2023 Draft Big Boards, Position Rankings & Mocks

[Simpleton]

I'd also prefer that Robinson is off the board when we pick, pushing down more talent at other positions, but if he's there and the choices are as I kind of outlined above, you have to go where the talent is.

 

[boozeman]

We clearly need to be a run-first/play action offense and Robinson would give us quite literally the best RB duo of maybe the last 20 years. It'd also allow us to move on from Pollard as soon as he drops off (I'm assuming we re-sign him for 3-4 years) since Robinson will still be on a rookie deal.

I am going to say this right now. I don't think Pollard will be at 100% by training camp.

And if we think he will be, we are deluded.

He has a special running style, one that is predicated on him trusting his legs.

 

[Simpleton]

I am going to say this right now. I don't think Pollard will be at 100% by training camp.

And if we think he will be, we are deluded.

He has a special running style, one that is predicated on him trusting his legs.

Maybe not but ultimately we're talking 8 months between the injury and the start of the season. I don't care how bad of a high ankle sprain it was or what part of his leg he fractured, but he should be more or less fine.

The interesting thing is if we franchise him, will he give everything on the field or kind of preserve himself a bit?

If it were me I'd try to split the difference and give him some long term security/peace of mind, but only for about $8-9/year.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

What if we're choosing between Jalin Hyatt or Robinson?

But then you get into the fun game of would you take Hyatt and Zach Charbonnet or Robinson and Rice. I feel way better about the RBs I can get later than I do about the WRs.

Of course when you start talking like that you're really drafting for need. But the Cowboys do this every year. We take Sam Williams in the second because we think we can still get a good WR in the third.

This year I feel a hell of a lot better about a Kendre Miller type in the third or fourth (I've actually got a lot of pet cat RBs I could throw out) being able to be part of a two headed monster than I do about any WR at that point having any impact as a rookie. Of course Tolbert jaded me a bit.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

If it were me I'd try to split the difference and give him some long term security/peace of mind, but only for about $8-9/year.

Yeah no way I'm doing that if I'm drafting Robinson. I wouldn't want Pollard long term for what's probably top 5ish RB money. Now if I'm drafting a guy lower where my investment at RB isn't so large, I may be game for it. It's not hard to replace what Zeke gave is last year. It was basically day 3 RB type production at worst. Probably undrafted RB type stuff.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

 

[Simpleton]

Yeah no way I'm doing that if I'm drafting Robinson. I wouldn't want Pollard long term for what's probably top 5ish RB money. Now if I'm drafting a guy lower where my investment at RB isn't so large, I may be game for it. It's not hard to replace what Zeke gave is last year. It was basically day 3 RB type production at worst. Probably undrafted RB type stuff.

8-9/year would be 8th highest in the league next year and that's not even counting whatever extension Taylor inevitably gets. There are actually a decent amount of highly paid RB's, and most of them have more or less lived up to the deal, Cowboys fans are just scarred by the perpetual idiocy that comes out of this organization. If Pollard is paid in the back half of the top 10 in the league that's plenty fair.

At any rate, since the draft is after free agency you have to make a decision on Pollard first and you sure as shit can't just let him walk on the off chance that Robinson is there.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

8-9/year would be 8th highest in the league next year

Is that counting Zeke because that deal is hopefully gone. But yeah I'm not paying top 8 RB money long term and drafting a guy in the first. That's way too big of an investment at the position in my opinion.

I'm good with a year or two deal for Pollard but I'm not paying top dollar long term for a RB. Just bad cap management in my opinion. If that's the case I just franchise Pollard for a year and then say good bye. The franchise tag is only like 10 mil. Without the long term ramifications.

 

[Simpleton]

Is that counting Zeke because that deal is hopefully gone. But yeah I'm not paying top 8 RB money long term and drafting a guy in the first. That's way too big of an investment at the position in my opinion.

