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Cowboys take linebacker in Todd McShay mock draft
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas – At 4-9, the Dallas Cowboys hold out hope for a playoff spot even if it would mostly require the rest of the division to fall apart with three games to go, which is possible. Yet it would also require the Cowboys to win their final three games, and how probable is that?
In all honesty, the Cowboys are staring at a top-five pick in next spring’s draft and a lot of fans are already yearning for draft information to start the process on being better in 2016.
Well, ESPN Insider Todd McShay is here to help with his first mock draft.
The Cowboys are projected to have the sixth pick in the draft and McShay has them taking Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith.
Before those screaming for a quarterback go crazy, Paxton Lynch and Jared Goff were off the board by the time the Cowboys picked.
I’m not going to spout off reasons why Smith is or isn’t a good pick at No. 6. He’s a really good player from the Notre Dame games I’ve seen on television, but at this point my focus has been covering this season and not yet worrying about the college players. I’ll always defer to McShay and others when it comes to those sorts of things.
What I will say about taking an outside linebacker at No. 6 overall is this: Meh.
Unless the Cowboys move Sean Lee to middle linebacker next year if they choose not to re-sign Rolando McClain (or if he chooses to leave via free agency), then I don’t see weakside linebacker as a great need.
Oops, there I go, mentioning need when it comes to the draft. I realize that’s a no-no for many people and you’re not supposed to do that. Well, sorry, I don’t know how you don’t factor need into the equation. It has to be a factor. With the sixth pick of the draft, I want a guy who will play every down from the first day of rookie minicamp.
Now, if the Cowboys want to move Lee inside and have Smith play the weakside, OK. If he’s viewed as a strongside linebacker, then I’m definitely not taking him at No. 6. The Sam linebacker doesn’t play enough to warrant that high of a pick. That’s a two-down player. Nope, not doing it.
The Cowboys have plenty of needs (oops, there’s that word again) and linebacker is one. They can go defensive line, cornerback, wide receiver, quarterback and running back, too.
The value of a position has to play a part when you’re picking that high. Smith might end up being the sixth-best player in the draft. He might be a Cowboy, too.
But knowing what little I know right now, I’d rather go in a different direction.
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas – At 4-9, the Dallas Cowboys hold out hope for a playoff spot even if it would mostly require the rest of the division to fall apart with three games to go, which is possible. Yet it would also require the Cowboys to win their final three games, and how probable is that?
In all honesty, the Cowboys are staring at a top-five pick in next spring’s draft and a lot of fans are already yearning for draft information to start the process on being better in 2016.
Well, ESPN Insider Todd McShay is here to help with his first mock draft.
The Cowboys are projected to have the sixth pick in the draft and McShay has them taking Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith.
Before those screaming for a quarterback go crazy, Paxton Lynch and Jared Goff were off the board by the time the Cowboys picked.
I’m not going to spout off reasons why Smith is or isn’t a good pick at No. 6. He’s a really good player from the Notre Dame games I’ve seen on television, but at this point my focus has been covering this season and not yet worrying about the college players. I’ll always defer to McShay and others when it comes to those sorts of things.
What I will say about taking an outside linebacker at No. 6 overall is this: Meh.
Unless the Cowboys move Sean Lee to middle linebacker next year if they choose not to re-sign Rolando McClain (or if he chooses to leave via free agency), then I don’t see weakside linebacker as a great need.
Oops, there I go, mentioning need when it comes to the draft. I realize that’s a no-no for many people and you’re not supposed to do that. Well, sorry, I don’t know how you don’t factor need into the equation. It has to be a factor. With the sixth pick of the draft, I want a guy who will play every down from the first day of rookie minicamp.
Now, if the Cowboys want to move Lee inside and have Smith play the weakside, OK. If he’s viewed as a strongside linebacker, then I’m definitely not taking him at No. 6. The Sam linebacker doesn’t play enough to warrant that high of a pick. That’s a two-down player. Nope, not doing it.
The Cowboys have plenty of needs (oops, there’s that word again) and linebacker is one. They can go defensive line, cornerback, wide receiver, quarterback and running back, too.
The value of a position has to play a part when you’re picking that high. Smith might end up being the sixth-best player in the draft. He might be a Cowboy, too.
But knowing what little I know right now, I’d rather go in a different direction.