Ward-Switzer trade win-win?

[T-RO]

It was April 28, a Saturday...day three of the NFL’s annual gift-getting party known as the Draft. Cowboy nation’s attention was locked in on possible players Dallas might select in the waning rounds of the draft. Most of us were propped up in front of the TV with a laptop or tablet in hand so we could google the flow of names, talent, and transactions.

Then news hit—Dallas had traded Ryan Swizter for the Raider’s Jihad Ward. Say what!?

The trade features both symmetry and some stark oppositional traits.

We knew about Switzer—5’8, 185 pound...returner supreme with developmental possibilities as a position player. Most of us didn’t know—perhaps still don’t know—much about 295 lb Jihad Ward.

I assumed at the time that the move was a concession, trading Switzer away after just one year. “They just must not have liked him as a developing receiving” I concluded, esp. after I saw how Ward had been buried on the bench through 2017.

It’s only when I heard complimentary things about Ward’s spring practice sessions that I looked him up and tried to get a sense of what Dallas was looking for...and what they might have spotted.

Do you know that Ward was selected in the second round just two drafts back? 44th guy taken. He was seen as a physical force that lacked polish and development. He had a foot injury that kept him off the field for much of 2017.

Maybe this was two teams burping away their mis-calculated draft selections. But maybe both teams saw something they really prized...guys that needed a fresh system and context...and will be rewarded with true production this next season.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Usually not a bad deal to trade big for small.

 

[waving monkey]

The trade certainly was a shock. I still think Swizter can be a very good return guy.
So what do we get from Ward? The OTAs were promising in regards Ward. I cant wait for TC.

 

[Mookie]

David Irving 2.0

 

[Cowpolk]

The trade certainly was a shock. I still think Swizter can be a very good return guy.
So what do we get from Ward? The OTAs were promising in regards Ward. I cant wait for TC.

Ward is going to be a great kickoff return guy and the best slot receiver the NFL has ever seen

 

[Cattle_Rancher]

I kinda think Switzer got in the dog house and never found his way out. He didn’t play much last year at WR. To be traded away when your main slot guy has one one year left on his second contract was kinda weird.

 

[T-RO]

Ward is a deep bowl of broth. Beefy and stout. In YouTube highlights you see a guy who looks extra thick in thighs and trunk...yet he’s every bit of 6’4”. Despite the sheer size he looks to move well, not like a typical tackle, nor a typical DE.

Granted it’s just a short look at a highlight reel but the guy looks eager to initiate a collision and ready to bring a little hurt.

Reading the Raider’s story...there didn’t appear to be much future there for Ward. They seemed to prefer their other options.

But Rod Marinelli has pulled surprising magic with several players not beloved by other teams. I won’t be at all surprised if our d-line whisperer can unlock something.

 

[T-RO]

I kinda think Switzer got in the dog house and never found his way out. He didn’t play much last year at WR. To be traded away when your main slot guy has one one year left on his second contract was kinda weird.

Maybe Switzer was right in saying Dallas wanted him more as a returner and running back (web back) than as a wide receiver. If that’s what Dallas wanted w/Switzer...Tavon is clearly an upgrade, making Ryan disposable outside of the return game.

 

[T-RO]

The trade certainly was a shock. I still think Swizter can be a very good return guy.
So what do we get from Ward? The OTAs were promising in regards Ward. I cant wait for TC.

There was word that Bisaccia really wanted Swizter for his special teams, after working w/him in Dallas. We might be losing a bit in our return game.

 

[CapnB]

Once Austin was on the team it was said the Raiders called Dallas and offered Ward for Switz. Our old ST coach is really high on switz and Marinelli was really high on Ward coming out of the draft. Looks like everybody got stuff for stuff.

 

[Verdict]

A couple of observations about this:

1. The Raiders thought a lot of Ward to draft him at #44.

2. Rod seemed to really like Ward based on Senior Bowl practices.

3. Hopefully Rod can make something out of Ward. Rod also seemed to really want Ivey too ( when he cheered like a cheerleader when he was drafted).

If Ward turns out to be a flop ----then I think there is a pretty strong argument to be made that Marinelli needs to be excluded from draft player evaluation.

4. Switzer didn't make a significant impact last year, yet his special teams coach still wanted him. That's a significant fact that should not be overlooked in this situation. At least his special teams coach believes the kid has talent.

 

[T-RO]

A couple of observations about this:

1. The Raiders thought a lot of Ward to draft him at #44.

2. Rod seemed to really like Ward based on Senior Bowl practices.

3. Hopefully Rod can make something out of Ward. Rod also seemed to really want Ivey too ( when he cheered like a cheerleader when he was drafted).

