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Open Lines
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - Jerry Jones has a Type A personality, for sure. He's perpetual motion, much like a running back. Nothing's gained by sitting on your haunches, he might say.
Some might argue the Cowboys owner's wheelin,' dealin' ways on draft weekend are characterological. Jones admits he's a risk-taker, certainly, but never on a lark. There's a method to his madness. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it busts.
That's the NFL Draft. There is no Pythagorean Theorem.
This year, Jones has a top-10 selection for the first time since 2003, and only the sixth time since he bought the team in 1989. Each time the pick has paid varying dividends: Troy Aikman, Russell Maryland, Greg Ellis, Roy Williams and Terence Newman. All made an impact. Extend the range to the top 11, and DeMarcus Ware raises the batting average significantly.
Now awaits arguably the most important draft in Jones' tenure. The Cowboys are reeling from a 6-10 season with Super Bowl expectations. The core roster is talented, still able to contend, but slowly aging. Guys are starting to creep into their 30s. Time's running out on an era that looked so promising when quarterback Tony Romo took over in 2006.
The team needs more infusion from a young impact player or two, like what Dez Bryant gave them last year, as well as stronger depth to defuse the misses from the 2009 class that produced only one starter (kicker David Buehler) out of 12.
It all starts with that ninth overall pick. History shows the Cowboys have gotten a good one when drafting that high. Jones has traded a top-10 choice only once, in 2002, and that was just two spots down to grab Williams at No. 8.
Usually there's little need to move around. That high, a great player should be available. "Catalytic," as we've been saying on the show.
Will there be one at No. 9 next Thursday night? Maybe not. Maybe a little more wheelin' and dealin' makes sense.
This is an odd draft, mostly devoid of elite skill position players. Quarterbacks Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert, likely top 10 picks, are far from sure things. Wide receivers A.J. Green and Julio Jones (top 12-15) lead a weak receiver class. Mark Ingram is the only running back getting consistent first-round consideration. The Cowboys don't have pressing needs there, at least not in the first round, but those are the types of positions that merit $20 million guaranteed - the numbers for last year's No. 9 pick, Buffalo's C.J. Spiller.
The Cowboys need an offensive tackle. And a defensive lineman. And a cornerback. There could be some good ones at No. 9 - Prince Amukamara, J.J. Watt, Cameron Jordan, Tyron Smith, Anthony Costanzo, Nate Solder - but are there any great ones? Any can't-miss, game-changers that they must stay put for?
Perhaps not. It all depends on what their draft board says, and unfortunately, that list is on lockdown. You get the feeling they like all of those guys - most came in for pre-draft visits - but just how much is uncertain.
Maybe it's Jones' track record. Maybe it's the potential lack of a "wow" factor in the No. 9 range. But it wouldn't surprise me at all to see the Cowboys trade down, or at least try, depending on what's left when they hit the clock.
Jones said last month that he'd already gotten two inquiries about their pick. Keep in mind that teams (including the Cowboys, for those who long for Von Miller or Patrick Peterson) could be reluctant to trade up for a couple of reasons: the inability to include veteran players in trades due to the current work stoppage, and the uncertainty of a rookie wage scale.
But if there's a quarterback or receiver some team covets a few picks past No. 9, the Cowboys might be in a position to bargain.
My first inclination is no, stay home and take the best player available relative to need. The offensive line needs help. The defense could use another playmaker at just about every position. Don't get cute.
The Cowboys believe strongly in sticking to their board. If No. 9 rolls around and their top available guys all have relatively similar grades, they should pick up the phone and try to move back - grab an extra pick in the second or third round from a trading partner and still get a player they like a couple of spots lower. Then, maybe they could use their extra ammunition to trade up into the late first round and take someone else. Or they could use those extra picks to fill more needs than their current total (8) will allow.
Nothing reckless, mind you. Just never hurts to have options. And you can bet Jones will keep the phone lines open.
