Grade Our Draft Picks

[Bmurph]

NFLDraftScout.com
No pun!

Finding the Fits: Cowboys hope to tap potential of long-armed Sooners DE
By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

May 9, 2016 9:07 am ET
(This is part of a series -- Finding the Fits -- in which NFLDraftScout.com will review the more intriguing picks made during the 2016 NFL Draft. The goal is to identify one relatively unheralded player per team who appears to be a good schematic fit and, therefore, more likely to be a surprise contributor early in his pro career.)

Dallas' best fit: DE Charles Tapper, Oklahoma, No. 101 overall

With Greg Hardy no longer wanted and young edge rushers Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory facing four game suspensions to start the season, the worst secret in the NFL prior to the 2016 draft was that the Dallas Cowboys needed help at defensive end.

As such, Ohio State's Joey Bosa was a frequently-projected pick for Dallas with the No. 4 overall pick. When the San Diego Chargers pulled the year's first big surprise by nabbing him one pick earlier, however, the Cowboys opted to fill other positions of concern first, waiting until their fourth selection of the draft to address arguably the biggest hole on the roster with Tapper.

The 6-foot-3, 271 pound Tapper earned All-Big 12 accolades from conference coaches each of the past three years with First Team honors coming after the 2013 and 2015 seasons. He started 38 of 39 games during that time, recording a total of 136 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks, setting career-highs in each category (50-10-7) as a senior.

While some have criticized Tapper's production at Oklahoma, it is important to note how the Sooners used him. Oklahoma frequently asked Tapper to take on two blockers to create playmaking opportunities for the Sooners' speedy linebackers rather than allow him to truly pin back his ears and attack. Assuming veteran defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli sticks with the relatively traditional 4-3 alignment he has used in the past, Tapper will likely be given this freedom off the edge, where his exceptionally long arms (34 3/8 inches) and explosive speed (4.56 in the 40-yard dash) could help him prove more of a disruptive presence in the NFL than he was ever was in college.

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett agrees.

"We do think that the way we play will feature some of the physical traits that he has," Garrett said shortly after his club drafted Tapper. "He plays the right way."


























Charles Tapper could wind up being a fourth-round steal for the Cowboys. (USATSI)
























Other thoughts on the Cowboys' 2016 draft class:

Critics will argue that running backs are the easiest position to find and thus spending a first-round draft pick on one -- especially as high as No. 4 overall -- is almost by definition a reach. Dallas may have paid a premium price for Ezekiel Elliott, but make no mistake: he is an elite talent, with the blend of vision, power, speed, hands and competitiveness as a blocker to be a three-down difference-maker immediately for the Cowboys. Drafted into an optimum situation with Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and a terrific offensive line aiding his transition into the NFL, Elliott is the odds-on-favorite at this early point to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year this season.

Perhaps in part because Elliott offers immediate impact potential for a team built to win now, the Cowboys' decision a round later to select injured linebacker Jaylon Smith was a surprising one. Like Elliott, Smith's talent is undeniable. Prior to tearing multiple knee ligaments in his knee on New Year's Day in a Fiesta Bowl loss to Elliott and the Buckeyes, Smith looked like a strong candidate to be the Cowboys' choice at No. 4 overall. Therefore, it is difficult to question the Cowboys for gambling on Smith 30 picks later. Last week Jerry Jones stated that the Cowboys will not place Smith on Injured Reserve this season, hoping instead that he will be ready in time for a potential playoff run.

With all due respect to Smith, it was a different post-draft declaration by Jones which created even more buzz, with the always opinionated Cowboys' owner expressing regret that he didn't push harder for a trade up to land former Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch. The Denver Broncos ultimately offered more, trading up with the Seattle Seahawks to land the 6-foot-7, 240 pound Lynch at No. 26 overall.

