for acquiring talent and the results reflect that.
 
Bobhaze said:
The Cowboys front office reminds us every year that this team will be built almost exclusively through the draft. For several years, the Cowboys did pretty well at the top their drafts and built a roster full of immediate starters and even a few stars.

They also choose to not use free agency much more than as a dumpster dive for one year stop gap fillers (look at all the FA additions on cheap one year deals) to temporarily address problems.

But this philosophy creates a potential problem. It puts all the pressure on the top of your draft because if you don’t hit on your day one and two picks (rounds 1-3) you are in a bad roster hole if they aren’t strong. Without serious FAs to fill holes left in the draft, and a low hit rate at the top of your draft. you get behind in the talent race. That’s exactly where we are now.

When you look at the last 5 years of Day 1 and 2 Draft picks, look at how few of those picks from rounds 1-3 have really added talent. Here are the picks from rounds 1-3 from the last 5 years.
  • 2021
    • Round 1 LB/DE Micah Parsons (All pro - traded to GB)
    • Round 2 CB Kelvin Joseph (Bust traded to Mia)
    • Round 3 DT Osa Odighizhua (current starter on second contract) DT Chauncey Goldston (lost in FA) CB Nashon Wright (released in 2023)
  • 2022
    • Round 1 OL Tyler Smith (All Pro, just signed extension)
    • Round 2 DE Sam Williams (not much production in 4 years)
    • Round 3 WR Jalen Tolbert (occasional starter, mediocre at best)
  • 2023
    • Round 1 DT Mazi Smith (complete bust)
    • Round 2 TE Luke Schoonmaker (plays a little; a bust for a 2nd rounder)
    • Round 3 LB DeMarvion Overshown (shown great flashes; can’t stay healthy)
  • 2024
    • Round 1 T Tyler Guyton (too early but hasn’t lived up to first round expectations)
    • Round 2 DE Marshawn Kneeland (still early but hasn’t lived up not been much beyond average)
    • Round 3 G/C Cooper Beebe (instant starter at C and has looked fairly good but hurt now) and LB Marist Liafau (not playing much)
  • 2025
    • Round 1 Tyler Booker (instant starter and shows great promise; out for a month with injury)
    • Round 2 DE Donovan Ezeiruaku (plays about 20 snaps a game; looks small. Has potential to improve)
    • Round 3 CB Shavon Revell (still recovering from bad knee injury in college. Question mark)
So we have drafted 18 players in rounds 1-3 the last 5 years. Four of those 18 are no longer on the team including our first round pick in 2021. It’s too early to write off the 2024 and 2025 drafts but 2023 was a disaster.

Of those 14 players still here:
  • Starters: 7 (50%) Need that number to be a lot higher.
  • Currently injured and can’t play: 4 (29% currently not playing. We can expect all them back at some point)
  • Busts: Kelvin Joseph, Mazi Smith, Luke Schoonmaker
  • Underperformed: Sam Williams, Nashon Wright, Jalen Tolbert
When looking at our defense giving up huge chunks of yardage and our offense getting 14 points at Chicago, it’s pretty clear the top three rounds our last 5 drafts - where we need more than 50% of them starting and contributing regularly - aren’t doing enough for us to compete.

Three words sum it all up: NOT ENOUGH TALENT
Click to expand...
I think you have to put Overshown in underperformed, heading towards bust. Not because of his potential, but because of availability.

On a side note, I worry he's about to become Jaylon Smith after all these injuries.
 
The Cowboys have drafted well for a long time. The Cowboys have hit on a lot of undrafted free agents too. I think the Cowboys have been one of the best teams at hitting the jackpot on undrafted free agents.

Go compare the Cowboys drafts to other teams.
 
Most teams take BPA, meanwhile we draft tight ends and often injured players. The gamble hasn’t paid off in years, you’d think there would be a change by now. This team is complete trash from top to bottom!
 
