Draft 2018

[UK Cowboy]

A big pass catching TE....that sure seemed to be Gathers last preseason, the real problem is picking up what the defense is doing. I understood last year he'd leave the huddle knowing his guy to block, then the defense shifts and he hadn't a clue. That's a huge problem and makes him a liability in the NFL if not corrected. This should be one of the more interesting developments or lack of this offseason.

There are a few really strong TE prospects this year if you are willing to spend a 2nd or 3rd..

 

[fordman84]

Just saw DE Kentavius Street tore his ACL and will miss all of next season. I'd say that makes him ripe for our 2nd rounder, but probably more likely Jerry goes bargain shopping in the 4th if Street is still there.

 

[DALLAScornhusker]

There are a few really strong TE prospects this year if you are willing to spend a 2nd or 3rd..

If we are willing to wait until later - day 3, I like Tyler Conklin from Central Michigan as more of a sleeper (not being talked about) that should outperform his draft slot. Solid blocker and makes some acrobatic plays downfield.

 

[UK Cowboy]

If we are willing to wait until later - day 3, I like Tyler Conklin from Central Michigan as more of a sleeper (not being talked about) that should outperform his draft slot. Solid blocker and makes some acrobatic plays downfield.

He has potential. The kid from Penn State looks like a star too, probably day two though

 

[Scapegoat]

If we are willing to wait until later - day 3, I like Tyler Conklin from Central Michigan as more of a sleeper (not being talked about) that should outperform his draft slot. Solid blocker and makes some acrobatic plays downfield.

Mark Andrews is a good receiving TE.

 

[DALLAScornhusker]

Mark Andrews is a good receiving TE.

I do too, but he's day 2.

 

[Scapegoat]

I do too, but he's day 2.

Defiantly day 2.

 

[Manster7588]

Unpopular I'm sure so go ahead and shoot me, but if Antonio Callaway is there in the 4th. I'm screaming for him to be a Cowboy.

 

[scotsman1948]

Unpopular I'm sure so go ahead and shoot me, but if Antonio Callaway is there in the 4th. I'm screaming for him to be a Cowboy.

good receiver but lousy off-field issues we have enough of that type

 

[Manster7588]

good receiver but lousy off-field issues we have enough of that type

True, but I see him as the piece that makes the rest of the O work. He's the speed with hands player this team needs. 10 picks 4 in the 4th I think he's worth the risk.

 

[Manster7588]

We can call him Jerry's gamble.

 

[UK Cowboy]

True, but I see him as the piece that makes the rest of the O work. He's the speed with hands player this team needs. 10 picks 4 in the 4th I think he's worth the risk.

I think there is a real chance at that, depending on how the Cowboys draft early. If they take Sutton, Kirk or Moore at 19, then obviously Dez is gone and they won't take another WR in the 4th. If they go defense and OL the first three rounds, I think Calloway with one of their 4th's would be a worthwhile risk

 

[DALLAScornhusker]

I don't value any of these WRs at #19. That being said, I'd accept a trade back or take our second and move up to get Anthony Miller or DJ Moore. Both of those guys offer WR flexibility along with traits to be return guys. Sutton projects as an outside WR only, and wouldn't make sense unless we dump Dez or Twill, I'd rather dump Twill. Kirk would need to fall to 50. Don't like his upside at either inside or outside in this offense. Rather take Calloway in the 4th or Richie James later.

 

[jarntt]

I don't value any of these WRs at #19. That being said, I'd accept a trade back or take our second and move up to get Anthony Miller or DJ Moore. Both of those guys offer WR flexibility along with traits to be return guys. Sutton projects as an outside WR only, and wouldn't make sense unless we dump Dez or Twill, I'd rather dump Twill. Kirk would need to fall to 50. Don't like his upside at either inside or outside in this offense. Rather take Calloway in the 4th or Richie James later.

I don't love Kirk, but at 50 I'd be fine with him. I think a lot of these WRs this year are a crapshoot and I don't think any one is much better than the others. But if the scouts love one of the guys I'm fine with that at 19 regardless of which guy it is. My worry is they decide ahead of time that they are going WR (like DE last year) and then there is a little run in the teens and they still go there at 19 and take the best WR on the board instead of the best player on the board.

 

[jarntt]

Cowboys 2018 pre-draft Visit Tracker: Official visits, private workouts, Dallas Day invites

 

[Eiknarflin]

Cowboys 2018 pre-draft Visit Tracker: Official visits, private workouts, Dallas Day invites

That's good news - it demonstrates, at least on paper, that they don't appear to be fixated on a specific position but are looking at guys all over the board.

I hope it plays out that way.

