A word of advice to Jerry Jones : This is not the year to show off your brilliance as a general manager and try to outsmart the rest of the NFL.
This is the year to keep it simple.
All you have to do is draft the best offensive lineman available – USC’s Tyron Smith – with the ninth pick of the first round to solidify the offensive line.
That’s the smart thing to do.
Jerry shouldn’t even think about trading down. Don’t even listen to any offers. Do you hear me, Jerry?
The Cowboys need a tackle. At No. 9, you can pick the one you want – not the one who falls to you. This is a rare opportunity of good luck.
The Cowboys’ needs and their draft board should be in complete harmony, making the selection of Smith pretty easy.
One of the reasons the Cowboys’ offensive line failed to move defensive linemen in key situations last season is that they’re an old group. Only Doug Free is in his 20s. Even top backup Montrae Holland is 30.
It’s a lot to ask guys that age to withstand the rigors of an NFL season. The Cowboys’ line is old, in part, because Jerry hasn’t spent many premium picks fortifying it.
During the Jones regime, the Cowboys have never drafted an offensive lineman in the first round. Since 2000, the Cowboys have drafted 14 offensive linemen, but only three in the first two rounds.
They’ve drafted twice as many linemen in Rounds 6 and 7 – three each – as they have in the first two rounds of the draft.
The second-rounders: Andre Gurode has been a regular Pro Bowl player, Al Johnson was a good player until knee injuries ruined his career and Jacob Rogers was a bust.
You would think that would encourage Jerry to draft more linemen with premium picks, but it hasn’t. Four of the top five offensive linemen in the draft have visited the Cowboys.
Finally, Jerry appears to be making a smart move.
This is the year to keep it simple.
All you have to do is draft the best offensive lineman available – USC’s Tyron Smith – with the ninth pick of the first round to solidify the offensive line.
That’s the smart thing to do.
Jerry shouldn’t even think about trading down. Don’t even listen to any offers. Do you hear me, Jerry?
The Cowboys need a tackle. At No. 9, you can pick the one you want – not the one who falls to you. This is a rare opportunity of good luck.
The Cowboys’ needs and their draft board should be in complete harmony, making the selection of Smith pretty easy.
One of the reasons the Cowboys’ offensive line failed to move defensive linemen in key situations last season is that they’re an old group. Only Doug Free is in his 20s. Even top backup Montrae Holland is 30.
It’s a lot to ask guys that age to withstand the rigors of an NFL season. The Cowboys’ line is old, in part, because Jerry hasn’t spent many premium picks fortifying it.
During the Jones regime, the Cowboys have never drafted an offensive lineman in the first round. Since 2000, the Cowboys have drafted 14 offensive linemen, but only three in the first two rounds.
They’ve drafted twice as many linemen in Rounds 6 and 7 – three each – as they have in the first two rounds of the draft.
The second-rounders: Andre Gurode has been a regular Pro Bowl player, Al Johnson was a good player until knee injuries ruined his career and Jacob Rogers was a bust.
You would think that would encourage Jerry to draft more linemen with premium picks, but it hasn’t. Four of the top five offensive linemen in the draft have visited the Cowboys.
Finally, Jerry appears to be making a smart move.