The Cowboys also reportedly attempted to trade up early on Day 3 for Connor Cook, whom the Oakland Raiders moved up to land with the 100th overall selection. The quarterback the Cowboys did land -- former Mississippi State dual-threat weapon Dak Prescott -- has the arm and athleticism to develop into a quality apprentice for Romo. The Cowboys did not coach Prescott at the Senior Bowl. Jason Garrett and the Cowboys staff worked with the North squad, while Prescott played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the South. While most teams sent their scouts and coaches home following the week of practices, the Cowboys were on hand to see Prescott win MVP honors in the prominent all-star game itself. Prescott was named MVP of his final game with the Bulldogs as well (Belk Bowl). Lynch and Cook, on the other hand, struggled in bowl game losses to cap their college careers.

Dallas' 2016 draft class:

• 1st Round, No. 4 overall: RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
• 2nd Round, No. 34 overall: LB Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
• 3rd Round, No. 67 overall: DT Maliek Collins, Nebraska
• 4th Round, No. 101 overall: DE Charles Tapper, Oklahoma
• 4th Round, No. 135 overall: QB Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
• 6th Round, No. 189 overall: CB Anthony Brown, Purdue
• 6th Round, No. 212 overall: S Kavon Frazier, Central Michigan
• 6th Round, No. 216 overall: RB Darius Jackson, Eastern Michigan
• 6th Round, No. 217 overall: TE Rico Gathers, Baylor

Key Undrafted Free Agents Signed:

• C Jake Brendel, UCLA
• WR Chris Brown, Notre Dame

 

[jarntt]

Sounds like a good kid. Definitely not an entitled guy who expects things to be handed to him

Meet The Cowboys’ Running Back Draft Pick Not Named Ezekiel Elliott

 

[Manster7588]

Sounds like a good kid. Definitely not an entitled guy who expects things to be handed to him

Meet The Cowboys’ Running Back Draft Pick Not Named Ezekiel Elliott

Never heard of the kid until he was drafted. Reading about him leads me to believe he can be a good NFL RB, will have to wait and see.
Does anyone else here think this draft says the team feels they got lucky with McFadden's production, and don't expect it to happen twice?

 

[jarntt]

Never heard of the kid until he was drafted. Reading about him leads me to believe he can be a good NFL RB, will have to wait and see.
Does anyone else here think this draft says the team feels they got lucky with McFadden's production, and don't expect it to happen twice?

Me neither, but it isn't often I know much about the late round guys.

Who knows why they went two RBs, but my guess is that it is more proof they are going with the BPA than having something to do with McFadden. If we were going need we would have gone CB or Pass rusher at #4 I think. Even if they feel McFadden was a fluke we still have Morris. Ideally this kid goes on the PS unless we unload DMC or Morris. Even if Dunbar is IR'd, with EE, DMC and Morris how many touches can this kid get? Could be a great STs player and make the roster that way.

 

[DALLAScornhusker]

Never heard of the kid until he was drafted. Reading about him leads me to believe he can be a good NFL RB, will have to wait and see.
Does anyone else here think this draft says the team feels they got lucky with McFadden's production, and don't expect it to happen twice?

I think all it says is DMC is not here beyond 2016. This kid is the typical late round guy you draft - size/speed combo that can play SP and develop over time. Who knows if he can play well enough to crack the 53 this year. As far as DMC goes, I think he and not Elliott should be the passing down RB until/if Dunbar returns. Its one of those good problems to have when you have options on who fits where.

 

[UK Cowboy]

NFLDraftScout.com
No pun!

Finding the Fits: Cowboys hope to tap potential of long-armed Sooners DE
By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

May 9, 2016 9:07 am ET
(This is part of a series -- Finding the Fits -- in which NFLDraftScout.com will review the more intriguing picks made during the 2016 NFL Draft. The goal is to identify one relatively unheralded player per team who appears to be a good schematic fit and, therefore, more likely to be a surprise contributor early in his pro career.)

Dallas' best fit: DE Charles Tapper, Oklahoma, No. 101 overall

With Greg Hardy no longer wanted and young edge rushers Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory facing four game suspensions to start the season, the worst secret in the NFL prior to the 2016 draft was that the Dallas Cowboys needed help at defensive end.

