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Posted by nickeatman at 3/5/2012
This isn’t normally the place on the website to answer emails – we’ve got the mailbag section and of course, the radio shows of Cowboys Break and Talkin’ Cowboys.
But for some reason, I’ve received more emails on this topic alone than any other non-Anthony Spencer issue this offseason.
While the Cowboys are picking 14th in next month’s NFL Draft, they will behind directly behind the Cardinals, who have the No. 13 pick.
Now, many of the Cowboys fans will say the reason this team didn’t make the playoffs was because of a couple of December losses, beginning with that wild ending in Arizona. And both teams finished with an 8-8 record.
So that begs the question: Since the Cardinals beat the Cowboys on Dec. 4, why are they ahead of them in the draft order?
Good, legitimate question. But the NFL’s draft order is unlike the tiebreaker rules for the playoffs. It doesn’t go by head-to-head, but rather strength of schedule. The Cardinals had the lowest SOS at .469 (opponents winning percentage), while the Cowboys were right behind them at .473. Sounds like Arizona does get something out of playing the Rams twice a year.
If you look closer at the draft order, you’ll see seven teams with 8-8 records, and the Cardinals and Cowboys are first and second, respectively. Hey, it could be much worse. Check out the Bears – also at 8-8 and owning the 19th pick in the draft. That’s a completely different mindset entering the draft, from 13 to 19.
Since there are many teams in the league with the same record, the NFL decided not to use head-to-head because in this case, it would be a seven-team tie.
In the second round, the Cowboys will slide up to have the 13th pick, while Arizona drops to the bottom and will pick 19th in the second round. The Cowboys – assuming there are no supplemental picks in the second round – would then pick 19th overall in the third and that rotation will continue throughout the draft.
This isn’t normally the place on the website to answer emails – we’ve got the mailbag section and of course, the radio shows of Cowboys Break and Talkin’ Cowboys.
But for some reason, I’ve received more emails on this topic alone than any other non-Anthony Spencer issue this offseason.
While the Cowboys are picking 14th in next month’s NFL Draft, they will behind directly behind the Cardinals, who have the No. 13 pick.
Now, many of the Cowboys fans will say the reason this team didn’t make the playoffs was because of a couple of December losses, beginning with that wild ending in Arizona. And both teams finished with an 8-8 record.
So that begs the question: Since the Cardinals beat the Cowboys on Dec. 4, why are they ahead of them in the draft order?
Good, legitimate question. But the NFL’s draft order is unlike the tiebreaker rules for the playoffs. It doesn’t go by head-to-head, but rather strength of schedule. The Cardinals had the lowest SOS at .469 (opponents winning percentage), while the Cowboys were right behind them at .473. Sounds like Arizona does get something out of playing the Rams twice a year.
If you look closer at the draft order, you’ll see seven teams with 8-8 records, and the Cardinals and Cowboys are first and second, respectively. Hey, it could be much worse. Check out the Bears – also at 8-8 and owning the 19th pick in the draft. That’s a completely different mindset entering the draft, from 13 to 19.
Since there are many teams in the league with the same record, the NFL decided not to use head-to-head because in this case, it would be a seven-team tie.
In the second round, the Cowboys will slide up to have the 13th pick, while Arizona drops to the bottom and will pick 19th in the second round. The Cowboys – assuming there are no supplemental picks in the second round – would then pick 19th overall in the third and that rotation will continue throughout the draft.