Am I the only one that believes that the Cowboys do not need to draft another WR in the draft next season? The key word in that question is need. We already have three young wide receivers on the roster with the potential to be at least a number two (Hurd age 22, Austin age 23, and Stanback age 23). Owens age 34, isn't showing many signs of slowing down soon. Glenn age 33, may be on the way out the door, but it is really hard to tell at this point. Crayton age 28, will be headed for FA and a starting job elsewhere if the Cowboys fail to sign him in the off-season. You could look at the last tow sentences and conclude that we may only have four returning wide receivers next season. But why would you want to draft yet another wide receiver with the potential to be good when we already have three learning on the job?
Consider that finding a true #1 receiver in the draft may be one of the toughest things for scouts to do. I would argue that the wide receiver position has the highest bust rate out of any position drafted in the first round. I think the reason for this is because:
a) College teams don't use complex coverage schemes. Most wide receivers with good speed can exploit these schemes with simple routes, and their stats end up become extremely inflated.
b) College receivers, even in top conferences, are matched up against defensive backs that would never even sniff the NFL practice field.
c) Receivers can either be benefited or hindered by the play of the QB. An average receiver with a top shelf QB would end up looking better than a great WR with a sub par QB that can't get him the ball.
With that said, you may be better off waiting until the second and even the third and fourth rounds to draft a wide receiver. Even in the event that you do draft a first round wide receiver, you still will need a few years before that wide receiver makes any impact, and that is also dependent on the team and who the QB is. Just look a Braylon Edwards. I know there are exceptions like Randy Moss, but players like him come around once a decade. Unfortunately, I don't see any can't miss immediate impact-type talents in this year’s draft. Of course you can argue in favor of DeSean Jackson, but would he make much more of an impact as a receiver than what we already have?
Assuming that Crayton leaves for FA and Glenn retires due to injury, we would be better off getting a wide receiver that has already experienced the learning curve and is ready to contribute and let the young guys continue to learn and develop as receivers. Big name receivers like Roy Williams, Chad Johnson, and Larry Fitzgerald come to mind, but that would require a trade of some sort. Expected free agents such as Bernard Baerrian and Donte Stallworth also come to mind as well. I seriously doubt NE lets Moss walk considering the success he has had there. If we are to get another wide receiver, go for one of those guys, not the draft.