If Ward turns out to be a flop ----then I think there is a pretty strong argument to be made that Marinelli needs to be excluded from draft player evaluation.

4. Switzer didn't make a significant impact last year, yet his special teams coach still wanted him. That's a significant fact that should not be overlooked in this situation. At least his special teams coach believes the kid has talent.

Few thoughts in response:
-Rod might have liked Ivey as a late round long-shot pick. None of us really know Rod’s appraisal of the Ivey in terms of his chance to make the team or start. I do agree w/you that I generally prefer coaches to coach and scouts to scout. Rod seems almost ready to retire, so we might not have long left to concern ourselves with the question

-I won’t be surprised to watch a highlight—or two—with Switz taking a return to the house.

 

[T-RO]

A bit of googling surfaced this on Jihad:

PreDraft:

Illinois defensive lineman Jihad Ward could potentially be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft because of his insane athleticism.

-Sporting News (the article showed him throwin down a hoops dunk)

An NBC mock had him going in the third round

After Year 1
For what it’s worth, In his rookie season Pro Football Focus graded him as the 125th defensive interior player.

2017 Mid-Season
This is what Raider GM had to say:

Last year we moved him to a different position. He kind of played a number of different positions. I don’t think he was quite mentally ready to understand the techniques of them all. There were three different positions he was playing. That’s a little different for a guy who hasn’t really played D-line for a while. He’s still in the learning process.

 

[kevm3]

I'll wait until I see him on the field. I'm liking what I hear so far, but practice is one thing... being spectacular on the field is another.

 

[big dog cowboy]

On draft day I said the Cowboys got the better end of the trade. I haven't seen or read anything since then to change my mind.

The WR position is still deep without Switzer. To get Ward by dumping a replaceable #6 WR is a steal.

 

[big dog cowboy]

If Ward turns out to be a flop ----then I think there is a pretty strong argument to be made that Marinelli needs to be excluded from draft player evaluation.

If the Cowboys had given up significant resources to get Ward I might agree.

 

[dallasdave]

Ward is going to be a great kickoff return guy and the best slot receiver the NFL has ever seen

Yeah and he was a TV star on the Leave it to Beaver show.

 

[Klingo3034]

Maybe Switzer was right in saying Dallas wanted him more as a returner and running back (web back) than as a wide receiver. If that’s what Dallas wanted w/Switzer...Tavon is clearly an upgrade, making Ryan disposable outside of the return game.

Honestly I figure Switzer be great to replace Cole Beasley in the future.

 

[xwalker]

Few thoughts in response:
-Rod might have liked Ivey as a late round long-shot pick. None of us really know Rod’s appraisal of the Ivey in terms of his chance to make the team or start. I do agree w/you that I generally prefer coaches to coach and scouts to scout. Rod seems almost ready to retire, so we might not have long left to concern ourselves with the question

-I won’t be surprised to watch a highlight—or two—with Switz taking a return to the house.

If coaches can put a player through a practice or multiple practices then they tend to be good at evaluating the player. If coaches only watch "tape" they seem to often fail in their evaluations.

We see it with the 1st OTAs where coaches seem to know right away that a player either has a chance or doesn't.

In 2009 when they drafted AOA, Campo discussed evaluating him and liking what he saw. When AOA showed up for his first few practices coaches knew immediately there was a problem. I use that example because it was well documented; whereas, we don't always get that much info about all players.

Local media said the coaches knew right away in training camp that Ivey had no shot at making the team.

The fact that Marinelli coached Ward for a week bodes well for the evaluation of him.

In regards to Switzer, there were reports that he irritated Linehan and they had expected him to be faster.

On PR the Cowboys don't like to carry a player just for PR that does not contribute on offense/defense to some extent. I don't know if that's always the best choice but that is their tendency.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Ward-Switzer trade win-win?
Maybe this was two teams burping away their mis-calculated draft selections. But maybe both teams saw something they really prized...guys that needed a fresh system and context...and will be rewarded with true production this next season.

Trades are win-win by construction - they're made when both parties think they're better off.

In this case, both sides had a good idea what they were getting and what they were giving up. More so than in most trades.

Broaddus is in love. He has Ward as his biggest veteran offseason surprise. A strong 3tech to put into rotation would be great news for us. DT was looking like a serious weakness. We got a guy at a position of need for a guy for a guy at a position with a big crowd. Made sense for us.