2017 Draft Chatter Thread...

BipolarFuk

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Let's face it. This is what this board is best at.

It also seems like what we are cursed to look forward to the most from now on.

Sure we've all made huge mistakes in the draft.

Me: Byron Leftwich, Vinny Curry, white guys.

Almost entire board: Dak

Deuce: Bortles, every other UCF player

Cowboysrock: Steven Jackson

That's just me sitting on the shitter off the top of my head. Feel free to add.

This thread will be YUGE, because we've had a lot of practice looking forward to the draft.
 
D

Deuce

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Let's face it. This is what this board is best at.

It also seems like what we are cursed to look forward to the most from now on.

Sure we've all made huge mistakes in the draft.

Me: Byron Leftwich, Vinny Curry, white guys.

Almost entire board: Dak

Deuce: Bortles, every other UCF player

Cowboysrock: Steven Jackson

That's just me sitting on the shitter off the top of my head. Feel free to add.

This thread will be YUGE, because we've had a lot of practice looking forward to the draft.
I'm not ready to claim defeat on Bortles and ahem...AJ Bouye and Brandon Marshall both say hi as far as "every other UCF player".

But my biggest mistake has probably been Tyron Smith. But I'll gladly take it.
 

Cotton

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Jason Garrett's offseason mission: Find a pass-rusher in free agency or draft
Jan 19, 2017
Jean-Jacques Taylor
ESPN Staff Writer

FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys sacked Aaron Rodgers three times in their 34-31 loss to Green Bay in an NFC divisional playoff game.

Defensive backs accounted for each of them, which is not a positive.

The Cowboys have a championship-caliber offense, but until their pass rush improves significantly, winning a championship will be a struggle.

The Cowboys finished the season with 34 sacks, a three-sack improvement over last season. Defensive end Benson Mayowa led the team with a career-high six sacks, good for a 47th-place tie in the league.

The Cowboys have not had a player with double-digit sacks since defensive tackle Jason Hatcher had 11 in 2013. This season, defensive end Tyrone Crawford combined for 37 quarterback knockdowns and pressures, good for 40th in the NFL.

It's not as if coach Jason Garrett and the scouting department haven't tried to improve the pass rush. Doing so requires either using premium draft picks or paying big dollars in free agency, with a dash of luck.

It took the Cowboys four years to develop one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.

They used first-round picks on offensive lineman three times in four years -- never drafting higher than ninth -- and hit on all three.

Left tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick and right guard Zack Martin are the foundation of the Cowboys' offense.

Dallas hasn't been nearly as fortunate drafting defensive lineman.

In the past four seasons, the Cowboys have used third-round picks on Crawford (2012) and defensive tackle Maliek Collins (2016). They have used second-round picks on DeMarcus Lawrence (2014) and Randy Gregory (2015) and a fourth-round pick on Charles Tapper (2016).

They even spent $13 million and took a huge public relations hit when they signed former Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy, who was suspended for the first six games of the 2015 season for conduct detrimental to the league stemming from a domestic violence incident.

Mayowa signed a three-year deal worth $8.25 million last offseason.

None has produced more than eight sacks in a season.

Crawford, entering the third year of a five-year, $42 million deal, has been a disappointment. Undrafted free agent David Irving, who played well at the end of the season, started ahead of him at left defensive end against Green Bay.

Crawford had 4.5 sacks this season, but the Cowboys signed him to be an impact player at defensive tackle -- not a role player.

Lawrence had eight sacks in the final nine games of the 2015 season, and it seemed he was ready to emerge as a star this season.

Instead, the NFL suspended him for the first four games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, and a back injury nagged him after that. He totaled 11 tackles and one sack in nine games.

The NFL suspended Gregory for the season's first 14 games for violating its substance-abuse policy. He played two games, and then the league announced a yearlong suspension for Gregory. His career is in limbo for now.

Hardy was a disaster the one season he played for the Cowboys and spent last year out of football.

The best way for the Cowboys to find a pass-rusher is through the draft, but it's going to be difficult because of the team's 4-3 scheme.

