We Have 6 Draft Picks in Next Week's Draft

[Sasquatch]

I consider Saffold to be a "safe" pick who can back up 4 positions.

After Iupati and Pouncey, Saffold would seem the next logical choice given his versatility, but I haven't read anything indicating the Cowboys are interested in him. Has anyone else?

 

[nathanlt]

I've not been following the draft at all this year, but I find it hard to believe that 3 safeties will be gone in the first round, let alone pick #27. Eric Berry looks to be a good one, but have NFL teams really placed a premium on safeties? Enough to be picked in the top 10 again?

2009 No safety picked in round one
2008 One safety picked, #31
2007 #6, #19, #21, #24
2006 #7, #8
2005 #14

I know that the talent of the player is the greatest factor, but is it possible that the safety position is becoming less of a first round type, like it was in the Roy Williams/ Ed Reed years?

I hope so, possibly get a trade up for Berry at 12 if safety is of less importance to those first 11 teams. I don't think it's impossible.

 

[dbair1967]

I expect us to end up drafting 8 rookies. This is a gut feeling. It is not based on any inside tips or anything. I have a feeling we will trade down at least once and that at least one veteran player could be dealt for a Draft pick.

wouldnt be a shock, we should have some trade down options if they are interested...I still think moving up is the right play this yr though

1. What position needs an immediate starter?

safety, no question

2. What position has incumbents who may only have a year left?

one DE spot, LG, maybe RT, maybe 1 WR, maybe ILB

3. Where are we really thin?

OL, safety, OLB (one backup is coming off a torn ACL, another is a special teamer, another is a guy the coaching staff doesnt seem to like)

The answer to the first question is possibly the most controversial topic on this forum at this time of year. Is it Free Safety or is it Offensive Tackle? Is it Wide Receiver given the inadequacies to fill that role exemplified by Roy Williams so far? The easy answer is Free Safety.

I dont see how its even debatable. We cut the guy who had been an ineffective starter. They dont have an obvious answer on the roster. Not making plays at the safety position has hurt the defense for several seasons.

I have earlier this year posted a belief that the Safety position is changing, morphing, going through a metamorphoses, or just plain re-focusing. I stand by that belief. However, I also believe there is strong evidence to suggest it will be a short change that moves back towards stronger run coverage. That is why Dallas is looking so hard at Taylor Mays. They are trying to determine if he is a better SS than FS and if they can play him closer to the LOS where they can blitz him or use him more in run support.

I'm with you on the changing thing, but its changing towards guys that can play in space and cover, not to in the box guys who are liabilities on pasing downs. It doesnt matter what safety spot Mays plays, he is going to be a massive liability on passing downs if he is on the field. He also shows no ability to make plays in the passing game, which is a problem we've had for a few seasons.

Remember, Mosley earlier this year said we only gave 3 Safeties a 1st round classification.

Pretty sure it was Mosley who said they had first round grades on Mays and Nate Allen, so they must have 4.

Berry and Thomas will not reach us at 27. Therefore they are going to seriously consider Mays. Whether that means they will roll the dice or not, I don't know. If a Defensive minded coach like Wade Phillips cannot pull the talent out of a player with Mays abilities, no one can.

I'll still be shocked if they draft this guy.

One thing to remember as well, Stephen Jones said a key to this position is what we get from Mike Hamlin. Keep that in the back of your mind if we draft a Safety late, as opposed to early. It will mean they think of him as the starter. More likely at SS with Sensy moving to FS. Just food for thought.

agree with that...he's kinda the wildcard here

That is why if we were going to trade up at all, I believe it would be for Rolando McClain, not Dez Bryant, and not Earl Thomas.

I wouldnt be stunned if they traded up, but would be mildly surprised if its for McClain over a player like Thomas.

It is preferable that we replace our starting O-lineman one at a time. Free for Flo this year. Kosier next year. Columbo in 2 years. Gurode in 3. BIGG in 4. Can we do that? Probably not. That is why Iupati and Pouncey are so perfect right now and why they top our needs list over any other spot. That is why I have always believed interior OL is our focus moreso than OT. It is also why I think we want to groom the other replacements the same way we did with Free. Perhaps Brewster is already in place to do this. We can certainly hope so.

No disagreement really. They apparently were going to draft Unger last yr, but couldnt. Nothing has really changed at that area, so if Pouncey is there it makes perfect sense to draft him.

 

[The Realist]

After Iupati and Pouncey, Saffold would seem the next logical choice given his versatility, but I haven't read anything indicating the Cowboys are interested in him. Has anyone else?

We haven't shown any interest in Anthony Davis or Earl Thomas either.

 

[Hostile]

If we get McClain, you might need to get a restraining order against me Hos, cause I will need a man hug.