 

[jarntt]

The need for LBs. Crazy thing is that the below numbers with Lee in and out of the lineup were already a trend before last season so it isn't a statistical anomaly. You can make the case that even with Hitchens they needed another LB, so without him it's a gaping hole. I wonder how much it was that Navarro Bowman was looking for per year. Obviously we can't afford him right now but if Dez is cut Jerry likely will be looking at throwing some of that money around and Bowman (didn't we put in a claim for him when he was cut last year?) or a safety could be a possibility.

When Sean Lee was out the lineup

Lee missed two parts of the season, early in the year and then once again when Elliott and Smith were also out. The effect on the defense was nauseating. In the seven games where Lee was out of things, the defense allowed 27.5 points a game. In the nine games he played, just 15.4.

They game up 35 or more points on the season four times, three of them without Lee.

The early games were without Anthony Hitchens as well, but Hitchens was around for the debacle in the middle of the season. He won’t be around this year as he’s with Kansas City now, signing with the Chiefs as a free agent.

Dallas is counting on the improvement of third-year pro Jaylon Smith to offset the loss of Hitchens, but they only signed little-used Joe Thomas in the offseason at the position and have lost depth linebackers Justin Durant and Kyle Wilber as well.

Dallas is down from where they were at the position in 2017 and will have to use the draft to augment it in a major way.

 

[jarntt]

That's good news - it demonstrates, at least on paper, that they don't appear to be fixated on a specific position but are looking at guys all over the board.

I hope it plays out that way.

Me too. Only possible picks that I would be disappointed in within the first 3 rounds would be RB because Zeke is so good and so young and QB. We could use OL, WR, TE and all 3 levels of defense help. There really isn't a position that can't help this team that we would realistically find the BPA at in the first 3 rounds. I guess I'd even be fine with a backup QB with the caveat that the scouts think he is a possible future stud and not just a career clipboard holder and maybe same at RB if it were a scat back type could help this team. While Zeke's receiving and open field ability and blocking makes him a great 3rd down option he needs to come off the field a little bit and an explosive 3rd down back that could run routes and turn a 4 yard pass into an 20 yard gain on 3rd downs could add a nice wrinkle to this offense.

 

[jarntt]

WRs and TEs drafted since Witten was picked:

Year Round Pick Full name Position College Pro Bowls

2003 6 186 Zuriel Smith Hampton WR 0
2004 5 144 Sean Ryan Boston College TE 0
2004 7 216 Patrick Crayton NW Oklahoma WR 0
2006 2 53 Anthony Fasano Notre Dame TE 0
2006 4 125 Skyler Green LSU WR 0
2007 4 103 Isaiah Stanback Washington WR 0
2008 2 61 Martellus Bennett Texas A&M TE 0
2009 6 208 John Phillips Virginia TE 0
2009 7 229 Manuel Johnson Oklahoma WR 0
2010 1 24 Dez Bryant Oklahoma State WR 3
2011 6 176 Dwayne Harris East Carolina WR 0
2012 5 152 Danny Coale Virginia Tech WR 0
2012 6 286 James Hanna Oklahoma TE 0
2013 3 47 Gavin Escobar San Diego State TE 0
2013 3 74 Terrance Williams Baylor WR 0
2014 5 146 Devin Street Pittsburgh WR 0
2015 7 246 Geoff Swaim Texas TE 0
2016 6 217 Rico Gathers Baylor TE 0
2017 4 133 Ryan Switzer North Carolina WR 0
2017 7 239 Noah Brown Ohio State WR 0ton


Interesting that we have drafted at least one TE or WR every year other than 2005

 

[Manster7588]

WRs and TEs drafted since Witten was picked:

Year Round Pick Full name Position College Pro Bowls

2003 6 186 Zuriel Smith Hampton WR 0
2004 5 144 Sean Ryan Boston College TE 0
2004 7 216 Patrick Crayton NW Oklahoma WR 0
2006 2 53 Anthony Fasano Notre Dame TE 0
2006 4 125 Skyler Green LSU WR 0
2007 4 103 Isaiah Stanback Washington WR 0
2008 2 61 Martellus Bennett Texas A&M TE 0
2009 6 208 John Phillips Virginia TE 0
2009 7 229 Manuel Johnson Oklahoma WR 0
2010 1 24 Dez Bryant Oklahoma State WR 3
2011 6 176 Dwayne Harris East Carolina WR 0
2012 5 152 Danny Coale Virginia Tech WR 0
2012 6 286 James Hanna Oklahoma TE 0
2013 3 47 Gavin Escobar San Diego State TE 0
2013 3 74 Terrance Williams Baylor WR 0
2014 5 146 Devin Street Pittsburgh WR 0
2015 7 246 Geoff Swaim Texas TE 0
2016 6 217 Rico Gathers Baylor TE 0
2017 4 133 Ryan Switzer North Carolina WR 0
2017 7 239 Noah Brown Ohio State WR 0ton


Interesting that we have drafted at least one TE or WR every year other than 2005

Since Witten only THREE Probowls and they all belong to Dez. That embarrassing.