2026 Cowboys Draft Chatter Thread

Wasn't Tyler Smith fairly similar to this on offense, though? You saw the athletic ability and strength, but he needed work. He turned out okay.

Yea, same with Guyton, the difference comes down to mentality/work ethic (Smith has it, Guyton is still a huge question mark), and by all accounts Faulk is pristine in that regard.
 
I think that's a different argument. Your argument is probably more fitting for Guyton. Tyler Smith was a bad ass in college. He just had a shit ton of penalties and played at a lesser program.

Guyton was the guy with all the arm length and great feet but really no technique. It was a lot of projection. I think that's more what you see with Faulk.

Smith got whipped repeatedly in college due to poor technique, it wasn't just penalties.
 
Yea, same with Guyton, the difference comes down to mentality/work ethic (Smith has it, Guyton is still a huge question mark), and by all accounts Faulk is pristine in that regard.

Do you think Faulk plays with intensity or high energy? I know he has high character. But there is a difference between work ethic/character and how that translates on the field. He doesn't look like he has that level of effort on the field. Honest question because I know you've watched a bunch of him too. Just wondering if you are seeing something different.

This is why I say it's a more similar comparison to Guyton than Smith. Tyler Smith played like he wanted to end people. Legitimately he would destroy guys in college. Guyton looked more passive to me. I see more of the passive with Faulk.

The offensive line version of a sack might be the pancake block. Tyler Smith had an insane number of those (Just in terms of that's kind of the wow play for an O-lineman).
 
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It's because they think he's limited to a run stopper only and you can get that outside of the first.

And that may be all he ever is in the NFL, but it's also just as likely that he turns into Zach Allen.


You're correct, that's exactly why.

But I don't think it's just as likely he turns into that. I think it's actually unlikely.
 
I don't have disdain for him. I just don't want him in the first.

He is one of the most boring players to watch. I don't have disdain for him though. I'd be happy to have him at DE on our 3-4 front. But I probably wouldn't see much of him after that. I guess you can call that dirty work. You need guys who do the dirty work too. I'm just not wanting to use a first round pick on that.
 
So I feel like we talk more about Styles, Downs and even Faulk.

But we never really talk about Bain Jr. Presumably if we are willing to go up to 9 in the draft to make sure we can draft Downs or Styles. Why are we not talking more about Bain. Is it because we just assume the Cowboys aren't interested. If they aren't interested is it just because of arm length.

I think Bain is a tremendous player. I'd love to have him in Dallas. I guess there could be some question about fit as an OLBer, but if Gary can do it I certainly think Bain can do it. And on top of that we will probably be in a sub package 50% of the time. I mean having Bain at end in a 4 man nickel seems beyond ideal. Plus I think with his power and temperament if you wanted to play him inside he would be a killer pass rusher there. Hell some of the crusty old football guys think he has to play 3 tech because of his arm length. Well I can't even imagine a guard trying to block this guy.

Anyway, it feels weird the way Bain just gets glossed over. Like Dallas won't pick him and it's already been decided. I just think that's a stupid decision if that's true. You're talking about a guy who has been a consensus top 5 talent in this draft for most of the college football season. One with production and everything else you could want. But we ignore him because of short arms or something.
 
So I feel like we talk more about Styles, Downs and even Faulk.

But we never really talk about Bain Jr. Presumably if we are willing to go up to 9 in the draft to make sure we can draft Downs or Styles. Why are we not talking more about Bain. Is it because we just assume the Cowboys aren't interested. If they aren't interested is it just because of arm length.

I think Bain is a tremendous player. I'd love to have him in Dallas. I guess there could be some question about fit as an OLBer, but if Gary can do it I certainly think Bain can do it. And on top of that we will probably be in a sub package 50% of the time. I mean having Bain at end in a 4 man nickel seems beyond ideal. Plus I think with his power and temperament if you wanted to play him inside he would be a killer pass rusher there. Hell some of the crusty old football guys think he has to play 3 tech because of his arm length. Well I can't even imagine a guard trying to block this guy.

