Who would you hate at 12?

[Aven8]

what back in recent memory took a middle of the pack oline and made them look good?

Rico Dowdle. Once they committed to it and got grandpa on one leg out of there. If Dowdle is rushing for 1k yards starting late what is Jeanty doing? 1,500-1,800?

 

[gimmesix]

Fans gets caught up about reaches bc when this team reaches and drafts for need / fit they usually blow it.

Taking a RB like Hampton, way earlier than where he is ranked, at one of cheapest positions in football in a loaded RB class would be insanity to me.

Way earlier depends on who you ask. I've seen him as high as 14 and there are several who question whether he won't be the best back to come out of this draft.

I'm not necessarily for taking him at 12, but I also would wait to judge the move.

We've had some moves that we've made that were consider reaches work out well and some not. We tend to harp on the ones that don't.

 

[BoyzBlaster]

No WR.

 

[DoctorChicken]

I would not be thrilled with Shemar Stewart.

He is a hell of an athlete but it has led to very little success on the field.

 

[Rayman70]

what if Will Johnson runs 4.4 in his workout in April?

Then I may rethink my statement.

 

[cnuball21]

Way earlier depends on who you ask. I've seen him as high as 14 and there are several who question whether he won't be the best back to come out of this draft.

I'm not necessarily for taking him at 12, but I also would wait to judge the move.

We've had some moves that we've made that were consider reaches work out well and some not. We tend to harp on the ones that don't.

Well yea - I’m talking about his average ranking across the board. I can’t get behind a bottom of the first ranked RB at 12 for a position valued so low. Especially considering our OL is mediocre and we aren’t one player away.

And even looking at the reaches that did work out when you look at could’ve been from a team building perspective we could done better in most cases.

I wouldn’t hate Jeanty bc it’s a crap class at the top and he’s arguably one of the best 6ish players in the class.

 

[stilltheguru]

Rico Dowdle. Once they committed to it and got grandpa on one leg out of there. If Dowdle is rushing for 1k yards starting late what is Jeanty doing? 1,500-1,800?

You think Rico made the oline a good run blocking oline? That's wild but ok.

 

[RonWashington]

I know we need CBs. I would just hate drafting one in the 1st RD. There's so much wrong with the front 7 on defense. This area MUST be addressed with premium picks

Amos out of Ole Miss can be had after round one plug in opposite Bland with Mukuamu your tall lanky slot corner picking off passes .

 

[RonWashington]

I am not in favor of OL again first round . Maybe the Cowboys have Banks out of UT high on the board . Replace Steele move Guyton to RT . Again would not be in favor of OL or TE round one .

 

[BKBDAD]

CB or DT. There are rumors of taking the D tackle from Michigan but how did Mazi turn out? Go get some damn Free Agents and build depth through the draft!!

 

[cnuball21]

I am not in favor of OL again first round . Maybe the Cowboys have Banks out of UT high on the board . Replace Steele move Guyton to RT . Again would not be in favor of OL or TE round one .

I agree - too many resources there already.

That being said this G class is absolutely loaded. If we took a stud G round 2 that fell wouldn’t mind one bit.

 

[RonWashington]

People are dead set against a RB . The Cowboys were 9th in pass production in 2024 out of 32 teams . Now they were 22 in rushing but how much of that was Dowdle not extending a 6 yard gain to 10 or 12 ?

Hand it off to a top back you stretch the chains you kill clock ( Defense on the sidelines ) and you have that red zone threat to avoid constant FG’s . Helps Dak in the passing game with a home run hitter at RB,

I don’t think this OL is terrible . It’s young and I expect progress with new coaching schemes .

 

[cnuball21]

CB or DT. There are rumors of taking the D tackle from Michigan but how did Mazi turn out? Go get some damn Free Agents and build depth through the draft!!

Not drafting Graham bc Mazi didn’t pan out is quite a take…

 

[cnuball21]

People are dead set against a RB . The Cowboys were 9th in pass production in 2024 out of 32 teams . Now they were 22 in rushing but how much of that was that Dowdle not extending a 6 yard gain to 10 or 12 ?

Hand it off to a top back you stretch the chains you kill clock ( Defense on the sidelines ) and you have that red zone threat to avoid constant FG’s . Helps Dak in the passing game with a home run hitter at RB,

I don’t think this OL is terrible . It’s young and I expect progress with new coaching schemes .

People are against a RB in the 1st bc a good one in FA costs 10 mil…a good premium position player costs double that and then some.

 

[RonWashington]

You draft a RB don’t you have him under rookie contract control for the length of the deal , Miles Sanders and Williams are no better then keeping Dowdle ,

 

[darthseinfeld]

Cowboys draft analysts are indicating that these are 2 of the top targets so get ready.

They are in on Johnson?? I missed that. Great news

 

[cnuball21]

D

They are in on Johnson?? I missed that. Great news

Draft show guys that are in the building have said multiple times Mykell and Johnson are 2 names to keep an eye on.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I don’t understand the issue with either one. This board is strange. Elite five star players in high school that became big time college football players. But of course if your favorite YouTube draft nick doesn’t like him he must suck. Add either one to the corner back or defensive line room our defense will improve dramatically.

I think Williams gets dinged for production, but UG DL almost never put up counting stats. His measurables were also ok. Not bad at all, but not what Pearce or Green did. I dont have an issue with either

 

[baltcowboy]

I think Williams gets dinged for production, but UG DL almost never put up counting stats. His measurables were also ok. Not bad at all, but not what Pearce or Green did. I dont have an issue with either

Yeah all good prospects. The Cowboys have two top 50 picks they should be able to draft two starters. I just think they might get cute and draft a quarterback. It’s certainly on the table if the draft breaks a certain way.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I think one thing people overlook is how much a top 10 (or top 12 pick in this case) can set your franchise up the next 10-15 years. Taking any position that has a 6-8 year shelf life is the biggest reason not to go RB at 12. But this is what should be looked at in Zeke’s draft: every lineman within 10 picks on either side of the ball taken after pick 4 in 2016

6th Overall, Ronnie Stanley - 1st Team All-Pro, 104 starts and just signed to continue to be the Ravens’ franchise LT for the bulk of Lamar’s prime

7th Overall, Deforest Buckner - 5 seasons he was either a pro bowler or an All-Pro, 68 sacks at the DT position in 9 years.

8th Overall, Jack Conklin - 2 time 1st Team All-Pro RT, 106 starts.

12th Overall, Sheldon Rankins - NT who won’t make waves, but 73 career starts, and started every game in 2024 before getting injured. Still going strong at 31.

13th Overall Laremy Tunsil - 5 pro bowls at LT, only started less than 14 games once in 9 years, franchise cornerstone

Every single one of these guys (including the next 3 lineman after that) are still in the league, still every day starters and look to be for many years to come. This is invaluable. Imagine any of these guys in Dallas right now, the massive hole they would fill. Don’t chance it, don’t get cute, and above all don’t draft based on 2024 needs. Mistake picks:

Ashton Jeanty

Omarion Hampton

Tyler Warren

Malaki Starks

CB and WR aren’t as egregious. Though not as preferable as lineman, if you really like a guy then they can have a big impact now and into the future.

Good post!