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - Jerry Jones has a Type A personality, for sure. He's perpetual motion, much like a running back. Nothing's gained by sitting on your haunches, he might say.
Some might argue the Cowboys owner's wheelin,' dealin' ways on draft weekend are characterological. Jones admits he's a risk-taker, certainly, but never on a lark. There's a method to his madness. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it busts.
That's the NFL Draft. There is no Pythagorean Theorem.
This year, Jones has a top-10 selection for the first time since 2003, and only the sixth time since he bought the team in 1989. Each time the pick has paid varying dividends: Troy Aikman, Russell Maryland, Greg Ellis, Roy Williams and Terence Newman. All made an impact. Extend the range to the top 11, and DeMarcus Ware raises the batting average significantly.
Now awaits arguably the most important draft in Jones' tenure. The Cowboys are reeling from a 6-10 season with Super Bowl expectations. The core roster is talented, still able to contend, but slowly aging. Guys are starting to creep into their 30s. Time's running out on an era that looked so promising when quarterback Tony Romo took over in 2006.
The team needs more infusion from a young impact player or two, like what Dez Bryant gave them last year, as well as stronger depth to defuse the misses from the 2009 class that produced only one starter (kicker David Buehler) out of 12.
It all starts with that ninth overall pick. History shows the Cowboys have gotten a good one when drafting that high. Jones has traded a top-10 choice only once, in 2002, and that was just two spots down to grab Williams at No. 8.
Usually there's little need to move around. That high, a great player should be available. "Catalytic," as we've been saying on the show.
Will there be one at No. 9 next Thursday night? Maybe not. Maybe a little more wheelin' and dealin' makes sense.
This is an odd draft, mostly devoid of elite skill position players. Quarterbacks Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert, likely top 10 picks, are far from sure things. Wide receivers A.J. Green and Julio Jones (top 12-15) lead a weak receiver class. Mark Ingram is the only running back getting consistent first-round consideration. The Cowboys don't have pressing needs there, at least not in the first round, but those are the types of positions that merit $20 million guaranteed - the numbers for last year's No. 9 pick, Buffalo's C.J. Spiller.
The Cowboys need an offensive tackle. And a defensive lineman. And a cornerback. There could be some good ones at No. 9 - Prince Amukamara, J.J. Watt, Cameron Jordan, Tyron Smith, Anthony Costanzo, Nate Solder - but are there any great ones? Any can't-miss, game-changers that they must stay put for?
Perhaps not. It all depends on what their draft board says, and unfortunately, that list is on lockdown. You get the feeling they like all of those guys - most came in for pre-draft visits - but just how much is uncertain.
Maybe it's Jones' track record. Maybe it's the potential lack of a "wow" factor in the No. 9 range. But it wouldn't surprise me at all to see the Cowboys trade down, or at least try, depending on what's left when they hit the clock.
Jones said last month that he'd already gotten two inquiries about their pick. Keep in mind that teams (including the Cowboys, for those who long for Von Miller or Patrick Peterson) could be reluctant to trade up for a couple of reasons: the inability to include veteran players in trades due to the current work stoppage, and the uncertainty of a rookie wage scale.
But if there's a quarterback or receiver some team covets a few picks past No. 9, the Cowboys might be in a position to bargain.
My first inclination is no, stay home and take the best player available relative to need. The offensive line needs help. The defense could use another playmaker at just about every position. Don't get cute.
The Cowboys believe strongly in sticking to their board. If No. 9 rolls around and their top available guys all have relatively similar grades, they should pick up the phone and try to move back - grab an extra pick in the second or third round from a trading partner and still get a player they like a couple of spots lower. Then, maybe they could use their extra ammunition to trade up into the late first round and take someone else. Or they could use those extra picks to fill more needs than their current total (8) will allow.
Nothing reckless, mind you. Just never hurts to have options. And you can bet Jones will keep the phone lines open.
