Archer: Are signs pointing toward cornerback for Cowboys?

[Cotton]

Are signs pointing toward cornerback for Cowboys?

Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas Cowboys reporter

IRVING, Texas – It’s difficult to get Todd McShay and Mel Kiper to agree on much, but in their recent mocks they have some common ground when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys.

McShay released his fifth mock draft on Wednesday and he had the Cowboys selecting Connecticut cornerback Byron Jones, just as Kiper did in his most recent mock draft.

It is a sound pick, considering the Cowboys’ need at the position. Morris Claiborne isn’t expected to be back on the field until training camp from a knee injury. Brandon Carr has a salary situation. Orlando Scandrick is sitting out of the offseason program, hoping for a new contract.

Even with the 10-game suspension of Greg Hardy, I would put cornerback at the top of the list of Cowboys needs.

At No. 27, the Cowboys are not likely to be in a position to take one of the better pass-rushers. Perhaps Bud Dupree is around and perhaps Randy Gregory’s stock slips because of a failed drug test.

At No. 27, there is a better chance that the Cowboys will have a shot at cornerbacks Jones, Kevin Johnson, Jalen Collins or Marcus Peters. By the time they pick again in the second round (No. 60 overall) all of those players could be gone and then they would be left at corners like P.J. Williams, Josh Shaw and Ronald Darby.

The Cowboys could still dip into the defensive end pool at No. 60 for possibilities such as Eli Harold, Danielle Hunter or even Owa Odighizuwa rather than possibly reaching for one of those players at No. 27.

With the draft a week away, cornerback would be the way I would lean in the first round, especially if Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon are gone.

_______________________________

Ugh.

 

[Deuce]

Not only is CB the last position I want addressed at 27, but Jones is the last of all the CBs I would even tolerate. He's garbage.

 

[boozeman]

Not only is CB the last position I want addressed at 27, but Jones is the last of all the CBs I would even tolerate. He's garbage.

Garbage? You are being a bit harsh I think, but yeah, I don't see him as the 27th best player in this entire draft.

 

[Deuce]

Garbage? You are being a bit harsh I think, but yeah, I don't see him as the 27th best player in this entire draft.

No, I've seen UConn play enough to know I have no interest in any of them.

Garbage.

 

[Simpleton]

If we must go CB my preference would probably be Johnson, just because he seems like a safe bet to be a solid starter, and Peters because he has the highest ceiling with very nice college production. Collins and Jones are mainly rising because teams are infatuated with "big" CB's nowadays and they have nice measureables.

Collins has started 10 games in college while Jones has switched between positions and doesn't have great collegiate production.

 

[boozeman]

If we must go CB my preference would probably be Johnson, just because he seems like a safe bet to be a solid starter, and Peters because he has the highest ceiling with very nice college production.

Peters is the superior CB if you can get past the attitude issues.

 

[Simpleton]

Peters is the superior CB if you can get past the attitude issues.

Yea, might be a similar situation to Jimmy Smith from a few years ago. The only saving grace about our situation is that I think Marinelli doesn't ask much out of his CB's in terms of scheme complexity. If you're tough with good size and instincts I think you can be a pretty good CB in his scheme, so hopefully he knows what he's looking for in terms of a potential CB in the 1st.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Peters is the superior CB if you can get past the attitude issues.

Yeah I just don't know if his attitude is correctable or if he is a career F-up.

 

[boozeman]

Yeah I just don't know if his attitude is correctable or if he is a career F-up.

I don't think he is a fuck up as much as a hot head.

There is a difference. I will take the talented hot head, not the immature fuck up.

 

[Deuce]

Yea, might be a similar situation to Jimmy Smith from a few years ago. The only saving grace about our situation is that I think Marinelli doesn't ask much out of his CB's in terms of scheme complexity. If you're tough with good size and instincts I think you can be a pretty good CB in his scheme, so hopefully he knows what he's looking for in terms of a potential CB in the 1st.