No chance. I will be dishing 'em out everywhere.

 

[Hostile]

Initially I thought you said that we were looking at Mays, but moreso in Round 2 (than in Round 1), and possibly as an ILB. I might have misinterpreted what you said a few weeks ago.

Reading between the lines I thought you meant that while we were considering Mays, it would not likely be in Round 1.

Do you still feel that way, or do you think as of today there is a greater chance we pick Mays in Round 1 (versus a couple weeks ago)?

I think when a team looks at one player as much as we have Mays it pays to keep an open mind. Playing him closer to the LOS could indicate they will use him similar to an ILB but match him up on TEs or RBs out of the backfield.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

It seems like we like to trade down in the 4th, 6th and 7th rounds. Am I alone in feeling this?

 

[dbair1967]

I think when a team looks at one player as much as we have Mays it pays to keep an open mind. Playing him closer to the LOS could indicate they will use him similar to an ILB but match him up on TEs or RBs out of the backfield.

I really dont see where they've looked at him anymore than any of the other guys they've brought in for visits.

 

[big dog cowboy]

If we take Mays at 27 I will immediately throw up.

No explaination from Jerry, Stephen or Wade will justify that selection to me.

If it's draft Mays or trade down, I'd trade down no question.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I really dont see where they've looked at him anymore than any of the other guys they've brought in for visits.

They've brought him in twice for visits. I think the only other player that they have as well is Dez Bryant.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

I see Dallas taking their aloted picks, call it a numbers feeling. It's not that deep of a Draft Class anyway.

 

[dbair1967]

They've brought him in twice for visits. I think the only other player that they have as well is Dez Bryant.

I dont think thats true, he never came in with the initial group that did, thats why he and Campbell came in last week.

 

[speedkilz88]

It seems like we like to trade down in the 4th, 6th and 7th rounds. Am I alone in feeling this?

Maybe the times when they had an early pick in those rounds and could move down slightly and still get their guys. But when you pick #27 in each of those rounds it doesn't make as much sense.

 

[dirt]

I dont know about you all but I have begun to come full circle on Mays. At the beginning of the year he was a player that I wanted to watch USC games to see because of his measureables. The more I watched him, the less impressed. Did he have a case of senioritis??? Was he playing with an eye toward the NFL, cause there was a definite lack of impact plays. I was firmly against drafting him, but am getting the feeling that the Cowboys are secretly hoping for him to fall to them. A dynamic creative defensive coach could have a field day game planning a 230 lb safety who runs a 4.3. Comparisons to the old Roy may be off a bit. Sure both seem to be inadequate in coverage, but Roy maybe ran a 4.9 at the end of his Cowboys career!!? maybe an exageration, but there was no recovery speed or "want to" left in Roy.
Mays at 27 would be a good value in my estimation and one of the few players in the draft who could start for the Cowboys from day 1

But I could be wrong.

 

[Picksix]

I think when a team looks at one player as much as we have Mays it pays to keep an open mind. Playing him closer to the LOS could indicate they will use him similar to an ILB but match him up on TEs or RBs out of the backfield.

I was thinking of that option as well. I know that in the Minnesota game, it was apparent that they were targeting our LB's with a number of their passes. How many went to Peterson, Taylor, etc. against Bradie, Brook, and Carp? If they had someone who could cover guys like that, but still hold up against the run, that would be good.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Theoretically Dallas already has it's future ILB in Jason Williams, plus he's an Athletic Fff-REAK like Mays. If Taylor moved to ILB they'd be clones at the position.

 

[Picksix]

Theoretically Dallas already has it's future ILB in Jason Williams, plus he's an Athletic Fff-REAK like Mays. If Taylor moved to ILB they'd be clones at the position.

True :abuseme:

 

[UnoDallas]

No disagreement really. They apparently were going to draft Unger last yr, but couldnt. Nothing has really changed at that area, so if Pouncey is there it makes perfect sense to draft him.

but you would not take Iupati - unbelievable

that kid has such an upside

to each his own

 

[The Realist]

Pouncey is a much better player than Iupati.

 

[dbair1967]

but you would not take Iupati - unbelievable

that kid has such an upside

to each his own

Where have I ever said I wouldnt take him? I said there are other players I prefer over a guy who is probably destined to being a guard only.

The argument for Pouncey is that he can play center and guard, and would be a massive upgrade over Proctor, and at the same time could possibly challenge Kosier for the starting guard spot this year. At some point, he becomes Gurode's replacement, probably in a season or two.

What I am on record saying is that I think using 1st rd picks on interior OL is not value IMO, because its so easy to get later round picks there and coach them up. I really dont want us to spend our 1st on Pouncey or Iupati, but if it came down to a choice between the two I'd take Pouncey.