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Cowboys Mailbag: What about Sam Young?
It seems like right tackle is a popular position for the Cowboys in mock drafts, but what about Sam Young?
(Editor's Note: Each day we will take the 2 best questions for our staff writers to answer from the Mailbag. )
DOUG BLAIR - FAIRFIELD, ME: It seems like right tackle is a popular position for the Cowboys in mock drafts, but what about Sam Young? I thought they Cowboys were high on him. Did something change? What is his future here?
Nick: I think the Cowboys are as high on Sam Young, as any team should be about a sixth-round pick who never played a down at his position last year. Think about it from the other side. What if Jerry Jones comes out and says "No, we didn't really address the right tackle spot this year because we've got Sam Young - you know the guy who hasn't played at all for us?" You can't do that. There are only a handful of players (if that) that should be making a decision for you on draft day. Like Tony Romo - you don't draft a QB in the first round because of him. Maybe Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are preventing from taking a top WR. But Sam Young shouldn't be stopping you from anything. If Young pans out, that's great. But you can't count on it heading into a draft.
Josh: It's just hard to count on a sixth-round pick who hasn't played to be a big part of your future. If the Cowboys draft a tackle early, they could make Young their swing man, which would be a good role for him until the opportunity arises for him to prove himself. If he's got it, he could have the same career path as Doug Free.
AARON RAMEY - LADYSMITH, VA: Is this a year for Jerry Jones to make a splash in free agency, or should we expect the same old thing?
Nick: No, I feel like Jerry will at least do something in free agency. It might not be a huge splash, but with so many free-agents out there, coupled with a relatively weak draft class of safeties, the Cowboys must do something to get a safety. My gut tells me they will probably re-sign Gerald Sensabaugh because he gives them flexibility to play either free or strong safety. So then the Cowboys go out in free agency and get the best player they can, for the right place. If he's a strong safety, then Sensabaugh plays free, and if the new guy is better-suited at free safety, then Sensabaugh goes back to strong. But other than the safety spot, I'm not sure you'll see a huge splash. Remember, they have to re-sign Doug Free and probably Stephen Bowen as well.
Josh: I don't think there will be anything too big, because the Cowboys' first priorities are going to be to re-sign their own guys. Doug Free's new contract is going to be pricy, and Stephen Bowen will probably cost more than they anticipated. If they can get all that done, they might - just might - have enough money left over to re-sign Kyle Kosier and a safety. And that safety might be Gerald Sensabaugh. When you look at the projected salary cap figures, it's hard to imagine them bringing in a big name.
It seems like right tackle is a popular position for the Cowboys in mock drafts, but what about Sam Young?
(Editor's Note: Each day we will take the 2 best questions for our staff writers to answer from the Mailbag. )
DOUG BLAIR - FAIRFIELD, ME: It seems like right tackle is a popular position for the Cowboys in mock drafts, but what about Sam Young? I thought they Cowboys were high on him. Did something change? What is his future here?
Nick: I think the Cowboys are as high on Sam Young, as any team should be about a sixth-round pick who never played a down at his position last year. Think about it from the other side. What if Jerry Jones comes out and says "No, we didn't really address the right tackle spot this year because we've got Sam Young - you know the guy who hasn't played at all for us?" You can't do that. There are only a handful of players (if that) that should be making a decision for you on draft day. Like Tony Romo - you don't draft a QB in the first round because of him. Maybe Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are preventing from taking a top WR. But Sam Young shouldn't be stopping you from anything. If Young pans out, that's great. But you can't count on it heading into a draft.
Josh: It's just hard to count on a sixth-round pick who hasn't played to be a big part of your future. If the Cowboys draft a tackle early, they could make Young their swing man, which would be a good role for him until the opportunity arises for him to prove himself. If he's got it, he could have the same career path as Doug Free.
AARON RAMEY - LADYSMITH, VA: Is this a year for Jerry Jones to make a splash in free agency, or should we expect the same old thing?
Nick: No, I feel like Jerry will at least do something in free agency. It might not be a huge splash, but with so many free-agents out there, coupled with a relatively weak draft class of safeties, the Cowboys must do something to get a safety. My gut tells me they will probably re-sign Gerald Sensabaugh because he gives them flexibility to play either free or strong safety. So then the Cowboys go out in free agency and get the best player they can, for the right place. If he's a strong safety, then Sensabaugh plays free, and if the new guy is better-suited at free safety, then Sensabaugh goes back to strong. But other than the safety spot, I'm not sure you'll see a huge splash. Remember, they have to re-sign Doug Free and probably Stephen Bowen as well.
Josh: I don't think there will be anything too big, because the Cowboys' first priorities are going to be to re-sign their own guys. Doug Free's new contract is going to be pricy, and Stephen Bowen will probably cost more than they anticipated. If they can get all that done, they might - just might - have enough money left over to re-sign Kyle Kosier and a safety. And that safety might be Gerald Sensabaugh. When you look at the projected salary cap figures, it's hard to imagine them bringing in a big name.