I'm good with a year or two deal for Pollard but I'm not paying top dollar long term for a RB. Just bad cap management in my opinion. If that's the case I just franchise Pollard for a year and then say good bye. The franchise tag is only like 10 mil. Without the long term ramifications.

That wasn't counting Elliott so he'd actually be 9th, but I assume Elliott will be cut or restructured to where he'd be below Pollard's AAV. The difference between franchise tagging and extending for like 4/36 would be that his first year cap hit would probably be like $5M or some such, so that's a consideration also.

I'm not that worried about Pollard wearing down honestly since his usage has been relatively light so far and we're never going to overuse him as a 20 carry/game guy. He's more like Alvin Kamara in terms of being a game breaking weapon as opposed to simply a RB.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

4/36 would be that his first year cap hit would probably be like $5M or some such, so that's a consideration also.

I'm certainly not opposed to a deal like this but you pay the money eventually. You're just moving it to the future. But all depends on bonus I guess. It's no different than the restructures. You're just moving money that will still eventually hit the cap.

I just think it is silly to do that and burn our first on a RB. You really only use one RB at a time.

 

[Cotton]

 

[bbgun]

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Fuck no to Nolan Smith in the first. Not really that high on Washington either. It's funny, the first picks I really like are round 4 and 5 and the simulator gave those picks F's. Which just goes to show you how awful the rankings are right now.

 

[Rev]

Fuck no to Nolan Smith in the first. Not really that high on Washington either. It's funny, the first picks I really like are round 4 and 5 and the simulator gave those picks F's. Which just goes to show you how awful the rankings are right now.

You sure it's the rankings

 

[bbgun]

 

[Simpleton]

I agree with this, I haven't really dug into Kancey yet but from the little I've seen he doesn't look like a full-time DT. More of a DE in base sets who kicks inside in passing downs.

Will be curious to see how he measures at the Combine.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I agree with this, I haven't really dug into Kancey yet but from the little I've seen he doesn't look like a full-time DT. More of a DE in base sets who kicks inside in passing downs.

Will be curious to see how he measures at the Combine.

Poor man's Aaron Donald. He is legit 6 foot 280 pounds. Which isn't a bad build for a slicing 3 technique. Just short. But Aaron Donald is only 6'1" 280 pounds. The major difference is Donald has freak strength. I don't know if this kid is that strong.

Might be a fun guy to pair with Osa in the middle in certain pass rush defenses. But otherwise he is sort of a repeat of Osa.

 

[Simpleton]

Poor man's Aaron Donald. He is legit 6 foot 280 pounds. Which isn't a bad build for a slicing 3 technique. Just short. But Aaron Donald is only 6'1" 280 pounds. The major difference is Donald has freak strength. I don't know if this kid is that strong.

Might be a fun guy to pair with Osa in the middle in certain pass rush defenses. But otherwise he is sort of a repeat of Osa.

Yea although Donald is a once in a generation player, there's barely ever been a player like him.

If this guy runs a sub-4.7 at 280+ like Donald did I'd be more than happy to take him at 26.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Yea although Donald is a once in a generation player, there's barely ever been a player like him.

If this guy runs a sub-4.7 at 280+ like Donald did I'd be more than happy to take him at 26.

Not sure about his long speed but he sure looks quick and can change directions really well for a 280 pound man. The term jumpy comes to mind. Or even zippy.

Not sure I've seen anyone predicting first round for him but he has been a very productive pass rusher and penetrator. And yeah Donald is unique in so many ways. He isn't Aaron Donald but there are similarities.

 

[Simpleton]

Not sure about his long speed but he sure looks quick and can change directions really well for a 280 pound man. The term jumpy comes to mind. Or even zippy.

Not sure I've seen anyone predicting first round for him but he has been a very productive pass rusher and penetrator. And yeah Donald is unique in so many ways. He isn't Aaron Donald but there are similarities.

I've seen him projected in the late first here and there, but I need him to be at least 280 or so while blowing the doors off the 40 for his size to give him strong consideration there.