As such, Ohio State's Joey Bosa was a frequently-projected pick for Dallas with the No. 4 overall pick. When the San Diego Chargers pulled the year's first big surprise by nabbing him one pick earlier, however, the Cowboys opted to fill other positions of concern first, waiting until their fourth selection of the draft to address arguably the biggest hole on the roster with Tapper.

The 6-foot-3, 271 pound Tapper earned All-Big 12 accolades from conference coaches each of the past three years with First Team honors coming after the 2013 and 2015 seasons. He started 38 of 39 games during that time, recording a total of 136 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks, setting career-highs in each category (50-10-7) as a senior.

While some have criticized Tapper's production at Oklahoma, it is important to note how the Sooners used him. Oklahoma frequently asked Tapper to take on two blockers to create playmaking opportunities for the Sooners' speedy linebackers rather than allow him to truly pin back his ears and attack. Assuming veteran defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli sticks with the relatively traditional 4-3 alignment he has used in the past, Tapper will likely be given this freedom off the edge, where his exceptionally long arms (34 3/8 inches) and explosive speed (4.56 in the 40-yard dash) could help him prove more of a disruptive presence in the NFL than he was ever was in college.

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett agrees.

"We do think that the way we play will feature some of the physical traits that he has," Garrett said shortly after his club drafted Tapper. "He plays the right way."

























View attachment 115959
Charles Tapper could wind up being a fourth-round steal for the Cowboys. (USATSI)
























Other thoughts on the Cowboys' 2016 draft class:

Critics will argue that running backs are the easiest position to find and thus spending a first-round draft pick on one -- especially as high as No. 4 overall -- is almost by definition a reach. Dallas may have paid a premium price for Ezekiel Elliott, but make no mistake: he is an elite talent, with the blend of vision, power, speed, hands and competitiveness as a blocker to be a three-down difference-maker immediately for the Cowboys. Drafted into an optimum situation with Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and a terrific offensive line aiding his transition into the NFL, Elliott is the odds-on-favorite at this early point to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year this season.

Perhaps in part because Elliott offers immediate impact potential for a team built to win now, the Cowboys' decision a round later to select injured linebacker Jaylon Smith was a surprising one. Like Elliott, Smith's talent is undeniable. Prior to tearing multiple knee ligaments in his knee on New Year's Day in a Fiesta Bowl loss to Elliott and the Buckeyes, Smith looked like a strong candidate to be the Cowboys' choice at No. 4 overall. Therefore, it is difficult to question the Cowboys for gambling on Smith 30 picks later. Last week Jerry Jones stated that the Cowboys will not place Smith on Injured Reserve this season, hoping instead that he will be ready in time for a potential playoff run.

With all due respect to Smith, it was a different post-draft declaration by Jones which created even more buzz, with the always opinionated Cowboys' owner expressing regret that he didn't push harder for a trade up to land former Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch. The Denver Broncos ultimately offered more, trading up with the Seattle Seahawks to land the 6-foot-7, 240 pound Lynch at No. 26 overall.

The Cowboys also reportedly attempted to trade up early on Day 3 for Connor Cook, whom the Oakland Raiders moved up to land with the 100th overall selection. The quarterback the Cowboys did land -- former Mississippi State dual-threat weapon Dak Prescott -- has the arm and athleticism to develop into a quality apprentice for Romo. The Cowboys did not coach Prescott at the Senior Bowl. Jason Garrett and the Cowboys staff worked with the North squad, while Prescott played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the South. While most teams sent their scouts and coaches home following the week of practices, the Cowboys were on hand to see Prescott win MVP honors in the prominent all-star game itself. Prescott was named MVP of his final game with the Bulldogs as well (Belk Bowl). Lynch and Cook, on the other hand, struggled in bowl game losses to cap their college careers.