Of the 16 players with at least 10 sacks this season, 11 were listed as outside linebackers.

Part of the reason the Cowboys released DeMarcus Ware after the 2013 season was that he's a much better pass-rusher as an outside linebacker -- where his first-step quickness provided a significant advantage against tackles -- than he was as a defensive end, where tackles could get their hands on him much easier because he was in a three-point stance.

The Cowboys will have the 28th pick in the draft, and all but three of the players with double-digits sacks this season were drafted in the first three rounds.

Even being among the highest-paid defensive ends can't guarantee sacks.

Of the league's six highest-paid defensive ends, none reached 10 sacks last season. The New York Giants' Olivier Vernon had 8.5 sacks but totaled of 64.5 quarterback knockdowns and pressures.

The Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul has only 7.5 sacks, 1.5 more than Mayowa. But Pierre-Paul, who missed four games, combined for 42.5 quarterback knockdowns and pressures; Mayowa had 11.

Pierre-Paul is a free agent, and the Giants are tight against the NFL-mandated salary cap.

The Cowboys are loathe to spend big money in free agency these days, but a pass-rusher such as Pierre-Paul could make them rethink their philosophy.

So could players such as San Diego's Melvin Ingram, New England's Jabaal Sheard or Arizona's Chandler Jones.

Whether they spend money on a free agent or a premium pick on a defensive end, finding a pass-rusher must be the Cowboys' top offseason priority.
 

Simpleton

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There were a bunch of gif's in the article but I left them out because they would slow shit down, they're at the link if you want to see them.

---

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2017/1/20/14330106/2017-nfl-draft-prospect-profile-takkarist-mckinley-potential-cowboys-first-round-pick-defensive-end

NFL Draft 2017 Prospect Profile: Defensive End Takkarist McKinley

Over the next three months, we’ll be looking at prospects in the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft from a decidedly Cowboys point of view. Taking the Cowboys current personnel, draft position, scheme, and needs into consideration; defensive line, linebacker, defensive backs, as well as complementary offensive pieces at wide receiver, tight end, and perhaps right tackle, we hope to profile the majority of the potential prospects that could realistically end up as Cowboys within the first two rounds. Once the “official visits” start to leak we’ll add prospects that are possibilities in the later rounds.

Today’s Prospect


#98 - Takkarist McKinley, Defensive End, UCLA - 6-2, 258

College Stats:


2014 (Soph): 4 GP; 2.5 sacks, 2.5 TFL, 1 forced fumble
2015 (Jr): 13 GP; 3.5 sacks, 7.5 TFL, 2 forced fumbles, 4 PD’s
2016 (Sr): 11 GP; 10 sacks, 18 TFL, 3 forced fumbles, 6 PD’s

Games Watched: Colorado, Arizona St., Stanford, Utah, USC

Pros: Very fluid athlete with good change of direction and natural bend. Explosive off the snap, and very sudden with impressive closing speed once he captures the edge. Uses his speed well to set up inside counter moves both against the run and the pass. Quick first step, active hands. Good length with long arms. Plays with more power than you’d expect for someone his size as he flashes an effective bull rush at times. Works his way back to the quarterback when initially beaten or pushed past the pocket, high-motor, high-effort player. Shows good timing/instincts as far as getting his hands into passing lanes for pass deflections, even when blocked. Inconsistent against the run when facing linemen, but he does flash power and the ability to stack/shed. Consistently defeats tight ends in the run game with speed and power. Has experience playing a variety of spots as far as standing up, with his hand down, and he has even shown enough athleticism to drop into coverage/play as a QB spy at times. Very impressive against possible first round left tackle Garrett Bolles (Utah) with a strip sack and forcing a holding penalty.

Cons: One-year wonder? Just one year of high-level production. Plays too upright at times. A little shorter than ideal at 6-2 with a frame that doesn’t look like it can add much more weight. I’ll be very curious to see how he measures at the Combine because his listed height and weight is all over the map. Engulfed by bigger linemen at times in the run game. Pass-rush technique is unrefined at this point in his development as he usually relies on pure physical ability and hustle to make plays.

