Two first round picks. What do you do?

[Goldenrichards83]

1st pick Antione Cason. IMO our #1 need in the offseason upgrades at the CB position.

1st rd Adarius Bowman, future TO groomed to be our #1 reciever

2nd rd Chris Johnson. Speed, vision and hands. Perfect 3rd back who can also be a PR/KR.

 

[DaBoyz73]

Kevin Smith (UCF) NCAA rushing yards leader...........(next E. Smith)

In case you haven't heard, Kevin has decided to return back to UCF in 2008.

 

[IndianaCowboyFan]

Felix Jones (RB) and Antonio Cason (CB).

We can get a receiver in the second round. I think that's the less important position for the Cowboys, especially with no standouts in this draft.

I like those picks but would reverse them. I would like to see them pick up a receiver in FA this year but if not use the second round pick for one and see who hits FA the following year. Fitzgerald would be nice. I think TO has another few years in him, maybe even 3 or 4. Right now they are pretty balanced and have no real glaring holes.

 

[lkelly]

Unless something bizarre happens, Ferguson and Glenn are done. I don't expect either to play football after this season.

Someone was predicting we'd sign a super high priced DE or OLB? Why? To push Ellis to the bench? To keep first round pick Spencer on ice? To eat up our salary cap so we have trouble signing our best defensive player, Ware?

The team has questions at LT, age at CB, no starting quality RB signed next year (as of now), age at WR, and a 3-4 DE playing nose. Forget giving up a boatload of picks to trade up. Better restock that roster with shrewd drafting. And that means hanging on to Ireland and negotiating a lifetime NFL ban with the commish for Larry Lacewell.

 

[TheSport78]

WR is a crapshoot in the 1st round and would be a mistake to draft one. Just look at Marques Colston for example, a 7th round draft choice; Patrick Crayton: 7th round draft choice. These guys can be found anywhere in the draft. Crayton is most likely going to be re-signed, but IMO he's much more effective in the slot and is the best #3 WR in the league. We need that deep threat for our #2 WR and that's where I think we can go with a FA WR like Bernard Berrian if the price is right. Our offense would be ridiculous. Imagine a four WR shotgun set with Berrian, Owens, Crayton, Witten with Barber in the backfield!
Yes, we have a great RB in Marion Barber but if you give the guy 20-25 carries a game, with his physical play, he won't be in the league by 2010. We need that complement back that is different from Barber's running style so defenses have to gameplan for both types of runners. IMO someone like Felix Jones or Steve Slaton would suit this offense perfectly. I like Felix Jones a tad better just because Arkansas' offense was so one dimensional, and teams still couldn't stop Jones and McFadden. CB is our other big need even when we re-sign Newman. Henry isn't getting any younger and I believe Newman is 30 years old. Will Reeves be re-signed? Depends on how much money he wants. If we re-sign Reeves, I say we trade down and draft a CB in the 2nd or 3rd round. If Reeves is not re-signed, DRAFT ANTOINE CASON!

Felix Jones/Steve Slaton and Antoine Cason (Assuming we don't re-sign Reeves)

FA Bernard Berrian

 

[NextGenBoys]

WR is a crapshoot in the 1st round and would be a mistake to draft one. Just look at Marques Colston for example, a 7th round draft choice; Patrick Crayton: 7th round draft choice. These guys can be found anywhere in the draft.

While I see where you're coming from, Crayton and Colston are just average/good wide receivers. You're not gonna find a playmaker in the 7th round. WR is not a crapshoot if you do your homework and have someone for them to learn from.

Look at Reggie Wayne from the Colts. Wasn't the biggest flashiest WR from the U, but came in and learned from Marvin, and after a few years was the best #2 in the game, and now is the #1 on the team, and is one of the best WR's in the league. Thats what I want us to do with Jackson. We are not going to find that type of talent in the 7th round. Crayton is a career 3rd WR. Not even number 2. I love the guy on this team, but he isnt a difference maker. That is what I want at WR, and in my opinion getting Jackson is that guy. (Or trading for Roy Williams or Fitz, although I'd prefer some more speed, but you cant argue on the talent of those two)

 

[TheSport78]

While I see where you're coming from, Crayton and Colston are just average/good wide receivers. You're not gonna find a playmaker in the 7th round. WR is not a crapshoot if you do your homework and have someone for them to learn from.