Dallas' 2016 draft class:

• 1st Round, No. 4 overall: RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
• 2nd Round, No. 34 overall: LB Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
• 3rd Round, No. 67 overall: DT Maliek Collins, Nebraska
• 4th Round, No. 101 overall: DE Charles Tapper, Oklahoma
• 4th Round, No. 135 overall: QB Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
• 6th Round, No. 189 overall: CB Anthony Brown, Purdue
• 6th Round, No. 212 overall: S Kavon Frazier, Central Michigan
• 6th Round, No. 216 overall: RB Darius Jackson, Eastern Michigan
• 6th Round, No. 217 overall: TE Rico Gathers, Baylor

Key Undrafted Free Agents Signed:

• C Jake Brendel, UCLA
• WR Chris Brown, Notre Dame

What's really exciting about this kid, is that 4.5 speed and reading that OU used him mainly as a 5T trying to tie up 2 blockers. With good strength, great speed and long arms, I think this kid might be able to go get the QB in the Cowboys scheme

 

[Bmurph]

What's really exciting about this kid, is that 4.5 speed and reading that OU used him mainly as a 5T trying to tie up 2 blockers. With good strength, great speed and long arms, I think this kid might be able to go get the QB in the Cowboys scheme

We sure hope so , we need a pass rush in a bad way

 

[tomodach10]

Tapper is a great pick up.

 

[jarntt]

What's really exciting about this kid, is that 4.5 speed and reading that OU used him mainly as a 5T trying to tie up 2 blockers. With good strength, great speed and long arms, I think this kid might be able to go get the QB in the Cowboys scheme

I watched a couple of those youtube clips where they show all the plays of a guy and it doesn't look like he plays like a guy with 4.5 speed. Of course straight line speed is not very important for a DL if it takes him a while to get going, but I expected him to look quicker and faster. Also doesn't seem to have much in the way of pass rush moves, but I'm thinking we can teach him a few tricks at the next level and if we get him wide maybe he can just use the edge rush a bunch. I think he will be good for us this year, but I don't expect too much from him as a pass rusher year one. Can't wait to hear the reports on him and Collins from practice and also see them in the preseason to see if they can get after the QB and/or stop the run. Would love it if these young kids can help the pass rush right off the bat while the dopes are out

 

[es4m11]

I watched a couple of those youtube clips where they show all the plays of a guy and it doesn't look like he plays like a guy with 4.5 speed. Of course straight line speed is not very important for a DL if it takes him a while to get going, but I expected him to look quicker and faster. Also doesn't seem to have much in the way of pass rush moves, but I'm thinking we can teach him a few tricks at the next level and if we get him wide maybe he can just use the edge rush a bunch. I think he will be good for us this year, but I don't expect too much from him as a pass rusher year one. Can't wait to hear the reports on him and Collins from practice and also see them in the preseason to see if they can get after the QB and/or stop the run. Would love it if these young kids can help the pass rush right off the bat while the dopes are out

I know what you mean. Tapper doesn't look very explosive in the clips that I have watched. But he's also playing out of a 4 point stance a good majority of the time, at least in video I have seen, and the article you posted did mention the coaching staff often asked him to occupy two offensive lineman. Maybe out of a 3 point stance he will be able to generate more explosion - you don't run a 4.5x at that size unless you get out of the gate quickly, so I'm hopeful.

One thing is for sure, in all the video I watched of him, Tapper hits hard! People go backwards when he makes solid contact. Seems to have a lot of power.

Collins is intriguing. I watched some video on him too, and I really like how he hustles.

I really like this draft after giving it some time to marinate in my brain.

 

[DALLAScornhusker]

This article explains why Collins was the guy in the 3rd. Interesting tidbits in there.