Conclusion: This is an ideal candidate for the Cowboys late in the first round as McKinley shows all the physical talent to be a pure weak-side, “LEO” defensive end with speed, bend, and explosiveness. He is the type of quarterback hunter off the edge that this defense sorely needs, and he could provide an immediate impact as a rookie as part of the Cowboys defensive line rotation. He was slated to participate in the Senior Bowl next week but only recently decided to bow out because he is reportedly considering surgery to repair a torn right labrum in his shoulder, an injury that he has supposedly been playing with for years now. I believe this could benefit the Cowboys, because while he certainly seems destined to be a first-round pick come April (pending the prognosis following surgery), I think that he could have cemented himself in the top 15-20 selections with an impressive week at the Senior Bowl.

This looks like a player that could easily be the Cowboys best pass-rusher off the edge at some point during his rookie season. He may not be ready to start and play 40-50 snaps right away due to his size and considering that he struggles at times against the run, but he wouldn’t have to considering the heavy rotation the Cowboys employ. His natural pass-rush ability and long-term potential make him a very strong candidate if he is still available when the Cowboys are on the clock.
 

boozeman

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Breaking: Receiver John Ross scheduled for post-combine surgery


Tony Pauline
Draft Analyst Writer


Draft Analyst has learned Washington receiver John Ross, stamped as a unanimous first round pick, will undergo surgery to repair an injured labrum in his shoulder soon after the combine.

The present game plan is for Ross to participate in all the drills at the combine except for the bench press. Ross is expected to be one of the fastest receivers in Indianapolis if not one of the fastest players at the combine.

The week immediately after the combine, which leads up to Washington’s pro-day of March 11th, will be used by Ross to take part in any private workouts requested by NFL teams.

The belief is Ross initially hurt the shoulder during the teams 44-6 victory over Stanford in late September. Ross finished that game with 4 receptions, 82 yards and 1 score, then went on to play the remainder of the regular and post season with the injury.

According to Bradley Cicala, Ross’ agent, the speedy receiver purposely pushed back surgery in order to participate in the combine. I’ve been told Ross expects to be ready for training camp after the surgery.

The speedy receiver turned in a sensational campaign in 2016, finishing the year with 81 receptions, 1150 yards and 17 touchdowns.

His speed and big play ability are most attractive to scouts, especially in a receiver class which lacks vertical playmakers. Ross has been compared favorably to players such as Brandin Cooks and Ted Ginn Jr.

In other injury news I’ve also learned junior running back Jeremy McNichols of Boise State is likely to have similar surgery to repair an injured labrum after the combine.

Like Ross, the present schedule includes McNichols participating in the combine.

McNichols entered the draft after a career season which included 1709 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 37 passes for 474 yards and 4 more scores.

Back on December 27th we initially spoke about McNichols dealing with shoulder issues last season.
 

skidadl

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Patrick Mahomes A Potential Top-3 Pick?

Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes should be considered a near-lock to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft, and could be selected within the top three picks depending on how the Browns, 49ers, and Bears address the quarterback position in free agency and/or via trade, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. The Texans, who hold the 25th pick, likely represent the floor for Mahomes, per La Canfora."<strong


Mahomes, 21, has been widely viewed as a Day 2 pick, so the suggestion that he could be chosen not only in the first round, but within the first thirty minutes of the draft, is quite surprising, to say the least. On most draft boards, including that of Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com, Mahomes is ranked as the fourth-best quarterback available behind UNC’s Mitch Trubisky, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, and Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer.

The scouting combine will be significant for Mahomes, says Kiper, while La Canfora agrees Mahomes will be considered a “rising” prospect by the time the draft rolls around. The 2017 quarterback draft class is considered the worst crop of signal-callers since 2013, so it stands to reason that certain QBs will be artificially pushed up boards as the draft approaches. Still, many scout believe Trubisky is the only passer guaranteed to be selected in the top-five.

