2026 Cowboys Draft Chatter Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
As much as I love Styles, I wouldn't love giving up that 3rd. Don't think I'd do it. Especially now since McCoy is looking like he's just fine. The big six has turned into 7 for me now. If draft apocalypse happens and they're all gone, then I try my absolute damndest to trade down. And if THAT can't be done? Then just give me Theineman.
 
NoDak said:
As much as I love Styles, I wouldn't love giving up that 3rd. Don't think I'd do it. Especially now since McCoy is looking like he's just fine. The big six has turned into 7 for me now. If draft apocalypse happens and they're all gone, then I try my absolute damndest to trade down. And if THAT can't be done? Then just give me Theineman.
Click to expand...

I'm not against that but the fact that I expect the talent to be sort of flat between 20-40ish, which would allow me to recoup that pick in a trade down from 20, is one of the reasons I'd be aggressive in potentially moving up from 12.
 
Simpleton said:
I don't know that we badly need numbers anymore given that they did their usual scattershot FA approach (i.e. numbers instead of quality) plus the Thompson signing/Gary trade.

Gary and Thompson are locked in established starters, you could argue Durant is as well, but even if you only consider him a borderline starting type we have basically 5-6 DB's who are starting caliber depending on what you think of Revel.

We could use another edge rusher, sure, but it doesn't have to be a day 1 starter when you have a guy like Gary and a promising 2nd year guy in Ezeriaku. We could use another rotational interior DL but again, we don't need a starter and the depth between Ogbonnia and Bullard is decent enough.

ILB we obviously need a starter but nobody in their right mind is banking on 92 or a 4th rounder for that.

At this point I could easily argue that we need difference makers more so than numbers, but the bigger thing for me is that I want to follow the talent in this given class and if the board is thinning I'm not going to be worried about giving up some 4th rounder to move up 3 spots to get Styles or Downs.

And obviously I'd be fine trading down but in a time crunched situation that is more reliant on other teams wanting to come up based on what just played out in real time, whereas I feel like you can control your own destiny to an extent with a small trade up.
Click to expand...


I think we need multiple players at each level of the defense. Outside of Thompson and Gary none of our signings were significant enough to preclude replacing them if they're outperformed by a draft pick, besides the fact that many of them are on short deals and therefore we'd otherwise possibly be looking for the same exact things in future years unless we start drafting long term solutions. Not to mention we have almost no one at LB, and our only real player there is not reliable health wise.

And besides all that we can't presume that every draft pick hits because that never happens. Including guys picked in the top ten.

And on top of that, there certainly could be guys in the later first or even on day two who could turn out to be as elite as a top ten pick might be.

So yeah. Defense defense defense.

Load up and let the chips fall where they may.
 
One thing I forgot that Broaddus said... If he traded up and had a choice of Bailey or Downs (or I think Styles), he'd take Downs.

Anyone else agree with that?
 
Chocolate Lab said:
One thing I forgot that Broaddus said... If he traded up and had a choice of Bailey or Downs (or I think Styles), he'd take Downs.

Anyone else agree with that?
Click to expand...

I personally don't. Unless you could guarantee that safety ends up being an Ed Reed type, I just don't like emphasizing safeties that high. Assuming all players hit their ceilings, other positions are far more impactful than safety.
 
Last edited:
And I would probably feel different if our biggest free agent signing wasn't basically the same role Downs would have. Don't get me wrong, we can use both guys. But if instead of signing Thompson we had signed Quay Walker Downs might be my guy there.
 
Chocolate Lab said:
One thing I forgot that Broaddus said... If he traded up and had a choice of Bailey or Downs (or I think Styles), he'd take Downs.

Anyone else agree with that?
Click to expand...


Between those three I'd rank them Styles, Bailey, then Downs. I'd be tempted to take Bailey because he's a pass rusher but I think Styles is better. But Downs would be third for me in that group.
 
Genghis Khan said:
Between those three I'd rank them Styles, Bailey, then Downs. I'd be tempted to take Bailey because he's a pass rusher but I think Styles is better. But Downs would be third for me in that group.
Click to expand...

I got Bailey, Styles, Downs. This is like picking a favorite child though. I love all three. But Bailey's impact as a pass rusher just ranks highest for me. Its hard when Styles fits a desperate need though. I just pick elite pass rusher over elite off ball LBer. This defense needs the biggest impact defenders possible and a guy who can get to the QB ranks highest.

I feel better about the LBers I can get later being solid as opposed to the DEs I can get later being an impact pass rusher.
 
Cowboysrock55 said:
I wouldn't move up for Downs. If he falls to 12 you take him as BPA. But if I'm trading up its for need to match BPA. And that is Bailey or Styles.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't move up for any of them unless I got some ridiculously good trade like the 3rd pick for 12 and 92.
 
Cotton said:
I wouldn't move up for any of them unless I got some ridiculously good trade like the 3rd pick for 12 and 92.
Click to expand...

I don't want to trade up really at all. I want more draft capital not less. But in general when you trade up to me you do it because there is a clear BPA and it fits a need.
 
Bailey
Reese
Styles
Downs
Bain
Delane

Top 2 are locked in, I could be convinced of Downs over Styles and Delane over Bain.
 
Simpleton said:
Bailey
Reese
Styles
Downs
Bain
Delane

Top 2 are locked in, I could be convinced of Downs over Styles and Delane over Bain.
Click to expand...
It's tough with McCoy showing he is completely back from injury. I might even substitute him for Bain if we go EDGE at 12.
 
Simpleton said:
Bailey
Reese
Styles
Downs
Bain
Delane

Top 2 are locked in, I could be convinced of Downs over Styles and Delane over Bain.
Click to expand...

For me it would be:

Reese
Bailey
Styles
Bain
Delane
Downs
McCoy

I'm trying hard to trade down from 12 if all those guys are gone. I'll try to trade down even if McCoy is available but I at least feel comfortable taking him at 12 now knowing that he is an elite talent and his rehab has him at a spot where I expect he should be ready for the entire offseason of preparation.

I give the slight edge to Delane over Downs just because I can see a scenario where corner is a big problem on this defense yet again. I'm not worried about safety at all, but I can see how we can use Downs as a starter. And to me both guys are elite talents. If Bland's foot continues to be a problem I'm just worried about either slot corner or outside corner depending on where they put Durant. I can make it work with Thompson in the slot and Downs at safety or vice versa but it's not ideal.

Reese to me is just the protype at OLBer in this defense. Maybe a little raw but he can fly and make a ton of plays there.
 
Chuma
Bailey
Styles
Reese
Bain
Downs
Delane
McCoy
 
Cotton said:
It's tough with McCoy showing he is completely back from injury. I might even substitute him for Bain if we go EDGE at 12.
Click to expand...

I'm still hesitant on McCoy despite the workout numbers, I think I'd take Thieneman over him but I'm definitely fine with him at 12 whereas before I'd have been disgusted if he hadn't worked out.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom