- Joined
- Apr 7, 2013
- Messages
- 120,229
Important draft week for Cowboys at Valley Ranch
Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas Cowboys reporter
IRVING, Texas -- This is a big week for the Dallas Cowboys in terms of draft preparation.
The Cowboys will meet this week with a number of their national visits for the draft. On Friday, they will hold their annual Dallas Day workouts for draft prospects from local high schools and colleges.
At the recent owners meetings, Jerry Jones said the Cowboys would visit with the top running backs: Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon, Tevin Coleman and Jay Ajayi. Linebackers Eric Kendricks and Benardrick McKinney are on the list.
Arizona State safety Damarious Randall is also expected at Valley Ranch.
Teams are allowed 30 pre-draft visits from players outside their area. Players meet with the front office, scouts and coaches. The coaches put them in the classroom and test their knowledge in their get-to-know-you sessions.
The Cowboys usually leave a couple of spots open on their list in case they want to add a late visitor prior to the draft. The visits must be done by April 22.
Why do these visits matter?
Recent history tells you the Cowboys’ selections will mostly come from the list of players that made their way through their facility. Since 2005, Morris Claiborne was the only top pick by the Cowboys not to visit with the team before the draft.
Last year, Zack Martin (first), DeMarcus Lawrence (second) and Ken Bishop (seventh) were among the pre-draft visitors. In 2013, five draft picks, including Travis Frederick, made their way to Valley Ranch in the pre-draft period.
Though the big names draw the most headlines, the Cowboys’ visits are filled with players expected to be taken on the second and third days, as well as undrafted free agents.
The Dallas Day workouts have netted the Cowboys a number of undrafted free agents through the years. This is one of the bigger advantages the Cowboys have in the draft process because of the number of high school players from the area that go on to play major and not-so major college football. The Cowboys can conduct workouts and get a good bit of intelligence on players they might pick or try to sign as priority free agents.
Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas Cowboys reporter
IRVING, Texas -- This is a big week for the Dallas Cowboys in terms of draft preparation.
The Cowboys will meet this week with a number of their national visits for the draft. On Friday, they will hold their annual Dallas Day workouts for draft prospects from local high schools and colleges.
At the recent owners meetings, Jerry Jones said the Cowboys would visit with the top running backs: Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon, Tevin Coleman and Jay Ajayi. Linebackers Eric Kendricks and Benardrick McKinney are on the list.
Arizona State safety Damarious Randall is also expected at Valley Ranch.
Teams are allowed 30 pre-draft visits from players outside their area. Players meet with the front office, scouts and coaches. The coaches put them in the classroom and test their knowledge in their get-to-know-you sessions.
The Cowboys usually leave a couple of spots open on their list in case they want to add a late visitor prior to the draft. The visits must be done by April 22.
Why do these visits matter?
Recent history tells you the Cowboys’ selections will mostly come from the list of players that made their way through their facility. Since 2005, Morris Claiborne was the only top pick by the Cowboys not to visit with the team before the draft.
Last year, Zack Martin (first), DeMarcus Lawrence (second) and Ken Bishop (seventh) were among the pre-draft visitors. In 2013, five draft picks, including Travis Frederick, made their way to Valley Ranch in the pre-draft period.
Though the big names draw the most headlines, the Cowboys’ visits are filled with players expected to be taken on the second and third days, as well as undrafted free agents.
The Dallas Day workouts have netted the Cowboys a number of undrafted free agents through the years. This is one of the bigger advantages the Cowboys have in the draft process because of the number of high school players from the area that go on to play major and not-so major college football. The Cowboys can conduct workouts and get a good bit of intelligence on players they might pick or try to sign as priority free agents.