Look at Reggie Wayne from the Colts. Wasn't the biggest flashiest WR from the U, but came in and learned from Marvin, and after a few years was the best #2 in the game, and now is the #1 on the team, and is one of the best WR's in the league. Thats what I want us to do with Jackson. We are not going to find that type of talent in the 7th round. Crayton is a career 3rd WR. Not even number 2. I love the guy on this team, but he isnt a difference maker. That is what I want at WR, and in my opinion getting Jackson is that guy. (Or trading for Roy Williams or Fitz, although I'd prefer some more speed, but you cant argue on the talent of those two)

I can't argue with that at all. I wouldn't mind a WR like DeSean Jackson but I just have a feeling Jerry is going to be stubborn and say that "he likes what he sees in Austin and Hurd; and we're looking for Stanback to develop into a playmaker." I agree we do need that playmaker, and I wouldn't mind a draft pick like DeSean Jackson or a FA pickup like Bernard Berrian. Berrian was on a run-first, terrible offense in Chicago. Imagine how he could flourish in Dallas with Owens, Crayton, Witten, etc.

 

[TheCount]

I'll tell you why:

1. Julius Jones is a free agent, and he's likely to walk.

2. The league is a two-back league now. Teams like the 1-2 combo.

3. As much as we love Barber, what happens if he doesn't sign or if he signs and then gets hurt? Who do we have as a back up?

4. This is a running-back heavy draft.

5. A running back generally touches the ball more than any one receiver.

6. It's easier for running backs to merge into the line-up their first year than a receiver. It's going to take a wide receiver longer to crack the line up. Look who is going to be in front of him ... T.O. Terry Glenn (assuming he comes back another year), Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd, Miles Austin, Isaiah Stanback. Even if we get a receiver that is talented, he still has to learn the offense, and I doubt he's going to be better than those guys in front of him. Why not take a receiver in the second or third round considering all that?

7. Who exactly is first-round worthy at receiver in this draft, especially where the Cowboys are drafting? Last I checke, there weren't any Calvin Johnsons or Roy Williams or Larry Fitzgeralds or Braylon Edwards in this draft.

That's why I say draft a running back. As we've seen with Larry Johnson and Deuce McAlister and now Willie Parker, a team best have a backup who can fill in if their starter goes down.

Hope this answers your question.

Surprisingly, it doesn't answer my question at all. I still don't understand why anyone thinks we need a RB in the first round. Especially since, as you say, the draft is RB heavy.

 

[playmakers]

I'd say if you cant get Mcfadden then trade one of the picks for an establish veteran. Lets face it, we are probably only a player or two away from being right there with the Patriots. So, we can do one of the following.


A. Keep our picks and groom some young talent that you never know will pan out or not. In the mean time, your still not as good as NE and most likely we will be like the Eagles were in between 00-05, good for a long time but just not good enough to beat the Pats. In a way, like the Bills were to us.

B. Go for it all. Trade one of the picks for a guy who can help us right now beat NE. Im sure Denver will trade Champ Bailey for the 31st pick in the draft after seeing there in a rebuilding mode after tonight. I know some of you guys dont like Hall but he could be had. Some other players out there Fitzgerald, Roy Williams, a Lee Evans, etc etc.

 

[Clove]

I see things a little bit different and I base most of it on Jerry Jones and really some on Bill Parcells.

1. Jerry is a wow guy both in free agency and in the draft but he learned from Parcells more is better unless it gets you the player that fits your system.

2. WR take longer to get there than any other position as for as NFL ready, so I believe Wade Phillips on no WR in the first round. Besides TO is back, Glenn will be back, we will resign Crayton and Hurd, Austin and Stanback are no slouches. Plus read 4.

3. Free agency is where Jones will make a splash. We will be at least 25 to 28 million under the cap after the season is over and that is without releasing anyone. We will resign Crayton, Reeves (if price is right), Flozell and Hamlin. Barber and Canty will get the 1st rd and 3rd rd tenders and expect both to sign longer term deals. Canty similar to Ratliff contract and Barber something like a Willie Parker deal. Hamlin will cost more but I don't believe it to be unreasonable.

As for as UFAs of other teams, Jerry will want a top guy at say either CB or DE or WR. Forget WR, not really any WOW guy there. CB has Marcus Trufant and Asante Samuels. Samuels will not be franchised but Trufant might be. DE has Jared Allen and Terrel Suggs (who also can play OLB in the 3-4). Trufant, Allen and Suggs will all only be 25 years old, so bet on one or two of them.

4. If we go for a WR, I would bet Roy Williams out of Detroit. It could be a 1st round pick but I seriously doubt it and McMillen has stated there will be changes on the offense so I expect Williams to be traded. It could cost us just a Roy Williams and Bobby Carpenter who McMillen is said to covet plus I can see our Roy being traded if we sign Hamlin and either Trufant or Samuels because Hamlin can play SS and Henry could move to FS.

