What are your 2023 expectations for our rookies?

[rambo2]

They hit on the draft and Gillmore and Cooks, and the oline does well, and Dak plays like he can. They could be right there in the big game.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Both are really hard to call. Overshown will only any kind consistent defensive snaps if we get hit by injuries.

Fehoko would really need a good camp to get any consistent run. And even then max 200 snaps

Yea, I think my quibble with Overshown is that I think it would take a lot of injuries for him to see consistent snaps. Something like 2 LBs AND one of Kearse/Wilson.

I'm not optimistic on Fehoko at all. I think he's a PS player who would also need a handful of injuries to ever see the field.

 

[Jumbo075]

-Mazi Smith -

-Luke Schoonmaker -

- DeMarvion Overshown -

- Vikiami Fehoko -

- Asim Richards -

- Eric Scott -

- Deuce Vaughn - .

- Jalen Brooks -

-Mazi Smith - Start 65% of snaps

-Luke Schoonmaker - Play in all 17 games, start at the TE2 position (about 30-40% of all offensive snaps.)

- DeMarvion Overshown - Play on most, if not all special teams, rotational back-up player in 1st season, start a few games toward the end of his rookie season

- Vikiami Fehoko - Buried on the depth chart behind Lawrence, Armstrong, Fowler, Parsons and Williams at DE, buried on the depth chart at 3-tech DT behind Odighizuwa and Golston. Spend at least 1/2 the season inactive status each week, use time to develop into future 3-tech during practice each week. Will be seen by many fans as a huge wasted pick - even though the Cowboys have a development plan for him to eventually rotate at 3-tech DT with Odighizuwa by 2025.

- Asim Richards - will be given chance to compete for primary left guard back-up position behind Tyler Smith, but will play sparingly, if at all. Like Fehoko, will probably spend a great deal of time on the inactive list each week, and will be seen as a bust by many fans.

- Eric Scott - Cowboys traded up to get Scott, much like they traded for Tyler Biadasz in 2020. Will likely replace recent draft busts like Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright as one of the top outside CB back-up players. But will be, at best, 5th CB on team behind Gilmore, Diggs, Lewis and Bland. Mukuamu, who can play both CB and Safety may be active more often than Bland, as Cowboys are unlikely to go to games with 9 defensive backs on active roster including Gilmore, Diggs, Lewis, Bland, Mukuamu, Wilson Kearse Hooker, and special teams ace Goodwin. As a result, unless there is an injury, like both Fehoko, and Richards, he will spend a lot of time on the inactive roster during his rookie season. But if the Cowboys don't resign Gilmore next year, Scott will have a legitimate chance to become a starter in 2024.

- Deuce Vaughn - Vaughn is going to start slow, but be given more and more opportunities as the season progresses. Participation in 20% of snaps is a good goal for him during his rookie season. He may also be given some return duties, if Turpin is not retained.

- Jalen Brooks - Strictly a special teams player...if he makes the team. Most likely, he'll be cut, and placed on the Practice squad. He's envisioned as a replacement for Noah Brown, who surprisingly played 7 years for the Cowboys after being drafted in the 7th round. But odds are against Brooks. He could be outright cut, and forgotten quickly.

 

[raven55]

hold your horses on these mich. players most of them turn out to be duds and the te isn't training at all now foot problems that's a bad sign for his first year and then there's the great mazi we will see we will see

 

[xwalker]

I'm not talking his blocking, ...defenses are not scared of that.

The Kelcies, Andrews, Pitts, etc. places fear factors in opposing defenses and give them headaches and mismatch coverages because of their
receiving skills.
You just like to have a TE that also has some acceptable blocking skills that is not Schultz like.

His RAS was 16th of 1105 TEs since 1989...

 

[TheCritic]

I'm praying that Mazi plays beyond rookie expectations and becomes a dominant force. But not sure that will happen. This defense really needs him to be that dominant force in order for the whole defense to take that next step to that elite level that can carry a team.

Actually the only player I expect big things from and will blow the door off expectations is Deuce Vaughn. Not saying he will have a HOF career just yet as he may wear out quicker in his career due to his size limitations. But for now, I do expect that defenses are going to have fits trying to stop him. I see him as a smaller version of Emmitt Smith with a similar talent of burst and vision. And a player with an even lower center of gravity. I can't wait to watch defenses eat dust!

