What type of safety should we target?

[baltcowboy]

A Free Safety that patrols the back end or a modern day, chess piece type that can be used in many roles inside the box?

We are all aware about Caleb Downs, he is more of that chess piece type, but not that roof type of free safety. He is more like a Brain Branch, then he is a Ed Reed. Cnuball thinks he is more like a Troy P around the line of scrimmage, which speaks to Downs type of game.

Donovan Wilson is a fa after this season, Hooker has 1 yr left on his deal, but read the team could save 7 million if they make him a June 1st release.

If you think about it an Ed Reed type free safety is probably the hardest individual type of player to find so he was one of a kind. Sean Taylor, Troy P., Dawkins, and our on Woody are rare as well. I think Hooker and Wilson are solid safeties that need good corners and linebackers to hide their flaws in coverage and tackling. I think we could get away with bringing Hooker back but replace Dono.

To get to your point though Downs is not just a safety he is a great football player. Downs has been an All-American every year since he entered college football. I think he will be a Dawkins on steroids. If the Cowboys get a chance to draft him, you run to the podium no questions asked. Down would literally walk in from college and be one of our top defenders day one. We talking about a Parson type All-Pro rookie impact.

 

[baltcowboy]

Downs is my wet dream in the coming draft because he is the playmaker we have not had since Woody

Downs is best player in this draft, a walk in all-pro.

 

[Cowboyny]

If you think about it an Ed Reed type free safety is probably the hardest individual type of player to find so he was one of a kind. Sean Taylor, Troy P., Dawkins, and our on Woody are rare as well. I think Hooker and Wilson are solid safeties that need good corners and linebackers to hide their flaws in coverage and tackling. I think we could get away with bringing Hooker back but replace Dono.

To get to your point though Downs is not just a safety he is a great football player. Downs has been an All-American every year since he entered college football. I think he will be a Dawkins on steroids. If the Cowboys get a chance to draft him, you run to the podium no questions asked. Down would literally walk in from college and be one of our top defenders day one. We talking about a Parson type All-Pro rookie impact.

Nobody here is questioning Downs as a prospect, just wondering if he falls due him not playing a premium position. Without elite prospects at the top this yr, I am starting to feel he will be out of our reach.

We have to also understand that Eberflus scheme plays a ton of cover 3 with a single high safety. We need a Earl Thomas type patrolling center field.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

The Caleb Downs type, but I think he’ll be gone before our pick.

Honestly, I know it's still early, but in a couple of mocks, at least 3-4 safeties are 1st rounders. IF that holds, I don't see Downs staying inside the top 10 but dropping closer to 10-15 range. It's rare for a team to draft a safety in the top 10, as you probably know. Now add 2-3 more options with similar talent. You could be right but I think there is also a chance he could be there.

 

[baltcowboy]

Nobody here is questioning Downs as a prospect, just wondering if he falls due him not playing a premium position. Without elite prospects at the top this yr, I am starting to feel he will be out of our reach.

We have to also understand that Eberflus scheme plays a ton of cover 3 with a single high safety. We need an Earl Thomas type patrolling center field.

I am just saying if he falls to us, you draft him no questions asked. This isn’t Robinson, Jeanty or Love situation. Downs is a rare talent at the safety position and would improve are team better then any defensive end, corner, or linebacker you could think of. Obviously they play different spots but I remember most on this board didn’t want Parsons because he was an off ball linebacker. I believe Downs can have a Parsons effect on our defense.

 

[Cowboyny]

I am just saying if he falls to us, you draft him no questions asked. This isn’t Robinson, Jeanty or Love situation. Downs is a rare talent at the safety position and would improve are team better then any defensive end, corner, or linebacker you could think of. Obviously they play different spots but I remember most on this board didn’t want Parsons because he was an off ball linebacker. I believe Downs can have a Parsons effect on our defense.

I don't disagree, think he is the best to come out since Hamilton at the position.

 

[baltcowboy]

I don't disagree, think he is the best to come out since Hamilton at the position.

If the draft was as top heavy as last year I could see Downs falling between 10-15 unfortunately I think he is going in the top 8. In my opinion the media scouts undervalue him so you will some mock drafts have him fall to us. The NFL scouts will have him as a top 5 player.

 

[Cowboyny]

If the draft was as top heavy as last year I could see Downs falling between 10-15 unfortunately I think he is going in the top 8. In my opinion the media scouts undervalue him so you will some mock drafts have him fall to us. The NFL scouts will have him as a top 5 player.

Recent history suggests Downs isn't a lock for the top 10. Last safety taken in the top ten was Jamal Adams. Hamilton, just like Downs was being projected as the #1 prospect at this same time and he fell, I think to 14th. Now he ran a real slow 40 time, which Downs won't, but don't think Downs will test out elite, either.

 

[gtb1943]

Recent history suggests Downs isn't a lock for the top 10. Last safety taken in the top ten was Jamal Adams. Hamilton, just like Downs was being projected as the #1 prospect at this same time and he fell, I think to 14th. Now he ran a real slow 40 time, which Downs won't, but don't think Downs will test out elite, either.