5. Parcells!! Bet the farm we will make some type of trade or trades with him. I can easily see Jason Ferguson and a couple of others becoming Miami Dolphins once Parcells trades the number 1 pick overall for several picks. Wouldn't be suprised to see Marcus Spears and Carpenter and/or McQuistan end up there.

6. As much as everyone speculates that Jerry is in love with McFadden, I really think it is more Felix Jones than McFadden. And you can bet Phillips would rather have Long at DE. Will be interesting draft day.

I agree with this post.

If you think we are going to load up on players in the draft with our stacked roster, I just don't think so. Carpenter/Spencer and Burnett would start for more than half of the teams in the NFL, but because we have so much greatness in front of them, they are reduced to part time duty. And if these guys can't start, what makes us think that a bunch of new rookies are going to do anything anytime soon?

THE TIME IS NOW TO BECOME DOMINANT WHILE ROMO IS YOUNG.

So IMO, we go after stars. We go after Fitzgerald or Roy Williams. Maybe Samuels, guys like that. If we go to the Super Bowl, our #1 pick is basically a glorified high second round pick.

If the Cards will take either of our #1s, let them have it and throw in a useless player in the package. Same goes for Roy Williams (Detroit).

I'm not suggesting we go after old veterens in a trade or something like that, but we went out and got Hamlin who is young, much better than taking a risk on a rookie. Use those picks to your advantage and attack teams that want more picks. Teams who are rebuilding or trying to get their roster to a point they can compete for a Super Bowl, they need all the picks they can get, we don't.

Just look at New England, they are not interested in rookies anymore. The pats are littered with crafty veterens. The key to a great team is your QB, and we already have that in place. The pats were just good, until they signed a SUPER STAR and now they are virtually untouchable.

Dream for a second - Fitzgerald/TO/Crayton/Barber/Witten/Romo is your starting 3WR set line up ladies and gentlemen.

Good luck trying to double team TO Witten or Fitzgerald, if you do it's suicide for your team. And put all of your focus on those receivers, Barber slices you up like tomatoes.

Take your 2nd rounders on down, and keep adding OLinemen/Dlinemen/ and speed whenever you get a chance.


Forget about 4 years from now, let's win now! 4 years from now is not guaranteed.

 

[Hostile]

1st pick Antione Cason. IMO our #1 need in the offseason upgrades at the CB position.

1st rd Adarius Bowman, future TO groomed to be our #1 reciever

2nd rd Chris Johnson. Speed, vision and hands. Perfect 3rd back who can also be a PR/KR.

I'll take this. Yes sir.

 

[big dog cowboy]

1st pick Antione Cason. IMO our #1 need in the offseason upgrades at the CB position.

1st rd Adarius Bowman, future TO groomed to be our #1 reciever

2nd rd Chris Johnson. Speed, vision and hands. Perfect 3rd back who can also be a PR/KR.

Those are going to be popular choices.

 

[TheCount]

Those are going to be popular choices.

Adrius will be gone before our 2nd 1st round pick, I'm betting.

 

[tyke1doe]

Surprisingly, it doesn't answer my question at all. I still don't understand why anyone thinks we need a RB in the first round. Especially since, as you say, the draft is RB heavy.

Last year was a wide receiver-heavy draft wasn't it? We really didn't need a receiver but the Cowboys were targeting Steve Smith, Sidney Rice and Dwayne Jarrett if they had fallen to the Cowboys spot in the second round. Guess what? They all got taken before the Cowboys second pick.

So here we sit in 2008 with a heavy running back draft and we're likely to pick at the bottom of the round. We have two first-round picks and another one at the end of the second round. There are a number of good backs but will they still be there at the end of round 2?

I don't think so. That's why you draft one in the first round or, possibly, drop down into the second and pick one. But we have a number of players we're resigning and we really don't need that much in terms of the draft. So why risk missing a player you might want (Felix Jones) just to acquire more picks and moved further down in the second round?

You draft Felix Jones with one of your two picks (or another worthy running back) and worry about a receiver later, especially since this isn't a deep draft for wide receiver and it's going to take a receiver at least two years before he's anything in the way of replacing T.O. or anyone else on the roster with more experience.

 

[Natedawg44]

1st pick Antione Cason. IMO our #1 need in the offseason upgrades at the CB position.

1st rd Adarius Bowman, future TO groomed to be our #1 reciever

2nd rd Chris Johnson. Speed, vision and hands. Perfect 3rd back who can also be a PR/KR.

