2025 Draft Chatter Thread

[Genghis Khan]

Booker is going to be really good.

Golden is going to be really good. Egbuka is going to be really good.

Just because we drafted a good player doesn't mean it isn't a mistake. The idea is to build a team. Not to just add a good player. You need talent at more than 1 or two positions on a team.

Exactly.

 

[Simpleton]

And for what it's worth, I think they're actually going BPA for the most part and following their board, and it's yielding pretty good results.

We can be pissy because we think Golden or Egbuka should've been at least equal if not above Booker, and at a more impactful position, but they clearly weren't on their board.

This isn't a case of them clearly drafting for need and certain positions like they did with Schoonmaker, Guyton and so forth over the last two years. They're at least taking a wider view, are seemingly open to more possibilities, and ended up getting really good value yesterday.

 

[Genghis Khan]

That's got to be a bad sign.

 

[data]

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Do we really want Hoffman or Bass going up against the likes of Lawrence and Carter twice per year.

Who are you?

 

[data]

Klayton Adams on DC.com (thx Choco)

CA: Excited about unique combo of character, talent and work ethic. That's what you're hunting for in the first, someone that can play and achieve that ceiling.

CA: As high as a priority as everything else, you want deep rooms with tough players. I'm impressed with the draft process in that you let things fall and get the best player instead of reaching. There's no reaching and there's no panic in that draft room.

It's so collaborative in that room. Mr. Jones, Stephen Jones - They value the input of the coaches, Will McClay. Everything should be evalluated as a piece of the puzzle, not the whole thing. Okay, who's the guy that's going to be the best, not just a bandaid covering a hole.

CA: Why make Dak Prescott learn new vernacular, I'll learn it. This is a new role for me and Schotty has been amazing as far as keeping me ahead on things so I don't get hit by the side with it.

CA: Big, tough, strong, fast. This is what we're going to be in the run game. First, you have to do whatever you have to do to win the game. Can't just say you're gonna run 70 times. The hope is that by moving the LOS, you're opening up the pass game. When someone can impose their run game on you, it's a disease that's affects the whole team. It's a disaster if they can run on you and you can't run on them.

CA: As for our running scheme, we gotta do what the guys do well. Mostly outside zone in 2021 in Indy, but that didn't fit Arizona well. Well, in Arizona our center is a good puller, so let's do that. So, we will evaluate what our players will do well. What pieces we have and what they do best.

CA: At end of day, you want contact balance as the #1 thing to look at. Can he get on the edge and keep his feet. Can he win on the second level - they win by speed or by being hard to get on the ground. Contact balance and ability to finish

CA: Regarding SOM's culture-first mantra, I wouldn't say that saying it is unique with teams. Lots of teams say it, what's unique is being able to stick with it. And that's how SOM has been great.

 

[data]

Ross Wuensche on DC.com

RW: Day 3 is the scout's day and we've got seven picks.

Missed

RW: .......Can never have enough rushers and CBs. Stick to the board. Felt good about the names we had about there. Took some trade calls, but why pass on players we love. We value the players enough so let's just do it.

DC.com: You found Daron Bland when you were an area scout.

RW: In this role now, I'm tasked on more with guys we're interested in. I rank guys on which we like more than the other guy

RW: We go BPA. Obviously, we've got some holes to fill and we've got today. But Stephen, Jerry trust our evaluations and we think we found three starters already.

RW: Yeah, when kids go in transfer portal, it's something to monitor. Why the transfer. DaRon Bland was one. We had eyes on him at Sac State.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Thanks for doing these, phil. I won't even bust your balls that it's Klayton.

But seriously, good work.

 

[data]

Connor Riley on DC.com


On the OL interior, you want a combination of strength and athletic ability. It's changed. The dudes you kind of always thought 10-15 years ago were on the edge and now you need a war daddy on the inside.

I know there's flex with Cooper Beebe, but we're keeping him for a second year at Center. When I first was looking at Cooper Beebe when I was OL coach at North Dakota State, so at Kansas State I was joking to the DLine coach I'm stealing Cooper from you.

Regarding Tyler Booker, It's amazing. We had done quite a bit of homework on Tyler Booker. It was my first interview and I was blown away. So when you hear his quotes and it translates to the way he plays, that fires me up. He's going to talk it, but then show it on the field.

Let's value the opinion of the people in this building. Some of us recruited them From scouting department to coaching staff, it's cool that they're asking us for this input.

Do I want them to be jack of all trades, or master of one. But you have to look at their value and when you have position flex, and I appreciate Tyler Booker talking about getting out of comfort zone, there are going to uncomfortable positions on Sunday with injuries. I do think there's a balance on value to the team and maxing out your potential.

Regarding differing the three different Tylers, we've got TSizz, TBook and TSteele. Quick story - I was at North Dakota State I had three players with the same Zack Johnson and gave them nicknames - Jabba, Zeej and lil Zack who was 6'6".