The rest of the draft? Hard to say - I see good moments and tons of promise that probably won't blossom until the second or third season.

 

[Jumbo075]

His RAS was 16th of 1105 TEs since 1989...

Can you look up where Witten and Schultz ranked with their RAS scores since 1989? (I’d look it up myself if I knew where to look.)

Also, just for reference, where do Tony Gonzalez and Rob Gronkowski rank in RAS scores?

 

[xwalker]

Can you look up where Witten and Schultz ranked with their RAS scores since 1989? (I’d look it up myself if I knew where to look.)

Also, just for reference, where do Tony Gonzalez and Rob Gronkowski rank in RAS scores?

RAS Scores:
Schoonmaker: 9.86
Witten: 9.62
Schultz: 7.11
Ferguson: 6.74

Vernon Davis: 9.94
- 4.4 forty
- 42" Vert
- 33 bench reps

Gronk: 9.31

 

[xwalker]

-Mazi Smith - Start 65% of snaps

-Luke Schoonmaker - Play in all 17 games, start at the TE2 position (about 30-40% of all offensive snaps.)

- DeMarvion Overshown - Play on most, if not all special teams, rotational back-up player in 1st season, start a few games toward the end of his rookie season

- Vikiami Fehoko - Buried on the depth chart behind Lawrence, Armstrong, Fowler, Parsons and Williams at DE, buried on the depth chart at 3-tech DT behind Odighizuwa and Golston. Spend at least 1/2 the season inactive status each week, use time to develop into future 3-tech during practice each week. Will be seen by many fans as a huge wasted pick - even though the Cowboys have a development plan for him to eventually rotate at 3-tech DT with Odighizuwa by 2025.

- Asim Richards - will be given chance to compete for primary left guard back-up position behind Tyler Smith, but will play sparingly, if at all. Like Fehoko, will probably spend a great deal of time on the inactive list each week, and will be seen as a bust by many fans.

- Eric Scott - Cowboys traded up to get Scott, much like they traded for Tyler Biadasz in 2020. Will likely replace recent draft busts like Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright as one of the top outside CB back-up players. But will be, at best, 5th CB on team behind Gilmore, Diggs, Lewis and Bland. Mukuamu, who can play both CB and Safety may be active more often than Bland, as Cowboys are unlikely to go to games with 9 defensive backs on active roster including Gilmore, Diggs, Lewis, Bland, Mukuamu, Wilson Kearse Hooker, and special teams ace Goodwin. As a result, unless there is an injury, like both Fehoko, and Richards, he will spend a lot of time on the inactive roster during his rookie season. But if the Cowboys don't resign Gilmore next year, Scott will have a legitimate chance to become a starter in 2024.

- Deuce Vaughn - Vaughn is going to start slow, but be given more and more opportunities as the season progresses. Participation in 20% of snaps is a good goal for him during his rookie season. He may also be given some return duties, if Turpin is not retained.

- Jalen Brooks - Strictly a special teams player...if he makes the team. Most likely, he'll be cut, and placed on the Practice squad. He's envisioned as a replacement for Noah Brown, who surprisingly played 7 years for the Cowboys after being drafted in the 7th round. But odds are against Brooks. He could be outright cut, and forgotten quickly.

This seems very generic based on round and position relative to the Cowboys roster.

You could do this without player names.

 

[xwalker]

-Mazi Smith - Start 65% of snaps

-Luke Schoonmaker - Play in all 17 games, start at the TE2 position (about 30-40% of all offensive snaps.)

- DeMarvion Overshown - Play on most, if not all special teams, rotational back-up player in 1st season, start a few games toward the end of his rookie season

- Vikiami Fehoko - Buried on the depth chart behind Lawrence, Armstrong, Fowler, Parsons and Williams at DE, buried on the depth chart at 3-tech DT behind Odighizuwa and Golston. Spend at least 1/2 the season inactive status each week, use time to develop into future 3-tech during practice each week. Will be seen by many fans as a huge wasted pick - even though the Cowboys have a development plan for him to eventually rotate at 3-tech DT with Odighizuwa by 2025.