Rod Marinelli likes what DT Maliek Collins brings to the table

 

[ArlingtonCowboys100]

Lack of team speed in general has killed this team. The only picks I don't really like we're Frazier and Smith. Now that would change if smith recovers. Smith was a beast at ND. I do really like jackson, and let's face it McFadden is getting old and Dunbar is an injury waiting to happen. Great pickup. The cb from Baylor brings needed speed and if he learns how to cover the. He is a steal. If tapper learns more pass rushing moves he is going to be a problem for offenses. Tapper is strong as hell and needs to be "unleashed". The more I study these players the more I like this draft

 

[ArlingtonCowboys100]

This article explains why Collins was the guy in the 3rd. Interesting tidbits in there.

Rod Marinelli likes what DT Maliek Collins brings to the table

Collins is a load once he gets free. It about time this team drafted capable defensive lineman. A starting lineup of tapper,Collins,thornton, and Crawford would be my preference for week one.

 

[DALLAScornhusker]

I'm optimistic as anyone, but I don't see two rooks on the line week 1, no matter how thin we may be up front. I see the two Crawfords and Thornton as sure bets for week one duty. I'm sure it will be all hands on deck the first four weeks, so there will be quite a rotation. But I think those 3 will dominate snaps week 1.

 

[Manster7588]

I'm optimistic as anyone, but I don't see two rooks on the line week 1, no matter how thin we may be up front. I see the two Crawfords and Thornton as sure bets for week one duty. I'm sure it will be all hands on deck the first four weeks, so there will be quite a rotation. But I think those 3 will dominate snaps week 1.

This does sound like the safe bet.

 

[UK Cowboy]

Lack of team speed in general has killed this team. The only picks I don't really like we're Frazier and Smith. Now that would change if smith recovers. Smith was a beast at ND. I do really like jackson, and let's face it McFadden is getting old and Dunbar is an injury waiting to happen. Great pickup. The cb from Baylor brings needed speed and if he learns how to cover the. He is a steal. If tapper learns more pass rushing moves he is going to be a problem for offenses. Tapper is strong as hell and needs to be "unleashed". The more I study these players the more I like this draft

Haha, I think your take on Smith sounds like an ESPN analyst take...."I hate the pick.....unless he becomes a star, in which case, I told ya that was a great pick!"

 

[jarntt]

Haha, I think your take on Smith sounds like an ESPN analyst take...."I hate the pick.....unless he becomes a star, in which case, I told ya that was a great pick!"

What is worse is when you have fans that you can tell want to gloat about a player sucking because they predicted it. Like they are rooting against our own guys to be right. I would love nothing more than to be wrong about some of the guys I've said need to be cut, replaced or at least pushed with a little competition - Carr, Moore, Church, Wilcox, etc.

 

[Earl Stevens]

Tapper is a great pick up.

The key as always for me, finding value after Round 2 in the draft. I've been saying it every ear. I hope this Tapper kid is good because we have had lots of trouble in the mid to late rounds for over a decade. I was looking at the Seahawks SB starting defense and this jumped out at me:

Richard Sherman: 5th round pick
Kam Chancellor: 5th round pick
Byron Maxwell: 6th round pick
K.J. Wright: 4th round pick
Walter Thurmond: 4th round pick
Bobby Wagner: 2nd round pick
Earl Thomas: 1st round pick

I didn't list free agent signings, just the home grown players of their starting line up. So basically, of these home grown players, only one was a first round pick, and 5 of them were picked in the 4th round or later. If that wasn't enough, Malcolm Smith was SB MVP and he was not a starter. He was a 7th round pick.

This is how you build championship defenses. This explains why the Cowboys haven't been to an NFC Championship game in over 20 years and why this team always has a tough time staying consistent and relying too much on Romo. They consistently flop in the draft after Round 2. And if you don't believe me, here's proof:

2009: Oh wait, I shouldn't even have to list this because we all know how bad this draft was
2010: Akwasi Owusa Ansah, Sam Young, Jamar Wall, Sean Lissimore
2011: DeMarco Murray, David Arkin, Josh Thomas, Dwayne Harris, Shaun Capas, Bill Nagy
2012: Tyrone Crawford, Kyle Wilber, Matt Johnson, Danny Coale, James Hanna, Caleb McSurdy
2013: Terrance Williams, JJ Wilcox, B.W. Webb, Joseph Randle, DeVonte Holloman
2014: Anthony Hitchens, Devin Street, Ben Gardner, Will Smith, Ahmad Dixon, Ken Bishop, Terrance Mitchell