I love it and I know its a long time from now, but I'm afraid Bowman won't be there at 31 and we may have to take Johnson at 31 because I don't think he will be there either at the end of round 2.

 

[NextGenBoys]

I love it and I know its a long time from now, but I'm afraid Bowman won't be there at 31 and we may have to take Johnson at 31 because I don't think he will be there either at the end of round 2.

I havent seen much of Bowman but from what I have, he's a player. Wouldnt be surprised if he's gone.

I only saw one game of Johnson and that was ECU's Bowl game. But man, he put on a show. Extremely quick and agile, and shows great burst. Granted one game hardly qualifies drafting someone, but he would look like a good change of pace to Marion. We could use him on screens and he could have the potential to go to the house.

 

[TheCount]

Last year was a wide receiver-heavy draft wasn't it? We really didn't need a receiver but the Cowboys were targeting Steve Smith, Sidney Rice and Dwayne Jarrett if they had fallen to the Cowboys spot in the second round. Guess what? They all got taken before the Cowboys second pick.

What second pick? You mean the one we traded to the Eagles to move up for Spencer? It's kind of hard to hope one of those WR's will drop to your 2nd pick when you traded it before the 1st round was even over.

It would have helped if Jerry hadn't gone on record saying he was comfortable with our receiver situation before the draft, as well.

So here we sit in 2008 with a heavy running back draft and we're likely to pick at the bottom of the round. We have two first-round picks and another one at the end of the second round. There are a number of good backs but will they still be there at the end of round 2?

Depends on who you mean by "they", I am pretty comfortable in saying there will be a decent back available at the later parts of the 2nd round, yeah.

I don't think so. That's why you draft one in the first round or, possibly, drop down into the second and pick one. But we have a number of players we're resigning and we really don't need that much in terms of the draft. So why risk missing a player you might want (Felix Jones) just to acquire more picks and moved further down in the second round?

Okay, you don't think so, that's fine. Hell, we didn't even find Barber in the 1st, which just proved my point that you can wait. How many teams are running a two back system with two first round talents?

You draft Felix Jones with one of your two picks (or another worthy running back) and worry about a receiver later, especially since this isn't a deep draft for wide receiver and it's going to take a receiver at least two years before he's anything in the way of replacing T.O. or anyone else on the roster with more experience.

From what I've seen, and I'm no scout or personnel expert, it's much harder to find a #1 receiver talent later in the draft than it is to find a capable starter or backup at RB.

All this being said, trust that I won't be crying if we grab a CB and Felix Jones in the 1st round and a WR in the 2nd. But as we stand, a few bad breaks and we could be heading into the playoffs with Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd as our #1 and #2, on a team that throws the ball a lot. That doesn't scare you?

 

[Displaced Cowboy]

A Cason, Bowman, Chris Johnson haul would be monsterous.

 

[Natedawg44]

To be honest, Julius gives us a whole lot of nothing. It is nice going into this draft there are no glaring needs in the front 7 or OL which is something most teams can't say. I don't mind a 1st rounder on a RB, because we have an opportunity here. I really like what Jacksonville has with Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor and you could name a few other teams as well Washington with Portis and Betts, Minnesota with Peterson and Taylor and I would love to see that done here. I'm all for giving Romo weapons, but wouldn't it be nice if we didn't even have to use Romo, but 15-20 times a game. Giving Barber 20-25 touches and a Rookie 10-15 every game. It keeps Romo healthy, it keeps our D off the field and it makes play action much more effective.

 

[Natedawg44]

What second pick? You mean the one we traded to the Browns to move up for Spencer? It's kind of hard to hope one of those WR's will drop to your 2nd pick when you traded it before the 1st round was even over.

It would have helped if Jerry hadn't gone on record saying he was comfortable with our receiver situation before the draft, as well.



Depends on who you mean by "they", I am pretty comfortable in saying there will be a decent back available at the later parts of the 2nd round, yeah.




Okay, you don't think so, that's fine. Hell, we didn't even find Barber in the 1st, which just proved my point that you can wait. How many teams are running a two back system with two first round talents?



From what I've seen, and I'm no scout or personnel expert, it's much harder to find a #1 receiver talent later in the draft than it is to find a capable starter or backup at RB.

All this being said, trust that I won't be crying if we grab a CB and Felix Jones in the 1st round and a WR in the 2nd. But as we stand, a few bad breaks and we could be heading into the playoffs with Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd as our #1 and #2, on a team that throws the ball a lot. That doesn't scare you?

I agree its not very comforting, I wouldn't be upset if we went WR, RB and then drafted Defensive backs in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th either.