JD_KaPow
jimnabby
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As others have said: you need to evaluate the process, not the specific outcomes.
In general, the way to draft good players is to draft lots of players. That doesn't mean you should never trade up, but you'd better get really good value on the trade before you do it.
For me, a good process has the following characteristics:
2014: the trade up to get Lawrence was awful process-wise. Poor value on the trade, giving up a pick, reaching for need.
2013: the trade down was bad, process-wise. They didn't build a board the organization believed in. They certainly made the best of the picks they got in the trade, but that's independent of the initial decision.
2012: I thought the trade up for Claiborne was good process at the time: they got good value on the trade and their board dictated that the trade was worth it. What they didn't do was visit with Claiborne in advance; that's probably an important process piece.
2010: I think both trades up reflected good process. Dez and Lee were all alone at the top of their board, and the cost to move wasn't exorbitant.
2009: the Cowboys didn't draft this year, and nobody can convince me otherwise.
2008: the Roy Williams trade was just about the definition of terrible process. Giving up valuable picks, reaching for need. Ugh.
2007: I thought the trade down with Cleveland was great process and got them great value (Cleveland's surprising success that year reduced the value a bit, but wasn't something they could reasonably have expected).
In general, the way to draft good players is to draft lots of players. That doesn't mean you should never trade up, but you'd better get really good value on the trade before you do it.
For me, a good process has the following characteristics:
- Build a board you as an organization believe in. (This requires understanding the types of players are a fit for what you're trying to do).
- Stay disciplined during the draft.
- Never reach for need.
- Trade up only when your board dictates: you must be getting excellent value.
- Trade down when your board dictates or when you get overwhelming value.
2014: the trade up to get Lawrence was awful process-wise. Poor value on the trade, giving up a pick, reaching for need.
2013: the trade down was bad, process-wise. They didn't build a board the organization believed in. They certainly made the best of the picks they got in the trade, but that's independent of the initial decision.
2012: I thought the trade up for Claiborne was good process at the time: they got good value on the trade and their board dictated that the trade was worth it. What they didn't do was visit with Claiborne in advance; that's probably an important process piece.
2010: I think both trades up reflected good process. Dez and Lee were all alone at the top of their board, and the cost to move wasn't exorbitant.
2009: the Cowboys didn't draft this year, and nobody can convince me otherwise.
2008: the Roy Williams trade was just about the definition of terrible process. Giving up valuable picks, reaching for need. Ugh.
2007: I thought the trade down with Cleveland was great process and got them great value (Cleveland's surprising success that year reduced the value a bit, but wasn't something they could reasonably have expected).
