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Cowboys' late drafting needs to be better
May, 2, 2014
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- In many ways a successful draft is measured by how well a team does in the later rounds.
Ben Volin of The Boston Globe put together a story about teams that draft well and poorly with an interesting graphic.
The Dallas Cowboys are one of six teams not to have a current starter they selected in Rounds 5-7, according to the chart, which means Volin did not count Orlando Scandrick (fifth round, 2008) as a starter even though he started most of the 2013 season. If Morris Claiborne performed up to capabilities and was not hurt, he would have been the starter. If you count Scandrick, then the Cowboys would be one of 12 teams to have one starter from Rounds 5-7.
The other five without a starter were the Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears.
Since 2010, the Cowboys have had 12 picks in Rounds 5-7 and only Dwayne Harris, James Hanna, Joseph Randle and DeVonte Holloman remain.
Hitting on late-round picks is guesswork in a lot of ways. In 2004, the Cowboys hit on three seventh-rounders in Nate Jones, Patrick Crayton and Jacques Reeves. They all had productive NFL careers and earned second contracts.
That’s the goal: find players who can fill roles. The Cowboys kept Crayton for a second contract, but Jones and Reeves left after their rookie deals expired.
Teams build their depth through late-round picks and the Cowboys have not hit enough in the late rounds to fortify their depth. The Seattle Seahawks had an NFL-best five starters from Rounds 5-7 in 2013. The Philadelphia Eagles were next with four.
Also in Volin’s chart is a look at undrafted starters. The Cowboys had a league-high five in 2013 with Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Barry Church, Ronald Leary and Jeff Heath. The Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins had four apiece to tie for second.
For years the Cowboys have excelled in finding undrafted free agents. In the last three years they have landed Dan Bailey, Phillip Tanner, Chris Jones, Ben Bass, Cole Beasley, Leary, Heath and Cam Lawrence.
They make up for the misses in Rounds 5-7 with hits in undrafted free agency. With three compensatory picks in the seventh round this year, the Cowboys will have the chance to draft what would have been their priority undrafted free agents.
They only hope they’re not just making up for misses in Rounds 5-7.
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Part of the real issue is the way players are treated once they are drafted. If you are a Cowboys draft choice, you pretty much are assured of a roster spot for several reasons...historically bad depth is one, the other is the fact that Jerry wants to look smart by having more choices make the team.
We get more UDFA success because they are motivated to make the team.
If I am a POS like Matt Johnson, being drafted is a two year golden ticket at least. Arkin was the same way.
That and oh yeah, the fact they can't play contributed.
The small school thing is a big deal in the later rounds.
May, 2, 2014
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- In many ways a successful draft is measured by how well a team does in the later rounds.
Ben Volin of The Boston Globe put together a story about teams that draft well and poorly with an interesting graphic.
The Dallas Cowboys are one of six teams not to have a current starter they selected in Rounds 5-7, according to the chart, which means Volin did not count Orlando Scandrick (fifth round, 2008) as a starter even though he started most of the 2013 season. If Morris Claiborne performed up to capabilities and was not hurt, he would have been the starter. If you count Scandrick, then the Cowboys would be one of 12 teams to have one starter from Rounds 5-7.
The other five without a starter were the Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears.
Since 2010, the Cowboys have had 12 picks in Rounds 5-7 and only Dwayne Harris, James Hanna, Joseph Randle and DeVonte Holloman remain.
Hitting on late-round picks is guesswork in a lot of ways. In 2004, the Cowboys hit on three seventh-rounders in Nate Jones, Patrick Crayton and Jacques Reeves. They all had productive NFL careers and earned second contracts.
That’s the goal: find players who can fill roles. The Cowboys kept Crayton for a second contract, but Jones and Reeves left after their rookie deals expired.
Teams build their depth through late-round picks and the Cowboys have not hit enough in the late rounds to fortify their depth. The Seattle Seahawks had an NFL-best five starters from Rounds 5-7 in 2013. The Philadelphia Eagles were next with four.
Also in Volin’s chart is a look at undrafted starters. The Cowboys had a league-high five in 2013 with Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Barry Church, Ronald Leary and Jeff Heath. The Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins had four apiece to tie for second.
For years the Cowboys have excelled in finding undrafted free agents. In the last three years they have landed Dan Bailey, Phillip Tanner, Chris Jones, Ben Bass, Cole Beasley, Leary, Heath and Cam Lawrence.
They make up for the misses in Rounds 5-7 with hits in undrafted free agency. With three compensatory picks in the seventh round this year, the Cowboys will have the chance to draft what would have been their priority undrafted free agents.
They only hope they’re not just making up for misses in Rounds 5-7.
------------
Part of the real issue is the way players are treated once they are drafted. If you are a Cowboys draft choice, you pretty much are assured of a roster spot for several reasons...historically bad depth is one, the other is the fact that Jerry wants to look smart by having more choices make the team.
We get more UDFA success because they are motivated to make the team.
If I am a POS like Matt Johnson, being drafted is a two year golden ticket at least. Arkin was the same way.
That and oh yeah, the fact they can't play contributed.
The small school thing is a big deal in the later rounds.