Mahomes has served as the Red Raiders’ full-time starter for the past two seasons, and has averaged 4,853 yards and 39 touchdowns during that time.
 

boozeman

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Reuben Foster had surgery on a torn rotator cuff...out four months.
 

skidadl

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Combine participants by conference:

New SEC - 66
ACC - 60
B1G - 51
Pac12 - 47
Big12 - 18


Can the Big 12 hurry up and die already? It is pretty amazing that we've gone from the premier conference in college football to sucking this bad. It is no longer cool for top recruits to stay in state for college.

Thanks UT for ruining the conference!
 

Cowboysrock55

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Chad Kelly among notable prospects not invited to 2017 combine
By Chase Goodbread
College Football 24/7 writer


The NFL Scouting Combine makes room for more than 300 draft prospects, but that doesn't mean every highly accomplished college player gets an invitation, and each year, there are quite a few who are selected in the NFL draft without the benefit of combine participation. Last year's list of notable combine absences included draft picks such as Keenan Reynolds and Derek Watt. The full list of 2017 combine participants was released on Wednesday, but below we've assembled a list of some of the top players who didn't receive invitations:


RB Joe Mixon, Oklahoma
Unquestionably the most highly regarded talent listed here, Mixon rushed for nearly 1,200 yards for the Sooners as a third-year sophomore and is remarkably gifted as a receiver out of the backfield, as well. A year-old NFL conduct policy bars players from the combine based on criminal cases involving violence or sexual offenses. Mixon punched a female student as an OU freshman in 2014, and the case drew additional attention more than two years later when a video of the incident was made public under an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that compelled its release. Mixon wasn't convicted in the case, but the NFL can bar any prospect from the combine after evaluating underlying circumstances involving the player.

QB Chad Kelly, Ole Miss
Kelly pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct following a nightclub brawl about two years ago. As of Senior Bowl week, Kelly was looking forward to the combine, so the news that he wasn't invited could have surprised him. Kelly, the nephew of Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly, threw for 6,800 yards and 50 touchdowns over two seasons at Ole Miss.

LB Elijah Lee, Kansas State
Lee (6-foot-3, 228 pounds) had a spectacular senior season for the Wildcats, leading the team in tackles with 110 (72 of them solos) with 6.5 tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions. He was selected first-team All-Big 12 and entered the NFL draft as a junior. Lee might not have gotten a combine invitation, but look for him to get a draft call.


WR Damore'ea Stringfellow, Ole Miss
Stringfellow was Ole Miss' second-leading receiver with 46 catches for 716 yards and six touchdowns for the Rebels last season. He's an impressive receiving threat with soft hands at 6-2, 211 pounds. However, he also will miss the combine based on past conduct. He pleaded guilty to an assault charge in 2014 while a member of the Washington Huskies. He was arrested following a nightclub fight while at Ole Miss, as well.

OL Erik Magnuson, Michigan
One of many Michigan seniors with a chance to be drafted, Magnuson earned first-team All-Big Ten honors while starting at right tackle for the Wolverines. He made 37 career starts and was an East-West Shrine Game participant. The fifth-year senior isn't the only notable absence from the combine along the UM offensive line. Kyle Kalis, who started beside Magnuson at right guard and was a Senior Bowl selection, also wasn't invited.

WR Ishmael Zamora, Baylor
Zamora was charged and cited in an animal abuse case after a police were alerted to a social media video that showed Zamora beating his dog last summer. Zamora caught 63 passes for 809 yards last season for BU. Like Mixon, Zamora (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) entered the draft as a third-year sophomore.

LB Steven Taylor, Houston
Whatever the reason for Taylor's absence, it wasn't his senior-year production. He was all over the field for the Cougars, piling up 12 tackles for loss, including 8.5 sacks. Taylor (6-1, 225) also came up with a monster performance against Louisville and Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson, posting 14 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in UH's 36-10 upset.

OT Victor Salako, Oklahoma State
Salako started at UAB as a freshman and sophomore before the Blazers discontinued football. He resumed his career at Oklahoma State and immediately stepped in as a two-year starter for the Cowboys. At 6-foot-6, 335 pounds, he has all the size NFL scouts look for. Salako was a second-team All-Big 12 pick as a senior last year and competed last month in the East-West Shrine Game.

