Favorite: T. Smith - He is as mean and physical an OL as I’ve seen in a long, long time. He wants to demolish his defender and backs down from no one. I know that people view him as a project, but I don’t see him that way at all. People are parroting that take because many of the draft experts were saying that… but I think they were saying that for Smith as an OT. His penalty issues were almost all because he would get beat around the edge. Playing inside at guard he won’t have those issues. The defender will need to go through him to get to the QB or anchor down to stop the run game… both of which will be damn near impossible against Smith.
Smith is a very smart guy, likes to punish his opponent, loves to play football and plays with a demeanor that has been lacking too long from the Dallas offense. He has great feet and athleticism, and I simply don’t really see him as a project at LG. Does he have some things he needs to learn? Of course he does, but he’ll start game one as one of the strongest, most athletic, most aggressive guards in football who is going to bring toughness and attitude to the Dallas front. I don’t think that he’ll struggle much to play LG and he isn’t going to have any issues with big DT’s. He’s a bully, and I love it.
I very much think that there is a focused effort by Dallas to increase the desire, toughness and the physicality on the team. I think that trading Cooper and Collins is part of that process. IMO, it definitely wasn’t all just about money with those two. Cooper was all finesse and no toughness or desire, while Collins I feel like was just earning a paycheck. Letting Connor Williams go was too. Not physical nor aggressive enough. That was step one, and I feel like getting a guy like Smith (and Waletzko) is just the next step in their effort to get toughness back on the team.
This draft is a very good start in that direction.
Least favorite: Damone Clark - I could end up with my foot in my mouth here, but I just don’t like the thought of a LB with fused vertebrae in his neck. It just seems like too much damaged goods. I’m aware that he would’ve likely been a second round pick without the injury and I admit that he could make me look foolish… but I would have just gone with a player that wasn’t recovering from a surgery like that.
Of course, I’d much rather use a 5th than a second on a risk/reward like this, so I’m not freaking out about it or anything.
Honorable mention favorite: Waletzko - while he lacks the physical strength of Smith, he lacks none of the aggression and toughness that Smith brings. Waletzko is a project but I love getting that in the 5th round. He has great athleticism and moves extremely well for a big guy. He will arrive in Dallas with the feet and movement skills of a starting LT. He will need to add strength and experience, which he will spend a year doing… but the guy definitely has the ability to become a good LT. And again, he has the attitude and aggression that Dallas is wanting up front in the trenches, which is something you can’t teach the players. Waletzko’s demeanor and play style is exactly what you want. He will compete at a high level and I won’t be surprised if he does end up as the swing tackle as a rookie.
Very good 5th round pick, IMO.
Honorable metion least favorite: DaRon Bland - Truly, I have nothing against Bland but I don’t see a real good chance for him to squeeze out a roster spot. I think the developmental CB’s on the team already will end up taking the roster spot from Bland. However, I do admit that I could be wrong on him and he make the team.
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I could have given the honorable mention favorite to WR Tolbert or DT Ridgeway very easily. I loved both of those picks, which I feel were very good value where they were taken. I think that both will get playing time this season and that both will help in 2022.
Ridgeway’s toughness and physical nature also fit’s right in with the Cowboys efforts to bring in bullies along the lines… and Tolbert’s love of the game and physical play gives the WR’s a little more toughness as well.
I feel like this draft will go a long way towards helping Dallas build a team that is better prepared to go toe-to-toe with teams in the post season. It is, IMO, just what Dallas needs.