Archer: Two years later, David Irving a first-round talent?

boozeman

28 Years And Counting...
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Two years later, David Irving a first-round talent?
3:50 PM ET

Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer

FRISCO, Texas -- A week after the 2015 draft ended, the Dallas Cowboys were able to gloat that they actually acquired three first-round talents with only one first-round pick.

They chose Byron Jones at No. 27 overall. They also selected Randy Gregory in the second round at No. 60, ending his draft-day slide because of off-field issues, and added La’el Collins as an undrafted free agent with a fully-guaranteed contract.

It was viewed as quite a coup for a team coming off a 12-4 finish and nothing but bright skies ahead.

While Jones has developed into a starter at safety and Collins has been mostly a starter at left guard, except for a spell last year because of a sprained toe, Gregory, regarded as one of the best pass rushers coming into that draft, has recorded just one sack in two seasons and will miss at least the 2017 regular season because of a suspension.

But who knew the Cowboys actually had a fourth first rounder from that year?

In a 2015 re-draft, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had David Irving going to the Cleveland Browns with the No. 12 overall pick. That’s quite a leap for an undrafted player the Cowboys signed off the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad in 2015, but it speaks to the potential many see in him.

He had four of his 4.5 career sacks last year. He was named the NFC’s defensive player of the week when he forced three fumbles, picked up a sack, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup against the Green Bay Packers. He was the first Cowboys defensive end to win the award since Charles Haley in 1995 and the first defensive lineman to be so honored since Leon Lett in 1996.

In the final three regular-season games, he had three sacks, a tackle for loss and 10 quarterback pressures to go along with two pass deflections and a forced fumble.

Irving, who last week signed his exclusive rights tender, does not turn 24 until August. At 6-foot-7 and 285 pounds, he has intrigued the Cowboys with his potential. Now others are seeing it too.
 

NoDak

Hotlinking' sonofabitch
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Wait, what? A FOURTH first rounder?

:towel

Long live Jerry Jones!
 

midswat

... soon
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Isn't it still three?

Gregory is addicted to weed.
 

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
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I think Archer might be getting a bit ahead of himself here.
 
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