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Posted by nickeatman at 3/9/2011 1:03 PM CST on truebluefanclub.com
Let’s be honest, it’s dead around here. Not sure if there’s going to be an official lockout or not, but I can’t imagine it being much different than this week’s holding pattern.
So we’re going to try to have a little fun, if possible. Everyone loves lists, so with the draft coming up next month, I thought I’d try to come up with a series of lists that might help us pass the time. Feel free to include yours as well.
Today’s let’s start with the Cowboys’ Top 10 draft picks since 2000. Of course, you could go all the way back, but let’s keep it somewhat current.
Everyone could have their own criteria about what the term “best” means. Not exactly saying the best player, but the best draft pick. Obviously, where you take a player should be factored into the equation.
Let’s count it down:
10 – Orlando Scandrick (2008, 5th round, 143rd overall) – Has turned into a solid corner and possibly a future starter. Shows why the Cowboys decided to trade back into the fifth round that year to take Scandrick.
9 – Patrick Crayton (2004, 7th round, 216th overall) – Here was a project that worked. The Cowboys took a small-school quarterback in hopes he could stick as a receiver and he was better than that. Never the first option and rarely a starter, Crayton was always reliable and his versatility was valuable.
8 – Marion Barber (2005, 4th round, 109th overall) – Although he hasn’t, and probably won’t rush for 1,000 yards in a season, Barber was pretty good at his role – which was a backup and short-yardage back. He didn’t live up his contract in 2008, but he still exceeded expectations of an unknown fourth-round pick.
7 – Doug Free, (2007, 4th round, 122nd overall) – Sticking with the fourth round and this is more of a projection. But it appears Free will be the left tackle for a few years to come. If that happens, then he’ll likely be much higher the next time we do this list.
6 – Bradie James, (2003, 4th round, 103rd overall) – Another fourth-round pick who has been solid in the middle of the Cowboys’ defense. No defensive player has ever led the team in tackle for more than three straight years until James, who now has five-straight team-leading seasons.
5 – Dez Bryant (2010, 1st round, 24th overall) – Again, this might be a tad high for a guy who has played 12 games. And still, he’s a first-round pick who didn’t sneak up on anyone. But let’s remember this isn’t the top players, but the top pick. If Bryant turns out to be everything he appears to be right now, then having the guts to trade up and take a guy others passed on means it will turn into a great pick.
4 – Andre Gurode (2002, 2nd round, 37th overall) – While it didn’t work exactly as planned, the end result is what the Cowboys hoped as Gurode has now made five straight Pro Bowls and has been a mainstay in the middle.
3 – DeMarcus Ware (2005, 1st round, 11th overall) – Yeah, this might be a little high for a first-round pick, but let’s not forget who was on the board as well. The Cowboys had to pick between Ware and Shawne Merriman and it’s clear that they got the best of the two. Ware is one of the NFL’s best overall players so that will always warrant a high grade on this list.
2 – Jay Ratliff (2005, 7th round, 224th overall) – Same draft as Ware, Spears, Canty and Barber and who knew this guy would be a better pure draft pick than all of them. A three-time Pro Bowler, Ratliff has shown he can play both end and nose tackle. He’s not only a great player, but has developed himself as one of the vocal leaders on the entire team.
1 – Jason Witten (2003, 3rd round, 69th overall) – If the Cowboys would’ve known Witten would be a six-time Pro Bowler and have nearly all Cowboys and NFL records in terms of TEs, they wouldn’t have passed on him in the second round, when they nearly grabbed him. Luck was on their side by keeping Witten on the board until the third round. From player to leader to his presence in the community, it’s hard to find many better than Witten. Yet back in 2003 there were 68 players ahead of him.
Those are my picks. What do you think? And yes, with a Top 10 best list, there will be a Top 10 worst picks to follow this week.
Let’s be honest, it’s dead around here. Not sure if there’s going to be an official lockout or not, but I can’t imagine it being much different than this week’s holding pattern.
So we’re going to try to have a little fun, if possible. Everyone loves lists, so with the draft coming up next month, I thought I’d try to come up with a series of lists that might help us pass the time. Feel free to include yours as well.
Today’s let’s start with the Cowboys’ Top 10 draft picks since 2000. Of course, you could go all the way back, but let’s keep it somewhat current.
Everyone could have their own criteria about what the term “best” means. Not exactly saying the best player, but the best draft pick. Obviously, where you take a player should be factored into the equation.
Let’s count it down:
10 – Orlando Scandrick (2008, 5th round, 143rd overall) – Has turned into a solid corner and possibly a future starter. Shows why the Cowboys decided to trade back into the fifth round that year to take Scandrick.
9 – Patrick Crayton (2004, 7th round, 216th overall) – Here was a project that worked. The Cowboys took a small-school quarterback in hopes he could stick as a receiver and he was better than that. Never the first option and rarely a starter, Crayton was always reliable and his versatility was valuable.
8 – Marion Barber (2005, 4th round, 109th overall) – Although he hasn’t, and probably won’t rush for 1,000 yards in a season, Barber was pretty good at his role – which was a backup and short-yardage back. He didn’t live up his contract in 2008, but he still exceeded expectations of an unknown fourth-round pick.
7 – Doug Free, (2007, 4th round, 122nd overall) – Sticking with the fourth round and this is more of a projection. But it appears Free will be the left tackle for a few years to come. If that happens, then he’ll likely be much higher the next time we do this list.
6 – Bradie James, (2003, 4th round, 103rd overall) – Another fourth-round pick who has been solid in the middle of the Cowboys’ defense. No defensive player has ever led the team in tackle for more than three straight years until James, who now has five-straight team-leading seasons.
5 – Dez Bryant (2010, 1st round, 24th overall) – Again, this might be a tad high for a guy who has played 12 games. And still, he’s a first-round pick who didn’t sneak up on anyone. But let’s remember this isn’t the top players, but the top pick. If Bryant turns out to be everything he appears to be right now, then having the guts to trade up and take a guy others passed on means it will turn into a great pick.
4 – Andre Gurode (2002, 2nd round, 37th overall) – While it didn’t work exactly as planned, the end result is what the Cowboys hoped as Gurode has now made five straight Pro Bowls and has been a mainstay in the middle.
3 – DeMarcus Ware (2005, 1st round, 11th overall) – Yeah, this might be a little high for a first-round pick, but let’s not forget who was on the board as well. The Cowboys had to pick between Ware and Shawne Merriman and it’s clear that they got the best of the two. Ware is one of the NFL’s best overall players so that will always warrant a high grade on this list.
2 – Jay Ratliff (2005, 7th round, 224th overall) – Same draft as Ware, Spears, Canty and Barber and who knew this guy would be a better pure draft pick than all of them. A three-time Pro Bowler, Ratliff has shown he can play both end and nose tackle. He’s not only a great player, but has developed himself as one of the vocal leaders on the entire team.
1 – Jason Witten (2003, 3rd round, 69th overall) – If the Cowboys would’ve known Witten would be a six-time Pro Bowler and have nearly all Cowboys and NFL records in terms of TEs, they wouldn’t have passed on him in the second round, when they nearly grabbed him. Luck was on their side by keeping Witten on the board until the third round. From player to leader to his presence in the community, it’s hard to find many better than Witten. Yet back in 2003 there were 68 players ahead of him.
Those are my picks. What do you think? And yes, with a Top 10 best list, there will be a Top 10 worst picks to follow this week.