Anyway, it feels weird the way Bain just gets glossed over. Like Dallas won't pick him and it's already been decided. I just think that's a stupid decision if that's true. You're talking about a guy who has been a consensus top 5 talent in this draft for most of the college football season. One with production and everything else you could want. But we ignore him because of short arms or something.
Geng props incoming!
 
So I feel like we talk more about Styles, Downs and even Faulk.

But we never really talk about Bain Jr. Presumably if we are willing to go up to 9 in the draft to make sure we can draft Downs or Styles. Why are we not talking more about Bain. Is it because we just assume the Cowboys aren't interested. If they aren't interested is it just because of arm length.

I think Bain is a tremendous player. I'd love to have him in Dallas. I guess there could be some question about fit as an OLBer, but if Gary can do it I certainly think Bain can do it. And on top of that we will probably be in a sub package 50% of the time. I mean having Bain at end in a 4 man nickel seems beyond ideal. Plus I think with his power and temperament if you wanted to play him inside he would be a killer pass rusher there. Hell some of the crusty old football guys think he has to play 3 tech because of his arm length. Well I can't even imagine a guard trying to block this guy.

Anyway, it feels weird the way Bain just gets glossed over. Like Dallas won't pick him and it's already been decided. I just think that's a stupid decision if that's true. You're talking about a guy who has been a consensus top 5 talent in this draft for most of the college football season. One with production and everything else you could want. But we ignore him because of short arms or something.


Exactly how I feel. I think he's the best player in the draft.
 
Do you think Faulk plays with intensity or high energy? I know he has high character. But there is a difference between work ethic/character and how that translates on the field. He doesn't look like he has that level of effort on the field. Honest question because I know you've watched a bunch of him too. Just wondering if you are seeing something different.

This is why I say it's a more similar comparison to Guyton than Smith. Tyler Smith played like he wanted to end people. Legitimately he would destroy guys in college. Guyton looked more passive to me. I see more of the passive with Faulk.

The offensive line version of a sack might be the pancake block. Tyler Smith had an insane number of those (Just in terms of that's kind of the wow play for an O-lineman).

I see it at times but not at others, I think it's difficult to discern because he often was taking on double teams or eating up blocks for other guys to blitz from different angles. You also can't just fly upfield when you're 2-gapping because you're being asked to occupy and read/react rather than penetrate, so there's lots of moving parts to his evaluation.

I see what you're saying about being passive, Smith wasn't, Guyton kind of was, but I don't think you can characterize Faulk that way.

My bigger issue with Guyton is that I think he's kind of just lazy and not a serious competitor, you can be that without looking like a maniac on the field. I have no idea what Faulk is like in that regard but I'm assuming based on the character reports that he's closer to that than Guyton.
 
So I feel like we talk more about Styles, Downs and even Faulk.

But we never really talk about Bain Jr. Presumably if we are willing to go up to 9 in the draft to make sure we can draft Downs or Styles. Why are we not talking more about Bain. Is it because we just assume the Cowboys aren't interested. If they aren't interested is it just because of arm length.

I think Bain is a tremendous player. I'd love to have him in Dallas. I guess there could be some question about fit as an OLBer, but if Gary can do it I certainly think Bain can do it. And on top of that we will probably be in a sub package 50% of the time. I mean having Bain at end in a 4 man nickel seems beyond ideal. Plus I think with his power and temperament if you wanted to play him inside he would be a killer pass rusher there. Hell some of the crusty old football guys think he has to play 3 tech because of his arm length. Well I can't even imagine a guard trying to block this guy.

Anyway, it feels weird the way Bain just gets glossed over. Like Dallas won't pick him and it's already been decided. I just think that's a stupid decision if that's true. You're talking about a guy who has been a consensus top 5 talent in this draft for most of the college football season. One with production and everything else you could want. But we ignore him because of short arms or something.