CarolinaFathead said:
They choose to only draft and develop and “sign our guys because we like them” because that’s so much simpler when it comes to roster management than to constantly roster churn, which requires attention to detail and actual real world knowledge about the talent available in the football landscape.
Click to expand...
I agree. This method allows them to work about 50% less than other GMs because they only scout the players the want or their players. Most of teams have a GM and his only job is to scout the NFL and college 24/7 365. Our “GMs” just focus on our team and like you said have no knowledge of the NFL landscape. I’m not a huge Mike Fisher fan but he talked about this one show. He said other GMs know what other teams’ players’ contracts are up and who may be tradeable and they pretty much study every team and it’s players looking to upgrade or make moves. Our GM doesn’t do that since we don’t utilize FA. Our GM also doesn’t do that because he has his hands in several different pots doing other businesses. Other GMs their full time job is to study the league and roster building. We do that at the draft and at the end of FA. Fisher’s mic drop moment in this show was no other NFL teams’ GM takes the first week of FA off to go on spring break with his family. He’d be fired. Jerry and Stephen are always gone on vacation when FA starts because it’s their kids and grandkids spring break. What football exec plans their vacation at the start of FA? This is why I don’t consider Jerry and Air Quotes real football guys. Okay rant over but TLDR version I fully agree with you.
 
Bobhaze said:
The Cowboys front office reminds us every year that this team will be built almost exclusively through the draft. For several years, the Cowboys did pretty well at the top their drafts and built a roster full of immediate starters and even a few stars.

They also choose to not use free agency much more than as a dumpster dive for one year stop gap fillers (look at all the FA additions on cheap one year deals) to temporarily address problems.

But this philosophy creates a potential problem. It puts all the pressure on the top of your draft because if you don’t hit on your day one and two picks (rounds 1-3) you are in a bad roster hole if they aren’t strong. Without serious FAs to fill holes left in the draft, and a low hit rate at the top of your draft. you get behind in the talent race. That’s exactly where we are now.

When you look at the last 5 years of Day 1 and 2 Draft picks, look at how few of those picks from rounds 1-3 have really added talent. Here are the picks from rounds 1-3 from the last 5 years.
  • 2021
    • Round 1 LB/DE Micah Parsons (All pro - traded to GB)
    • Round 2 CB Kelvin Joseph (Bust traded to Mia)
    • Round 3 DT Osa Odighizhua (current starter on second contract) DT Chauncey Goldston (lost in FA) CB Nashon Wright (released in 2023)
  • 2022
    • Round 1 OL Tyler Smith (All Pro, just signed extension)
    • Round 2 DE Sam Williams (not much production in 4 years)
    • Round 3 WR Jalen Tolbert (occasional starter, mediocre at best)
  • 2023
    • Round 1 DT Mazi Smith (complete bust)
    • Round 2 TE Luke Schoonmaker (plays a little; a bust for a 2nd rounder)
    • Round 3 LB DeMarvion Overshown (shown great flashes; can’t stay healthy)
  • 2024
    • Round 1 T Tyler Guyton (too early but hasn’t lived up to first round expectations)
    • Round 2 DE Marshawn Kneeland (still early but hasn’t lived up not been much beyond average)
    • Round 3 G/C Cooper Beebe (instant starter at C and has looked fairly good but hurt now) and LB Marist Liafau (not playing much)
  • 2025
    • Round 1 Tyler Booker (instant starter and shows great promise; out for a month with injury)
    • Round 2 DE Donovan Ezeiruaku (plays about 20 snaps a game; looks small. Has potential to improve)
    • Round 3 CB Shavon Revell (still recovering from bad knee injury in college. Question mark)
So we have drafted 18 players in rounds 1-3 the last 5 years. Four of those 18 are no longer on the team including our first round pick in 2021. It’s too early to write off the 2024 and 2025 drafts but 2023 was a disaster.

Of those 14 players still here:
  • Starters: 7 (50%) Need that number to be a lot higher.
  • Currently injured and can’t play: 4 (29% currently not playing. We can expect all them back at some point)
  • Busts: Kelvin Joseph, Mazi Smith, Luke Schoonmaker
  • Underperformed: Sam Williams, Nashon Wright, Jalen Tolbert
When looking at our defense giving up huge chunks of yardage and our offense getting 14 points at Chicago, it’s pretty clear the top three rounds our last 5 drafts - where we need more than 50% of them starting and contributing regularly - aren’t doing enough for us to compete.

