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National writer: Cowboys will feel impact of passing on Jalen Ramsey with no Carr, Claiborne
By SportsDayDFW.com Contact SportsDayDFW.com on Twitter: @SportsDayDFW
Yes, the Cowboys will field a secondary next season, but gone are several familiar faces in Barry Church, Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and J.J. Wilcox.
And while Dallas has made some additions to its defense in free agency, it's not hard to think of what struggles could lie ahead -- at least for the secondary -- while NFC East rivals stock up on wide receiver help.
Could the Cowboys have better prepared themselves for this mass exodus of defensive backs? Maybe. One line of thought this offseason did center on them being able to re-sign Carr or Claiborne, which never materialized.
Though there was no telling how 2017 free agency would unfold back in March of last year, CBSSports.com columnist Pete Prisco believes passing on Jalen Ramsey with the fourth overall pick of the 2016 draft is a decision that will impact the Cowboys in the near future now that Carr and Claiborne are gone.
In drafting running back Ezekiel Elliott -- who, don't you forget, led the league in rushing as a rookie -- the Cowboys went against conventional wisdom.
Many agreed Dallas would eventually regret passing on Ramsey.
A team with the No. 4 pick in the first round doesn't squander that selection on a running back in today's NFL, especially when that team has crying needs on the defensive side of the ball like Dallas did last year (and still does).
Ramsey, the defensive back out of Florida State who wound up going to Jacksonville at No. 5, made the Pro Football Writers Association's 2016 All-Rookie team after starting 16 games at corner for the Jaguars.
Ramsey came away with two interceptions, returning one of them for a touchdown. He also knocked down 14 passes, forced a fumble and had 65 tackles.
Elliott was PFWA's Rookie of the Year after rushing for 1,631 yards and 16 touchdowns (350 total touches).
And as SportsDay's David Moore wrote in January, a defensive player, no matter how talented, can't insert himself into the game to that extent.
Sure, productive running backs can be found later in the draft (see: Chicago's Jordan Howard), but the Cowboys saw more than just a good back in Elliott.
"Is he a once-in-10-years kind of back?" owner Jerry Jones asked. "Well, the guy that was taken the year before from Georgia [Todd Gurley] had the speed aspect of it but didn't have the away from the ball. Not to take anything away from him but didn't have the away from the ball. Yes, this guy could be once in 10 years.
"That type of dialogue went on, and we got satisfied that he was worth that pick."
Back to that defense: At cornerback, Dallas returns veteran Orlando Scandrick and rookie Anthony Brown, who didn't have a chance to ease into anything last year because of injuries to others and mostly thrived anyway. Carroll, who signed a three-year, $10 million deal, performed solidly for the Philadelphia Eagles last season, with 55 tackles, one interception and 11 pass breakups.
But Dallas still needs to add bodies at corner. Will the team's first pick in this year's draft address the position? Follow draft experts' predictions here.
By SportsDayDFW.com Contact SportsDayDFW.com on Twitter: @SportsDayDFW
Yes, the Cowboys will field a secondary next season, but gone are several familiar faces in Barry Church, Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and J.J. Wilcox.
And while Dallas has made some additions to its defense in free agency, it's not hard to think of what struggles could lie ahead -- at least for the secondary -- while NFC East rivals stock up on wide receiver help.
Could the Cowboys have better prepared themselves for this mass exodus of defensive backs? Maybe. One line of thought this offseason did center on them being able to re-sign Carr or Claiborne, which never materialized.
Though there was no telling how 2017 free agency would unfold back in March of last year, CBSSports.com columnist Pete Prisco believes passing on Jalen Ramsey with the fourth overall pick of the 2016 draft is a decision that will impact the Cowboys in the near future now that Carr and Claiborne are gone.
In drafting running back Ezekiel Elliott -- who, don't you forget, led the league in rushing as a rookie -- the Cowboys went against conventional wisdom.
Many agreed Dallas would eventually regret passing on Ramsey.
A team with the No. 4 pick in the first round doesn't squander that selection on a running back in today's NFL, especially when that team has crying needs on the defensive side of the ball like Dallas did last year (and still does).
Ramsey, the defensive back out of Florida State who wound up going to Jacksonville at No. 5, made the Pro Football Writers Association's 2016 All-Rookie team after starting 16 games at corner for the Jaguars.
Ramsey came away with two interceptions, returning one of them for a touchdown. He also knocked down 14 passes, forced a fumble and had 65 tackles.
Elliott was PFWA's Rookie of the Year after rushing for 1,631 yards and 16 touchdowns (350 total touches).
And as SportsDay's David Moore wrote in January, a defensive player, no matter how talented, can't insert himself into the game to that extent.
Sure, productive running backs can be found later in the draft (see: Chicago's Jordan Howard), but the Cowboys saw more than just a good back in Elliott.
"Is he a once-in-10-years kind of back?" owner Jerry Jones asked. "Well, the guy that was taken the year before from Georgia [Todd Gurley] had the speed aspect of it but didn't have the away from the ball. Not to take anything away from him but didn't have the away from the ball. Yes, this guy could be once in 10 years.
"That type of dialogue went on, and we got satisfied that he was worth that pick."
Back to that defense: At cornerback, Dallas returns veteran Orlando Scandrick and rookie Anthony Brown, who didn't have a chance to ease into anything last year because of injuries to others and mostly thrived anyway. Carroll, who signed a three-year, $10 million deal, performed solidly for the Philadelphia Eagles last season, with 55 tackles, one interception and 11 pass breakups.
But Dallas still needs to add bodies at corner. Will the team's first pick in this year's draft address the position? Follow draft experts' predictions here.