 

[NoDak]

Regarding differing the three different Tylers, we've got TSizz, TBook and TSteele.

Uhhh... Steele? His name isn't Tyler.

 

[data]

Beaux Tolliver on DC.com. NorthEast Area Scout

Zero reaching at all. It was all open minded. When time is on the clock, just pick according to the board. it's a good feeling.

I didn't scout Booker, but he's a super cool guy. So rocked and muscled up. No fat.

Ezeirauku - I do cover Boston College. First thing is his character - loves ball, works to get better every day. Everyone I talked to was in unison. Then when I see the tape, I'm like 'this is the guy'

We met SOM at the combine, did the Across the Hall meetings. SOM and coaches would tell us their requirements so it's clear what I'm looking for.

Pass rusher is a prime position. Can never have enough of them. For Ezeirauaku - The physical traits - the bend and finishing to get QB down. And he was the highest player ranked on our board.

When on the clock to resolve differences on player opinions, our draft leadership like Will McClay does more of that. They bring us scouts in for an opinion or clarification on something.

This guy will threaten QBs consistently. The coaches will find a role for him.

Yeah, NIL is challenging. When you do your evaluations, you do all the work and find out he'll transfer out of your area. So it's really communication - hey, heads up this guy's transferring to your school and he's probably not a good fit.

As far as taking the time effort to travel to pro day and the prospect doesn't perform all the drills, or certain drills...I still get frustrated with it. A lot of scouts are now just 'that's the way it is'. For me, though, it's frustrating/disappointing because I want to verify what I saw on tape. At the end of the day, you just have to go back to the tape --- if he looks slow and doesn't run the 40, then well I don't need the 40.

It's been unbelievable, the amount that SOM has shown respect for us. I've been on lots of coaching staffs and the open dialogue, the communication has been great. We've been cohesive. So when there's debate, by the time we make selection, we're in unison. This staff has taken it to another level. SOM welcomes that communication.

On Shavon Revel - fast, athletic. Stick of dynamite. I'm fired up about getting him. We're fortunate. When you see the way the corner can run and move, you don't question his competition level.

 

[data]

Steve Shimko on DC.com. QB Coach

Ezeirauku - Back in 2020, I was part of recruiting him. He's a stud. What a stud family. What a stud kid.

2020 Covid recruiting so it's all virtual. He graduated early from high school. Back then in Spring Ball, I was coaching Tight Ends, so getting a TE to cut off the C Gap with Ezeirauku wasn't easy.

Regarding finding a backup QB, I just give my opnion on their strengths and weaknesses. You just want someone with a ceiling you can develop and can they help the starter prepare.

Looking for arm talent, pocket and making throws from all arm angles. You look at the deep passes, they're not premeditated. When you see premeditated throws, it's to cover up a weaker arm. In the red zone when field is shorter, we focus on that. We like to see nimbleness, some get away ability.

Shotgun has totally changed everything. On time throws, rhythm throws. But you need to look at off-balance throws. The game is so much faster.

Milton can throw a mile. Great room with Dak, Milton and Will. Joe Milton is young and the questions he asks Dak are great. Dak's the greatest and Dak wants to spread the knowledge - Dak wants everyone to succeed.

As for my input of trading for QBs, same as I'm involved with the draft. They ask me about a couple evaluations. Take away any rhetoric I may have - I relay what's on tape.

 

[Smitty]

Every year, people claim to want to draft BPA. Don't draft for need. And while that is arguable with Booker, it really isn't with EZ and Revel.

And while our needs are more glaring at RB and WR, the guys taken also filled needs.

Sure, but, they also never get creative to match their needs with BPA. At some point perhaps they should trade back up from the second to get a RB or WR who DOES have a first round grade.

Of course, that kind of thing is expensive, but, that’s why you should be more active on a year to year basis trading down to accumulate future assets, so you can go get BPAs that you actually need. The Cowboys are always chasing too many needs and it leaves them shorthanded.

Now we will have to go make a trade for a RB or WR or both from future draft capital because the pick we spent on Mingo isn’t enough to cover WR2.

 

[ravidubey]

Le'Veon Bell ran a 4.6 forty. That's what Gordon looks like to me.

They are slightly different kinds of players to me. Bell was a bruiser in college and played closer to 240 before losing weight and hitting the combine.

He landed on a team dedicated to running the football right up the gut.

Gordon found ways to consistently make big plays in college. I think those plays will dry up for him in the NFL

 

[data]

ESPN on multiple shows keeps throwing the Dallas Cowboys name with Shadeur -- Schefter just did it.

 

[data]

Whatever happened to all that talk about the S2 Cognition test for QBs?

 

[Couchcoach]

I'm not digging this whole "watching from the bench" in the fourth round. Let's do some moving and shaking to get in the fourth, or at least get two fifth rounders

 

[ravidubey]

Ugh…

Tuten gone

 

[Bipo]

Yup, RB will be slim picking by our turn

 

[chevycowboys]

Dammit