Three words sum it all up: NOT ENOUGH TALENT
Click to expand...
you have to hit on your first round picks. its a must else it sets you back. Mazi smith is a bust. Guyton is under performing and as a LT may be considered a bust. Parsons is gone. so we have to Guards, the least important positions on the OL as the best players picked in the past 5 years.

2nd round picks have been a bust for cowboys for years. past 5 years no difference. Eze can change that a little, but so far not much to count on.
 
You nailed it.......we sign a bunch of bottom feeders to be starters but are disappointed when they can play at a high level. as mentioned in another post, we may have 3, maybe 4 defensive starters who could start for another team.
Micah and J Lewis' losses are exposing just how bad our secondary really is.
 
plymkr said:
I agree. This method allows them to work about 50% less than other GMs because they only scout the players the want or their players. Most of teams have a GM and his only job is to scout the NFL and college 24/7 365. Our “GMs” just focus on our team and like you said have no knowledge of the NFL landscape. I’m not a huge Mike Fisher fan but he talked about this one show. He said other GMs know what other teams’ players’ contracts are up and who may be tradeable and they pretty much study every team and it’s players looking to upgrade or make moves. Our GM doesn’t do that since we don’t utilize FA. Our GM also doesn’t do that because he has his hands in several different pots doing other businesses. Other GMs their full time job is to study the league and roster building. We do that at the draft and at the end of FA. Fisher’s mic drop moment in this show was no other NFL teams’ GM takes the first week of FA off to go on spring break with his family. He’d be fired. Jerry and Stephen are always gone on vacation when FA starts because it’s their kids and grandkids spring break. What football exec plans their vacation at the start of FA? This is why I don’t consider Jerry and Air Quotes real football guys. Okay rant over but TLDR version I fully agree with you.
Click to expand...
Absolutely.

Jerry isn’t about winning championships, no matter how many tears he sheds or how many fans he convinces otherwise (I used to be one of them). His real focus is the Dallas brand and squeezing every dollar out of marketing. That’s why the draft gets all the attention — it’s the perfect stage for hype, hope, and excitement, which sells the brand. Free agency, on the other hand, is risky and dull by comparison.

At the end of the day, Jerry only cares about one thing: marketing the Cowboys and cashing in on the brand. That’s why he’s never going to commit the time and energy to being a real GM (he doesn’t even remotely have the talent to actually be one) and Dallas is never going to win another SB with a guy like that carrying those priorities running this organization.
 
Last edited:
StarLord said:
I think you have to put Overshown in underperformed, heading towards bust. Not because of his potential, but because of availability.

On a side note, I worry he's about to become Jaylon Smith after all these injuries.
Click to expand...
This!!!
 
Hawkeye0202 said:
You nailed it.......we sign a bunch of bottom feeders to be starters but are disappointed when they can play at a high level. as mentioned in another post, we may have 3, maybe 4 defensive starters who could start for another team.
Micah and J Lewis' losses are exposing just how bad our secondary really is.
Click to expand...
Even with all that we hype them up as being great and we love them and appreciate all that they do
 
This franchise is the definition of insanity.



No other organization loves off the past as much as we do. Winning isn’t important to this family or franchise. “They’ve won enough” is the only way to say it. There’s no drive to do better or be better unless they can do it their way. “Their way” is outdated and old. It will NEVER work.

I hope we enjoyed the glory years, as you can clearly see, those days are NEVER coming back. The decision makers treat this like “fun time” a business that makes money while they sleep regardless of outcome, so what would be the motivation to change things? Whether they go 0-17 or are SB champs, they still are the highest grossing franchise ever. Settle in boys, we’re on the everlasting cruise
 
The 2023 draft was absolutely awful.

I still have hope for the 2024 and 2025 drafts to pan out.

With how our roster is currently constructed, I would imagine this upcoming draft will be defense heavy.
 
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