The underwear olympics has way too much influence on the draft; we keep drafting athletes instead of players
Frankly the physicals and interviews are what makes the combine valuable

 

[Cowboyny]

The underwear olympics has way too much influence on the draft; we keep drafting athletes instead of players
Frankly the physicals and interviews are what makes the combine valuable

Especially at positions like Safety & Linebacker, where football IQ/instincts are more important then timed speed.

 

[baltcowboy]

Recent history suggests Downs isn't a lock for the top 10. Last safety taken in the top ten was Jamal Adams. Hamilton, just like Downs was being projected as the #1 prospect at this same time and he fell, I think to 14th. Now he ran a real slow 40 time, which Downs won't, but don't think Downs will test out elite, either.

Downs three years of tape at Alabama and Ohio State is all he needs. You can see he is fast enough for a safety. I mean how many 4.3 safeties are there? Downs strength is his mind. The guy is a quarterback in the defensive backfield. He started for Nick Saban at Alabama as a freshman. I would and most scouts would trust that over the underwear olympics.

Side note look at Milton throwing like an 80 yard pass on a dime at the NFL combine. I never saw anything like it. Downs will eat up the interview portion of the combine.

 

[Cowboyny]

Downs three years of tape at Alabama and Ohio State is all he needs. You can see he is fast enough for a safety. I mean how many 4.3 safeties are there? Downs strength is his mind. The guy is a quarterback in the defensive backfield. He started for Nick Saban at Alabama as a freshman. I would and most scouts would trust that over the underwear olympics.

Side note look at Milton throwing like an 80 yard pass on a dime at the NFL combine. I never saw anything like it. Downs will eat up the interview portion of the combine.

You know how these scouts/team think, they have particular benchmarks that they seek. If a player cannot run a certain time or they aren't long enough, etc. When is the last time the Cowboys drafted a receiver under 6 feet?

 

[gtb1943]

You know how these scouts/team think, they have particular benchmarks that they seek. If a player cannot run a certain time or they aren't long enough, etc. When is the last time the Cowboys drafted a receiver under 6 feet?

Gil Brandt said the worst decision he ever made in the draft was Eric Singletary; because he was one half inch under their minimum height for a LB they did not even consider him; look at film; nothing

 

[Cowboyny]

Gil Brandt said the worst decision he ever made in the draft was Eric Singletary; because he was one half inch under their minimum height for a LB they did not even consider him; look at film; nothing

they are very stubborn on those parameters. As I mentioned, when was the last time they drafted a wr under 6 feet.

 

[bleachedwheat]

they are very stubborn on those parameters. As I mentioned, when was the last time they drafted a wr under 6 feet.

2017 WR Ryan Switzer, North Carolina
2011 WR Dwayne Harris, East Carolina
2006 WR Skyler Green, LSU

Yeah, so not very often. None of these guys really worked out all that well either.

 

[baltcowboy]

You know how these scouts/team think, they have particular benchmarks that they seek. If a player cannot run a certain time or they aren't long enough, etc. When is the last time the Cowboys drafted a receiver under 6 feet?

Yeah good point. Do you think there is a chance they draft an offensive tackle with one of the 1st round picks. Lots of whispers from BB and Tom…..

 

[Cowboyny]

Yeah good point. Do you think there is a chance they draft an offensive tackle with one of the 1st round picks. Lots of whispers from BB and Tom…..

Certainly is possible, but it makes zero sense. Feel Guyton is coming along, easy to cover up one weak pass protector, no need for another 1st rd lineman.

 

[Cowboyny]

2017 WR Ryan Switzer, North Carolina
2011 WR Dwayne Harris, East Carolina
2006 WR Skyler Green, LSU

Yeah, so not very often. None of these guys really worked out all that well either.

Those are all special teams selections.

 

[IndieCowboy]

Bill Bates, Darren Woodson, Cliff Harris
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
A safety like any one of those guys!!!

 

[exciter]

A Free Safety that patrols the back end or a modern day, chess piece type that can be used in many roles inside the box?

We are all aware about Caleb Downs, he is more of that chess piece type, but not that roof type of free safety. He is more like a Brain Branch, then he is a Ed Reed. Cnuball thinks he is more like a Troy P around the line of scrimmage, which speaks to Downs type of game.

Donovan Wilson is a fa after this season, Hooker has 1 yr left on his deal, but read the team could save 7 million if they make him a June 1st release.

You can only have 2 players designated as June 1st cuts per season.
One of those will be the 2nd season hit for Zack Martin which will be 14 plus million.
The most likely option for the 2nd will be Terrence Steele as cutting him would actually create cap savings. Especially in the lower half first year.
The next most likely will be Trevon Diggs who they will cut regardless of what they do with Steele.
If either one of those more likely to be released players is designated June 1st then cutting Hooker will result in about 1.8 million after his full 9.5m dead cap hit!