It's because he might fall to 12 and he has no chance of going top 6ish, so it's not as sexy as talking about moving up to 6 or whatever.

But I did just say that we need to be on alert to move up to like 9 for him if the defensive board starts to get wiped.
 
So I feel like we talk more about Styles, Downs and even Faulk.

But we never really talk about Bain Jr. Presumably if we are willing to go up to 9 in the draft to make sure we can draft Downs or Styles. Why are we not talking more about Bain. Is it because we just assume the Cowboys aren't interested. If they aren't interested is it just because of arm length.

I think Bain is a tremendous player. I'd love to have him in Dallas. I guess there could be some question about fit as an OLBer, but if Gary can do it I certainly think Bain can do it. And on top of that we will probably be in a sub package 50% of the time. I mean having Bain at end in a 4 man nickel seems beyond ideal. Plus I think with his power and temperament if you wanted to play him inside he would be a killer pass rusher there. Hell some of the crusty old football guys think he has to play 3 tech because of his arm length. Well I can't even imagine a guard trying to block this guy.

Anyway, it feels weird the way Bain just gets glossed over. Like Dallas won't pick him and it's already been decided. I just think that's a stupid decision if that's true. You're talking about a guy who has been a consensus top 5 talent in this draft for most of the college football season. One with production and everything else you could want. But we ignore him because of short arms or something.

For me, the arm length stuff and the car accident threw me off of paying attention to him. I think I’m also assuming (possibly wrongly) that Parker is wanting a captain-like player on his defense (styles-downs)

If we took Bain at 12 I would be very happy. As far as trading up a few spots for him, I’m not knowledgeable enough to know the parameters of such a trade.
 
It's because he might fall to 12

And this is why I think we should be talking about him more. I actually could see him falling to 12. I don't think it's likely. But probably about as likely as Downs possibly falling to 12. I really don't think the other 4 defenders of the big 6 have much of a chance at all of falling to 12. If Bain is there at 12, it should be a no brainer, run to the podium for Dallas, (Blinking light as they call it) but for some reason it doesn't feel like that. And maybe it's just because everyone has him being gone by 12 and they don't think Dallas would move up for him.
 
I think I’m also assuming (possibly wrongly) that Parker is wanting a captain-like player on his defense (styles-downs)

I think he is looking for that. I think Bain absolutely can be a leader and a tone setter for the D-line. But no he isn't going to be a green dot guy. That's never a D-lineman. The green dot, brilliant mind is almost always a LBer. Probably because there role on defense and their view of plays. I mean the safety can see everything developing in front of them. They can help adjust everyone on defense because of their perspective and placement on the field. Same thing with a LBer who is basically right in the middle of everything. It's why LBer is almost always the green dot guy.

If it's not Styles, it's not going to be a top 20 pick.
 
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So I feel like we talk more about Styles, Downs and even Faulk.

But we never really talk about Bain Jr. Presumably if we are willing to go up to 9 in the draft to make sure we can draft Downs or Styles. Why are we not talking more about Bain. Is it because we just assume the Cowboys aren't interested. If they aren't interested is it just because of arm length.

I think Bain is a tremendous player. I'd love to have him in Dallas. I guess there could be some question about fit as an OLBer, but if Gary can do it I certainly think Bain can do it. And on top of that we will probably be in a sub package 50% of the time. I mean having Bain at end in a 4 man nickel seems beyond ideal. Plus I think with his power and temperament if you wanted to play him inside he would be a killer pass rusher there. Hell some of the crusty old football guys think he has to play 3 tech because of his arm length. Well I can't even imagine a guard trying to block this guy.

Anyway, it feels weird the way Bain just gets glossed over. Like Dallas won't pick him and it's already been decided. I just think that's a stupid decision if that's true. You're talking about a guy who has been a consensus top 5 talent in this draft for most of the college football season. One with production and everything else you could want. But we ignore him because of short arms or something.

I just don't see the same category of player with Bain as I do with Bailey/Styles/Downs.
 
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