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Cowboys’ Draft Needs, Ranked 1-11
BY ROB PHILLIPS on MAY 4, 2014 • ( )
Four days to showtime, I still haven’t done a mock NFL Draft. Why? Because I hate red ink, man. Hate it. Hated it on my English papers. Hate it on edited work documents. Despise it on my March Madness bracket. It’s like a flashing neon sign in your dreams that says, “YOU SUCK.”
I can’t tell you who the Cowboys’ 11 picks will be, or if they’ll even keep all 11 picks. The guys in the Valley Ranch War Room can’t tell you, and not because they’d have to kill you afterwards. Each year they role-play scenarios in which they decide among a small group of available players and debate trading up or trading back based on their own mock selections.
Why? Because they don’t know what the hell’s gonna happen, either. All they can control is preparation.
I’ve seen a couple dozen mocks, and I’ve decided I can’t close my eyes and throw darts any better than anyone else, especially those who really treat this like a science.
I can tell you what the Cowboys need Thursday-Sunday via picks and undrafted free agents – and the answer is pretty much everything. As always, decisions will be made based on value relative to need.
This was harder than expected because I made two philosophical assumptions:
With that said, here’s the list in ascending order and an ideal draft range for each position – padded a bit for the all-important BPA (best player available). You’ll notice most needs can’t wait until the 7th round, where they’ve got six picks.
Feedback’s welcome. Tell me I’m a genius or a lunatic. Red ink is disabled, though.
11. Center: Don’t tug on Travis Frederick’s beard for the next few years. Ideal Target: None
10. Tight End: Anywhere but the 7th round … no. Just, no. Especially not the 2nd. Ideal Target: 7[SUP]th[/SUP]Round
9. Quarterback: The Johnny Elephant in the room. Personally I think Manziel’s gone well before 16, even if Jerry would donate his eye teeth for a dynamic talent with that much marketing potential. It’s not too early for Dallas to envision the day without Romo, but teams just don’t find franchise QBs after the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] or 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] round and they have too much else unfilled. Unless they want to consider this guy… Ideal Target: None (if not in first 3 rounds)
8. Receiver: I don’t have the same urgency as others do about this position. Dez Bryant is the man and the team drafted Terrance Williams to start post-Miles Austin. Sign a veteran in camp if no one else emerges as a No. 3. Ideal Target: 4[SUP]th[/SUP]-7[SUP]th[/SUP] Round
7. Running Back: DeMarco Murray had a hell of a year, but there’s mounting evidence against extending contracts of running backs on the wrong side of 25. I’m also unsure they think Joseph Randle is a capable backup, much less a starter in waiting. Ideal Target: 4[SUP]th-[/SUP]7[SUP]th[/SUP] Round
6. Safety: Hello there, Ghost of Darren Woodson. They still don’t have an elite playmaker here, but they’ve been telling us about J.J. Wilcox’s potential for a solid year. Then commit to him for at least one more season. The main reason why: you can’t draft help everywhere. Ideal Target: 3[SUP]rd[/SUP]-5[SUP]th[/SUP] Round
5. Guard: Call me slightly skeptical that Mack Bernadeau and Ron Leary can keep this up. And … #romohadbacksurgery. Ideal Target: 3[SUP]rd[/SUP]-5[SUP]th[/SUP] Round (with position flex at center)
4. Linebacker: Could be higher, but starting linebackers are more commonly found than the three spots below. And, Bruce Carter can’t be any worse than last year, right? Sean Lee can’t miss any more time, right? Um, right? Ideal Target: 2[SUP]nd[/SUP]-4[SUP]th[/SUP] Round
3. Cornerback: This is the tricky part I mentioned earlier – it’s not a primo need for a team with bigger holes elsewhere, but it’s a primo position — and Brandon Carr could very well be a cap cut after the season. I’m optimistic more man coverage will help Mo Claiborne start to make good on his huge expectations, but what if he doesn’t? If value presents itself this weekend, strike. Ideal Target: 1[SUP]st[/SUP]-3[SUP]rd[/SUP]Round
2. Offensive Tackle: Same issue here. Doug Free is penciled in for 2014 only. Can they re-sign him andTyron Smith? Should they commit to a 31-year-old after the season? Must I remind them that the 34-year-old starting quarterback has a bad back? I’d be looking for Free’s replacement now. Ideal Target: 1[SUP]st[/SUP]-3[SUP]rd[/SUP] Round
1. Pass Rush: I’m a lunatic to place any position higher than defensive end/tackle. Anthony Spencer’s return helps, but can he stay healthy? Can Henry Melton, Tyrone Crawford and George Selvie? All four have missed time, and three are coming off major injuries. If this group can’t pressure quarterbacks any better than last year, the Cowboys will hover at or below 8-8. Aaron Donald’s the ideal pick at No. 16 but he’s too talented to fall out of the top 10. Ideal Target: 1[SUP]st[/SUP]-2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Round (and anywhere else)
BY ROB PHILLIPS on MAY 4, 2014 • ( )
Four days to showtime, I still haven’t done a mock NFL Draft. Why? Because I hate red ink, man. Hate it. Hated it on my English papers. Hate it on edited work documents. Despise it on my March Madness bracket. It’s like a flashing neon sign in your dreams that says, “YOU SUCK.”
I can’t tell you who the Cowboys’ 11 picks will be, or if they’ll even keep all 11 picks. The guys in the Valley Ranch War Room can’t tell you, and not because they’d have to kill you afterwards. Each year they role-play scenarios in which they decide among a small group of available players and debate trading up or trading back based on their own mock selections.
Why? Because they don’t know what the hell’s gonna happen, either. All they can control is preparation.
I’ve seen a couple dozen mocks, and I’ve decided I can’t close my eyes and throw darts any better than anyone else, especially those who really treat this like a science.
I can tell you what the Cowboys need Thursday-Sunday via picks and undrafted free agents – and the answer is pretty much everything. As always, decisions will be made based on value relative to need.
This was harder than expected because I made two philosophical assumptions:
- The Cowboys really do expect a 100-percent healthy Tony Romo in Week 1.
- The Cowboys really do expect Romo to keep them semi-competitive for the next 2-3 years, meaning this year’s picks are made in “win-now” mode with a 1-2 year “retooling” radius for replacing select veterans’ salaries.
With that said, here’s the list in ascending order and an ideal draft range for each position – padded a bit for the all-important BPA (best player available). You’ll notice most needs can’t wait until the 7th round, where they’ve got six picks.
Feedback’s welcome. Tell me I’m a genius or a lunatic. Red ink is disabled, though.
11. Center: Don’t tug on Travis Frederick’s beard for the next few years. Ideal Target: None
10. Tight End: Anywhere but the 7th round … no. Just, no. Especially not the 2nd. Ideal Target: 7[SUP]th[/SUP]Round
9. Quarterback: The Johnny Elephant in the room. Personally I think Manziel’s gone well before 16, even if Jerry would donate his eye teeth for a dynamic talent with that much marketing potential. It’s not too early for Dallas to envision the day without Romo, but teams just don’t find franchise QBs after the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] or 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] round and they have too much else unfilled. Unless they want to consider this guy… Ideal Target: None (if not in first 3 rounds)
8. Receiver: I don’t have the same urgency as others do about this position. Dez Bryant is the man and the team drafted Terrance Williams to start post-Miles Austin. Sign a veteran in camp if no one else emerges as a No. 3. Ideal Target: 4[SUP]th[/SUP]-7[SUP]th[/SUP] Round
7. Running Back: DeMarco Murray had a hell of a year, but there’s mounting evidence against extending contracts of running backs on the wrong side of 25. I’m also unsure they think Joseph Randle is a capable backup, much less a starter in waiting. Ideal Target: 4[SUP]th-[/SUP]7[SUP]th[/SUP] Round
6. Safety: Hello there, Ghost of Darren Woodson. They still don’t have an elite playmaker here, but they’ve been telling us about J.J. Wilcox’s potential for a solid year. Then commit to him for at least one more season. The main reason why: you can’t draft help everywhere. Ideal Target: 3[SUP]rd[/SUP]-5[SUP]th[/SUP] Round
5. Guard: Call me slightly skeptical that Mack Bernadeau and Ron Leary can keep this up. And … #romohadbacksurgery. Ideal Target: 3[SUP]rd[/SUP]-5[SUP]th[/SUP] Round (with position flex at center)
4. Linebacker: Could be higher, but starting linebackers are more commonly found than the three spots below. And, Bruce Carter can’t be any worse than last year, right? Sean Lee can’t miss any more time, right? Um, right? Ideal Target: 2[SUP]nd[/SUP]-4[SUP]th[/SUP] Round
3. Cornerback: This is the tricky part I mentioned earlier – it’s not a primo need for a team with bigger holes elsewhere, but it’s a primo position — and Brandon Carr could very well be a cap cut after the season. I’m optimistic more man coverage will help Mo Claiborne start to make good on his huge expectations, but what if he doesn’t? If value presents itself this weekend, strike. Ideal Target: 1[SUP]st[/SUP]-3[SUP]rd[/SUP]Round
2. Offensive Tackle: Same issue here. Doug Free is penciled in for 2014 only. Can they re-sign him andTyron Smith? Should they commit to a 31-year-old after the season? Must I remind them that the 34-year-old starting quarterback has a bad back? I’d be looking for Free’s replacement now. Ideal Target: 1[SUP]st[/SUP]-3[SUP]rd[/SUP] Round
1. Pass Rush: I’m a lunatic to place any position higher than defensive end/tackle. Anthony Spencer’s return helps, but can he stay healthy? Can Henry Melton, Tyrone Crawford and George Selvie? All four have missed time, and three are coming off major injuries. If this group can’t pressure quarterbacks any better than last year, the Cowboys will hover at or below 8-8. Aaron Donald’s the ideal pick at No. 16 but he’s too talented to fall out of the top 10. Ideal Target: 1[SUP]st[/SUP]-2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Round (and anywhere else)