Homerism aside, this is why I like Jacoby Glenn in our scheme. His comfort zone on the field looks like Tillman did with Chicago. Play off 5 yards, good run support, run rails coverage when needed and jump the short routes for picks.

 

[Jiggyfly]

I don't know why some are acting like picking a CB in the 1st is the end of the world.

We have 2 reliable uninjured CB's on the roster and one of them is most likely gone next year, CB is a big need for us at minimum depth this year and for looking toward the future.

If Marinelli signs off I'm good.

 

[boozeman]

I don't know why some are acting like picking a CB in the 1st is the end of the world.

We have 2 reliable uninjured CB's on the roster and one of them is most likely gone next year, CB is a big need for us at minimum depth this year and for looking toward the future.

If Marinelli signs off I'm good.

It is not the end of the world.

I just don't happen to think that this is a good CB class.

The only guy I think who could step in, right now, and be decent is Peters.

The other guys like Johnson and Jones, sorry, just not impressed.

They are not bad but they are also not the type of players that elevate a defense.

And BTW, Marinelli wouldn't know his ass from a hole in the ground with DBs.

He was always the line guy with Dungy and later Smith.

Sad thing is we still have Henderson employed and I think the guy does not know what he is looking at.

I still have no idea why on earth when we canned Ryan we kept that guy.

 

[Jiggyfly]

It is not the end of the world.

I just don't happen to think that this is a good CB class.

The only guy I think who could step in, right now, and be decent is Peters.

The other guys like Johnson and Jones, sorry, just not impressed.

They are not bad but they are also not the type of players that elevate a defense.

And BTW, Marinelli wouldn't know his ass from a hole in the ground with DBs.

He was always the line guy with Dungy and later Smith.

Sad thing is we still have Henderson employed and I think the guy does not know what he is looking at.

I still have no idea why on earth when we canned Ryan we kept that guy.

I think he will be able to evaluate a guy who fits his system which is my main concern.

I am holding judgement until I see who is available, looks like Ray might drop because of the toe injury do you take a flyer if he is still there at 27?

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I think he will be able to evaluate a guy who fits his system which is my main concern.

I am holding judgement until I see who is available, looks like Ray might drop because of the toe injury do you take a flyer if he is still there at 27?

If Ray/Gregory drops to our pick. I wouldn't hesitate to take either. They both need to add some weight for the NFL but it's pretty standard for a DE to add 15+ lbs in muscle at the next level.

 

[NoDak]

The other guys like Johnson and Jones, sorry, just not impressed.

They are not bad but they are also not the type of players that elevate a defense.

And BTW, Marinelli wouldn't know his ass from a hole in the ground with DBs.

 

[tnt]

At No. 27, there is a better chance that the Cowboys will have a shot at cornerbacks Jones, Kevin Johnson, Jalen Collins or Marcus Peters. By the time they pick again in the second round (No. 60 overall) all of those players could be gone and then they would be left at corners like P.J. Williams, Josh Shaw and Ronald Darby.

Ugh.

P. J. Williams would be a great pickup for our 2nd rounder.

 

[VA Cowboy]

We'll definitely go CB in the 1st or 2nd. So either RB or DL won't get addressed until the 3rd. I really don't want the workout warrior DB in round 1 but that's who we'll likely get.

 

[NoDak]

Yeah, just like we're definitely taking a CB in the first every year.


Big Ben, Parliament...

 

[VA Cowboy]

Yeah, just like we're definitely taking a CB in the first every year.


Big Ben, Parliament...

Says who?

It's been several years since I expected a 1st round CB. I didn't even predict it the year we traded up for Mo.

 

[townsend]

CB seems like a much riskier pick in the 1st historically. There just aren't that many game changing CBs. Usually 2 or 3 in the league at a time. I think the ways in which the NFL evaluates DBs yield much less predictable success than evaluation of the front 7, who tend to be bigger difference makers anyway.