If Ealy can *definitely* be had in the 22-27 range or later, then yeah a pick straight up wouldn't be good drafting. Thing is, you or I have no idea about his real slotted value. From what I've seen, Ealy's going to be a steal if some team gets him in the 20's. Regardless of what the draft publications and mock sites say Dallas is
supposed to do, I'll be fine if they draft him at 16 because even Jerral wouldn't reach that far in the 1st round if his value was legitimately 25 or whatever the combine plummeted it down to.
Because that's the only reason he's dropped, because the Cotton Bowl should only have boosted his stock.
Ealy ran a 4.9 40 in Indy and a 4.57 at his pro-day. Terrell Suggs proved once and for all that combine numbers should be weighed *way* down when grading the best prospects. No one is going to draft this guy to run a 40 yard dash. I just remember him consistently being around the ball, defending passes, and generally making plays whether he was double-teamed or not.
I mean wasn't it only last year when Dallas was flat out panned for turned pick 18 into Travis Frederick and Terrance Williams, and every pundit was forced to eat their words about the value the Cowboys got?