Todd McShay: Cowboys have chance to draft cornerback with ‘the tools to be great’

[waving monkey]

Although the Cowboys have several areas of need, they’ll be focused on finding the best player available when they’re on the clock later this month. If they stay at pick 27, that player could very well end up being a cornerback.

With that scenario in mind, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay was asked Friday for his opinion on which corners could be there and why each would be a good fit for the Cowboys.

The four names McShay mentioned were Michigan State’s Trae Waynes, Washington’s Marcus Peters, Wake Forest’s Kevin Johnson and Connecticut’s Byron Jones.

McShay said he has first-round grades on the first three with Jones coming in “slightly behind.” He gives first round picks 90 grades and currently has Jones at an 89.

Considering many believe Waynes is the best corner in this class, it’s unlikely that he’ll still be around later in the first round

link http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***...t-cornerback-with-the-tools-to-be-great.html/

 

[MichaelWinicki]

It's always a good morning when you wake up and realize the Cowboys could draft a cornerback in the 1st round.

 

[VACowboy]

I've never been a big Byron Jones fan, but how can ya not love what McShay says about him?

 

[theogt]

I've never been a big Byron Jones fan, but how can ya not love what McShay says about him?

Why are you not a Byron Jones fan? He's an elite athlete with good coverage skills.

 

[xwalker]

I've never been a big Byron Jones fan, but how can ya not love what McShay says about him?

I can't find much not to like about him. I see him as the guy to defend the bevy of big WRs in the NFL and win a good number of contested balls against them. Add to that his high character and work-ethic along with additional knowledge from playing Safety.

He's the best athlete of the CBs in this draft. Waynes had a better forty, but Jones had a better 10 and much better 3-cone, SS and much much better Broad Jump and Vert all while weighing 11 pounds more.

 

[VACowboy]

Why are you not a Byron Jones fan? He's an elite athlete with good coverage skills.

I don't dislike him as a player. I just don't know much about him. I've watched a video but I've never seen him play, and most stuff I've read (early on) said he was a great athlete but raw and stiff skill-wise. The combine affirmed his freakish athleticism, but I'm usually wary of workout warriors. Maybe as I look at more video and study him closer I'll become a fan. I just have a hard time believing in a guy who no one paid any attention to before the combine. That's all.

 

[xwalker]

I don't dislike him as a player. I just don't know much about him. I've watched a video but I've never seen him play, and most stuff I've read (early on) said he was a great athlete but raw and stiff skill-wise. The combine affirmed his freakish athleticism, but I'm usually wary of workout warriors. Maybe as I look at more video and study him closer I'll become a fan. I just have a hard time believing in a guy who no one paid any attention to before the combine. That's all.

The media draft analysts like to say that players rise because of the combine/pro-days but often in reality, the media analysts were just behind on certain players.

It has become almost predictable on which types of players the media analysts will be behind on. They are often behind on underclassmen. In 2014 Trai Turner was ranked 350 before the combine. He didn't really do anything at the combine to cause a drastic rise in his ranking and eventual pick as 3rd rounder.

Other issues are players that were injured in their final year or players that make position changes their final year. Jones fits both of those last 2 categories. He missed the final 5 games of 2014 and he played Safety in 2013.

Other player they just miss for whatever reason. We saw with Anthony Hitchens that the media draft analysts just missed their ranking of him. Looking back at his game footage, college and accolades there was really no reason shouldn't have been rated about where he was drafted.

 

[theogt]

I don't dislike him as a player. I just don't know much about him. I've watched a video but I've never seen him play, and most stuff I've read (early on) said he was a great athlete but raw and stiff skill-wise. The combine affirmed his freakish athleticism, but I'm usually wary of workout warriors. Maybe as I look at more video and study him closer I'll become a fan. I just have a hard time believing in a guy who no one paid any attention to before the combine. That's all.

I thought about the same but then watched several games. He's a player.

 

[VACowboy]

I thought about the same but then watched several games. He's a player.

I'll probably do the same.

 

[DFWJC]

I re watched the UConn vs East Carolina game from last year because ECU WR Justin Hardy pretty much torched all comers last year.

Sure enough, Hardy put up huge numbers with 14 catches and 185 yards.
But after a closer look, I came away very impressed with Jones. ECU moved Hardy around after awhile to improve their match ups and avoid Jones.
The kid is very athletic and skilled, but he does have some technique issues and gets lured into some penalties.

But he's much more real than I thought. Not just a great athlete afterall.

 

[SportsGuru80]

I'm on the Jones wagon... 6'1 with 4.3/4.4 speed and plays with a little nastiness, I'm all for it. Had 3 INTs before the shoulder injury.

 

[TrailBlazer]

Why are you not a Byron Jones fan? He's an elite athlete with good coverage skills.

Id rather have an elite cover guy who is a good athlete. But if jones is the pick at 27 I could get behind it. If it's jones or Kevin johnson, I want johnson. He's the elite cover guy but lacks jones athleticism. I need him to cover. Not perform track&field.

 

[burmafrd]

just hope our DB scouting has improved since we called Mo the best CB prospect since deion.

 

[TrailBlazer]

As I said in another thread, jones ends up on the ground in coverage too much for my liking. Not great change of direction either. Stalls before firing out of backpedal. But has the size, speed, tools to be very good. I just like kevin johnson ability to come in and compete right away.

 

[theogt]

Id rather have an elite cover guy who is a good athlete. But if jones is the pick at 27 I could get behind it. If it's jones or Kevin johnson, I want johnson. He's the elite cover guy but lacks jones athleticism. I need him to cover. Not perform track&field.

All I've seen from Byron Jones is excellent coverage, though the number of games is limited and we don't have all 22 so we can't know for sure. But it's not like he's shown to be raw or lacking in coverage -- he likes to be aggressive at the line of scrimmage and plays in the receiver's hip pocket. I don't have any qualms about his coverage skills based on what I've seen.

 

[big dog cowboy]

It's always a good morning when you wake up and realize the Cowboys could draft a cornerback in the 1st round.

Looks like McShay has been reading my posts again.

 

[jnday]

It's always a good morning when you wake up and realize the Cowboys could draft a cornerback in the 1st round.

Have you spoken with Risen on the subject?

 

[jnday]

just hope our DB scouting has improved since we called Mo the best CB prospect since deion.

Those scouts would be unemployed if I was GM.

 

[reddyuta]

just hope our DB scouting has improved since we called Mo the best CB prospect since deion.

our scouts are good in some areas but absolutely horrible when it comes to DBs,i am encouraged this year because they seem to be interested in some really quality guys.

 

[arglebargle]

Have you spoken with Risen on the subject?

Has he recovered from his apoplexy yet, after Kyper mocked a cb to the Cowboys in the first round?