Fox Sports writer: Cowboys won't take Tyron Smith, looking to trade down in draft
By SportsDayDFW.com
Fox Sports Southwest writer Matt Mosley appeared on KESN-FM 103.3 radio Monday to discuss the Cowboys' plans for the NFL draft. Here are some excerpts:
On the Cowboys' latest plans for the No. 9 pick:
"They want to trade down, and I think there are so many people out there that need a big-play wide receiver, need one of these quarterbacks. There's some thought from the Cowboys that if one of these guys starts slipping -- whether it's Blaine Gabbert, whether it's Julio Jones sitting there at No. 9 -- that there's going to be some interest from teams wanting to come rolling up into that top 10. I think the Cowboys would be content to move down off that pick."
On the possibility of taking Tyron Smith in the draft:
"I am convinced that the Cowboys don't think there's that much difference between [Anthony] Castonzo, the offensive tackle [out of Boston College], and Nate Solder, the offensive tackle out of Colorado. They think that Tyron Smith and those two tackles are right there pretty close together.
"It's time to start thinking about some of these other names, including J.J. Watt from Wisconsin. I get the sense that the Cowboys could take him at defensive end and never look back. They feel like he'll be a great player in the league for the next 10-12 years.
"A lot of us have been convinced Tyron Smith is by far the most special offensive lineman in this draft. I don't think the Cowboys are there. The Cowboys are still very open to getting some other players. Prince Amukamara from Nebraska -- who a lot of people have dismissed, a lot of people have him going at 13 to the Detroit Lions -- he's still in play for the Cowboys."
On how far down the Cowboys would be willing to drop in a trade:
"They would not be opposed to going all the way down to 17 or 18. If they could still get the player they want at No. 9 and get him at 15 or 16, then it makes sense to try and move down. If they get all the way down to 17 or 18, the names would be in that Nate Solder range, the offensive tackle from Colorado. From what I can tell, they like him. They think he's a better athlete than Doug Free. Is he going to be the player that Doug Free is? I don't know. But they do think Nate Solder has the capacity to start in the league for 8-10 years."