I could go back even further but let me just tell some stats that are pretty indicative of our lack of playoff success: In the last 10 years, the Cowboys have only had two players drafted after Round 2 that made a Pro Bowl, and that's Nick Folk and DeMarco Murray. Murray is also the only All Pro player. Scandrick is the best defensive player we've picked late in the draft since Jay Ratliff way back when Parcells was making selections. Sean Lee is the only perennial All Pro caliber defensive player we've drafted in the past 10 years and he's injury prone. This is why we can't field a good defense. We have barely hit on anything.

We have been so bad at finding defensive gems(let alone good players) late in the draft that it's astonishing that so many Cowboy fans have so much faith in this team's drafting ability just because we've hit on some first and second rounders in the past five years. The drafts have been better in recent years but still not great and nowhere near championship material. You see the Seahawks as an example. The proof is in the pudding. You find gems late in the draft, you can put out championship defenses. So Tapper and Collins better be fucking good because we need to start hitting on these late picks if we are going to break the curse that is Jerry Jones.

I apologize for the long post, but I feel like many needed to read this. This doesn't mean I won't see the glass half full. This doesn't mean I'm giving up on the Cowboys or declaring our current draft or even last year's draft class a failure. Just feel it needs to be known that the Cowboys have not been as good at drafting as we think they have been. They are getting too much of a pass for failing on so many picks. Because of our offensive line picks, Dez, Murray, and Lee, we have been under the illusion that the Cowboys have been drafting better. But in reality, our drafts have still been bad. It's easy to see why the Seahawks won a SB and have been a frontrunner in the NFC for the past four years when they hit on so many picks. I mean Russell Wilson was a 3rd rounder too. But it's understandable that we think they have been better at drafting considering the improvement we saw after 09. 09 was one of the worst drafts in NFL history let alone Cowboy history, so us finding some gems in the drafts that followed it were a welcome sight.

 

[jarntt]

I don't really disagree with what you say, but it is a little bit of cherry picking. You also need to gives us credit for some of the good picks. Just because they are 1st and 2nd rounders doesn't mean they are slam dunks and we don't get credit for them. Since you used Seattle's late picks, here are Seattle's 1st and 2nd rounders over the past 5 drafts:
2011 - 1st round James Carpenter
2012 - 1 Bruce irvin; 2 Bobby Wagner
2013 - 2 Christine Michael
2014 - 2 Paul Richardson; 2 Justin Britt
2015 - 2 Frank Clark

Yeah, they made up for it late, but other than 2012 this is really bad

 

[Earl Stevens]

I don't really disagree with what you say, but it is a little bit of cherry picking. You also need to gives us credit for some of the good picks. Just because they are 1st and 2nd rounders doesn't mean they are slam dunks and we don't get credit for them. Since you used Seattle's late picks, here are Seattle's 1st and 2nd rounders over the past 5 drafts:
2011 - 1st round James Carpenter
2012 - 1 Bruce irvin; 2 Bobby Wagner
2013 - 2 Christine Michael
2014 - 2 Paul Richardson; 2 Justin Britt
2015 - 2 Frank Clark

Yeah, they made up for it late, but other than 2012 this is really bad

Between 2009 and 2012, the Seahawks drafted 12 bonafide starters that included all pro caliber players, and a SB MVP. Be my guest in finding 12 good Cowboy starters the Cowboys have drafted since Bill Parcells left. Seattle should definitely get a pass for all those bad picks because they've won a SB with two appearances, four consecutive playoff berths, and have won 7 playoff games since 2012. We have one playoff win and no consecutive playoff appearances in the same span so why should I give the Cowboys any credit? The Cowboys have hit on some picks, but they wont truly deserve any credit until they can put out a SB product.