DE Hunter Dimick, Utah
Dimick is Utah's career sacks record holder (29) and rebounded from a 2015 injury to play extremely well as a fifth-year senior. His 14 sacks led the nation, and his 19.5 tackles for loss led the Utes. Dimick (6-3, 272) can bench press 225 pounds 36 times, which would have been the best performance at any position at last year's combine.


OL Alex Kozan, Auburn
Auburn's most effective offensive guard was a first-team All-SEC pick as a senior, and a team captain. Kozan logged 40 career starts despite missing all of 2014 with a back injury. Kozan competed at the East-West Shrine Game in January and could be an attractive third-day draft option for a team looking to add some toughness to its interior offensive line.

S Jordan Sterns, Oklahoma State
Sterns, a senior, was a first-team All-Big 12 selection after leading the Cowboys in tackles with 101, along with three interceptions and five pass breakups. Considered more of a box safety than a coverage prospect, Sterns was a Reese's Senior Bowl selection and has leadership skills NFL clubs look for.

RB Shock Linwood, Baylor
Linwood broke former Pittsburgh Steelers RB Walter Abercrombie's school record for career rushing yards last year, and later broke the Bears record for career rushing touchdowns. He posted big seasons as a sophomore (1,252 yards) and a junior (1,329 yards), but drew a suspension from interim coach Jim Grobe as a senior and wasn't as much of a consistent presence in the Bears offense. He later skipped Baylor's bowl game to prepare for the draft.

QB Zach Terrell, Western Michigan
In what is considered to be a down year at the quarterback position, one would have thought room would be made at the combine for Terrell, one of the best passers in the Group of Five conferences. As NFL.com analyst Chad Reuter noted in the fall, he might not be drafted, but he is a sleeper to watch who has a vast depth of college experience as a four-year starter. As a senior, Terrell's TD-INT ratio was 33-4.

Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter @ChaseGoodbread.
 

BipolarFuk

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Combine participants by conference:

New SEC - 66
ACC - 60
B1G - 51
Pac12 - 47
Big12 - 18


Can the Big 12 hurry up and die already? It is pretty amazing that we've gone from the premier conference in college football to sucking this bad. It is no longer cool for top recruits to stay in state for college.

Thanks UT for ruining the conference!
Shouldn't have let wvu in. All down hill from there.
 

Cotton

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Rev

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:drool
 

Plan9Misfit

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I hope the first 27 teams in the draft pass on him because I'd love to draft him.
 

Cotton

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skidadl

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Well duh!!
 

GForce78NJ

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I love Taco Charlton as a player, but I feel like his body type is more so a 3-4 pass rushing LBer. Would not be mad at all still if we drafted him
 

Cowboysrock55

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I love Taco Charlton as a player, but I feel like his body type is more so a 3-4 pass rushing LBer. Would not be mad at all still if we drafted him
Why do you think that? He has a pretty big frame. He could play 3-4 LBer but he has the prototypical 4-3 DE build.
 

GForce78NJ

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Why do you think that? He has a pretty big frame. He could play 3-4 LBer but he has the prototypical 4-3 DE build.
Just feel. Have no actual reason to think that other than just the look.

Right after I wrote this I searched him on google. First thing I read: "Taco Charlton at 6-6 280 lbs is exactly what you look for in a 4-3 Defensive end." :lol
 

Cowboysrock55

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Just feel. Have no actual reason to think that other than just the look.

Right after I wrote this I searched him on google. First thing I read: "Taco Charlton at 6-6 280 lbs is exactly what you look for in a 4-3 Defensive end." :lol
Don't get me wrong the beauty of his long frame is that even though he is big he doesn't look fat. Basically he carries the weight well and moves like a 260 pound guy.
 

Simpleton

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Yea I think the fact that GForce says he looks more like a 3-4 OLB is a testament to his frame/athleticism and how well he holds the weight.
 
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