This draft can turn out like the 2011 class!

[Cowboyny]

Freakishly good!!!!!

Historically good!

 

[cnuball21]

He was considered a 2nd rd prospect early in the process.

I don’t remember anyone ever considering Smith as a 2nd round prospect. How early in the process are we talking...high school?

 

[KingintheNorth]

I remember all the people on a different message board critical the Tyron Smith pick because they didn’t believe Tyron could gain weight (played at ~280 lbs at USC).

I'd tried to help them. They didn't listen.

 

[Cowboyny]

I don’t remember anyone ever considering Smith as a 2nd round prospect. How early in the process are we talking...high school?

It was around the time right after the off-season college all-star games-Senior, Shrine. Donald also was also being touted as a 2nd rd prospect until he blew up at the senior bowl.

 

[waving monkey]

I count seven future HOFers in that first round and maybe 1-2 fringe HOFers.

this is amazing

 

[darthseinfeld]

I remember all the people on a different message board critical the Tyron Smith pick because they didn’t believe Tyron could gain weight (played at ~280 lbs at USC).

Cowboys-Forum?

Thats where I was, and that was the narrative there. To small, too raw

 

[darthseinfeld]

I remember all the hate, that and we cannot take a RT in the top 10. Many wanted the Cowboys to trade up for Patrick Peterson and several wanted no part of former walk-on JJ Watt. Looking back, that was a tremendous class!!

Probably the greatest defensive class ever.

OT class was better than expected with Smith, Solder amd Canstanzo having great to solid careers

 

[darthseinfeld]

Difference is Smith didn't emerge out of nowhere. He was an elite athlete at the position that just needed to continue to develop.

There isn't anything close to a 1st round DT this year unless you project Rousseau to 3T.

Only reason Smith didnt play LT in college was Matt Kalil

 

[darthseinfeld]

Difference is Smith didn't emerge out of nowhere. He was an elite athlete at the position that just needed to continue to develop.

There isn't anything close to a 1st round DT this year unless you project Rousseau to 3T.

Could be a decent year for day 2 guys though

 

[Hardline]

I remember in 2014 suggesting we take Donald in the 1st round (before the combine) and got bashed for it. Anything can happen.

Donald was the consensus top choice for the forum.

 

[DoctorChicken]

Donald was the consensus top choice for the forum.

Maybe leading up to the draft, but before the combine he wasn't. People told me he was a 2nd rounder.

 

[cnuball21]

Could be a decent year for day 2 guys though

I remember that, as Kalil was a stud prospect in his own right, but Smith was very highly touted. He had incredibly upside and athletcism the knock was just he was raw. I don't remember him not being considering a 1st rounder at any time.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Cowboys-Forum?

Thats where I was, and that was the narrative there. To small, too raw

Yeah, I think it was called the Ranch or something back then. I honestly have forgotten. I see some of the same posters on this forum too (Union Jack, leeblair comes to mind).

 

[John813]

That is nuts.

Donald was a consensus interior disrupting stud. We wanted to draft him. He was called an unblockable force before the combine, a consensus 1st round talent. Who on God's green earth didn't know it? I mean, they must've been living under a rock.

https://cowboyszone.com/threads/would-you-draft-aaron-donald-with-our-first-round-pick.280676/

 

[Beaker42]

I remember in the 2011 class, the Cowboys held the #9 pick, where they desperately needed a Tackle prospect. At the time Marc Columbo just retired and Adams left the year prior. This left them with pretty much Doug Free. They needed a Tackle in the worst of ways. Early in the process, many were disappointed that their wasn't any blue chip tackle available.

As the offseason process progressed, a 20 year old, light Right Tackle emerged out of USC named Tyron Smith. Many wanted no part of taking a RT within the top 10, nor thought he was big enough to play in this league. The actual NFL Scouts were way ahead of their media counterparts.

My point is, even if there isn't a blue chipper DT right now, doesn't mean one won't emerge during the process.

What??? He was the surest OT prospect coming out in years - once he got his hands on you you were done. Only the refs limited his blocking ability. Seriously, I’ve never seen a guy flagged so many times for holding on PANCAKE BLOCKS.

 

[beware_d-ware]

Tyron was a 20 year old 280lb tackle with obviously freaky tools, it was just a question of whether he'd grow into his frame. I don't see any DTs this year who are running around with Tyron-caliber strength and athleticism to grow into.

Rousseau fits the bill as a 6'7" 260 lb 20 year old, but length like that will probably put him at end.

 

[kskboys]

What??? He was the surest OT prospect coming out in years - once he got his hands on you you were done. Only the refs limited his blocking ability. Seriously, I’ve never seen a guy flagged so many times for holding on PANCAKE BLOCKS.

He really wasn't. Somewhat of a project.

 

[kskboys]

https://cowboyszone.com/threads/would-you-draft-aaron-donald-with-our-first-round-pick.280676/

Wow.

And some actually thought he would slide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!