- Asim Richards - will be given chance to compete for primary left guard back-up position behind Tyler Smith, but will play sparingly, if at all. Like Fehoko, will probably spend a great deal of time on the inactive list each week, and will be seen as a bust by many fans.

- Eric Scott - Cowboys traded up to get Scott, much like they traded for Tyler Biadasz in 2020. Will likely replace recent draft busts like Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright as one of the top outside CB back-up players. But will be, at best, 5th CB on team behind Gilmore, Diggs, Lewis and Bland. Mukuamu, who can play both CB and Safety may be active more often than Bland, as Cowboys are unlikely to go to games with 9 defensive backs on active roster including Gilmore, Diggs, Lewis, Bland, Mukuamu, Wilson Kearse Hooker, and special teams ace Goodwin. As a result, unless there is an injury, like both Fehoko, and Richards, he will spend a lot of time on the inactive roster during his rookie season. But if the Cowboys don't resign Gilmore next year, Scott will have a legitimate chance to become a starter in 2024.

- Deuce Vaughn - Vaughn is going to start slow, but be given more and more opportunities as the season progresses. Participation in 20% of snaps is a good goal for him during his rookie season. He may also be given some return duties, if Turpin is not retained.

- Jalen Brooks - Strictly a special teams player...if he makes the team. Most likely, he'll be cut, and placed on the Practice squad. He's envisioned as a replacement for Noah Brown, who surprisingly played 7 years for the Cowboys after being drafted in the 7th round. But odds are against Brooks. He could be outright cut, and forgotten quickly.

What would you have posted for a 2022 5th round CB?

Roster Depth at that point:
Diggs
Brown
Lewis
Joseph (2nd round 2021)
Wright (3rd round 2021)

 

[Jumbo075]

RAS Scores:
Schoonmaker: 9.86
Witten: 9.62
Schultz: 7.11
Ferguson: 6.74

Vernon Davis: 9.94
- 4.4 forty
- 42" Vert
- 33 bench reps

Gronk: 9.31

Thanks. Based on that, a reasonable person might expect Schoonmaker to beat out Ferguson. I still think that is unlikely to happen before game 1 of the 2023 season, but I don’t have any problem with Schoonmaker winning the spot - whether it happens in training camp, or happens later.

 

[Jumbo075]

What would you have posted for a 2022 5th round CB?

Roster Depth at that point:
Diggs
Brown
Lewis
Joseph (2nd round 2021)
Wright (3rd round 2021)

I always liked Anthony Brown more than many other fans. I never liked the Wright pick.

But honestly, I stopped really researching the players prior to the draft starting in 2018. I was disenchanted with the NFL for several years, and became more busy with other things. This year is the first time in a while I started looking at the players more closely, but I’ve only done it after the draft, and not before like I did from the late 90’s for about 20 years.

I didn’t have a great feel for last year’s draft class, and you can see that in the lack of commentary I had last year. So, to answer your question, I likely would have ranked Bland about 5th on the depth chart going into training camp a year ago, behind Joseph, but ahead of Wright.

My take on Eric Scott is that I like his size to play outside, but wish I had more information on his athleticism. Unless there are injuries, I don’t think Scott will see the field very much, if at all this season. It will be like a redshirt year for him, IMO.

I tend to have more patience than most fans with the development of players. I don’t expect immediate impact outside of the first round selections. It is nice to get immediate impact, such as with Diggs and Biadasz. But even they both dramatically improved in their 2nd seasons. Odighizuwa has been a pleasant surprise for me. Bland has certainly exceeded expectations.

I think it is pretty rare to get a 7th round pick that lasts as long as Noah Brown did. Year after year, it surprised me when he leapt making the team, and it will be the same surprise if this year’s 7th round pick does so. I liked the RB from Syracuse more than Deuce Vaughn, mainly because of the size of Deuce. But I probably also have higher expectations from the veteran free agent RB the Cowboys signed. He’s a former top 40 draft pick, and I expect him to exceed the expectations of many.

Unfortunately, I cannot honestly claim to have better insight than many fans over the past few seasons. Gone are the days when I would astonish my 3 brothers with my depth of knowledge about prospects - even years after the were drafted. I fill my time with other things now, and am less engaged than I’ve ever been with thw NFL.

So, I appreciate guys like yourself, and the knowledge you have and research you do. Keep it up, and know that at least one person finds it valuable.