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Assessing Picks' Ability To Meet Needs
Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
The Cowboys addressed their interior oline need in the 4th round, taking Missouri State's David Arkin
IRVING, Texas - For the first time since 2003, the Cowboys sat perfectly still during the NFL Draft, making no trades and simply picking in their assigned slots.
They kept it simple, and will attest that they honored the board with every pick. But the NFL Draft isn't just about picking good players. It's also about improving the team by shoring up weak spots on the roster. The Cowboys didn't do that with every position, but it doesn't mean they're content to retain the status quo, particularly on defense, where only two draft picks were used, tied for the fewest the team has spent on that side of the ball since 1962.
Free agency is still to come following the NFL lockout, unlike in years past when it would precede the draft, allowing teams a more crystallized picture of their holes.
"If you look at player acquisition, it comes in more than just the draft," team vice president Stephen Jones said. "You do it through unrestricted free agency, you can do it through trades, there's a lot of ways to do it. At the end of the day, what we thought, by not having free agency ahead of time, it would probably enable us to really follow our board, and I think we did that. Going in here, I think we thought this was a draft that was really weighted more toward offense."
Here we check how the Cowboys addressed - or failed to address - their biggest needs:
Offensive Tackle - ✓
In targeting USC's Tyron Smith in the first round, the Cowboys had their choice of all the draft's offensive linemen. Not only does Smith project as an upgrade at right tackle, but he could move to the precious left tackle position sooner or later, strengthening the entire line, with veteran Doug Free sliding back to the right side.
Defensive End - X
Despite having at least one unrestricted free agent in Marcus Spears and possibly two more in Stephen Bowen and Jason Hatcher, the Cowboys did not address their 3-4 front in the draft. Late in the first round they made inquiries about trading up to select defensive linemen, including Cameron Heyward of Ohio State, but did not pull the trigger.
The Cowboys can still secure depth at the position by re-signing their free agents or looking for other veterans on the open market. If the uncapped rules of 2010 were to return, the Cowboys would own the rights of Bowen and Hatcher, who were issued one-year tender contracts before the lockout began in March.
Safety - X
Disappointed with this year's safeties class and realizing that they are returning four rookie safeties from last year, the Cowboys avoided the position altogether during the draft. Veteran Gerald Sensabaugh is an unrestricted free agent and fellow 2010 starter Alan Ball is expected to move back to cornerback, so it seems the Cowboys still have work to do here.
Cornerback - ✓
Though the Cowboys finished 26th in pass defense last year and allowed the most passing touchdowns in the league (33), the club waited until the fifth round to address its secondary, tabbing Buffalo corner Josh Thomas.
With Terence Newman now 33 years old, Mike Jenkins going backward in 2010 and Orlando Scandrick entering the final year of his contract, it's possible the Cowboys could look to address the position in free agency, but it remains to be seen whether big fish Nnamdi Asomugha of Oakland will be in play.
Guard/Center - ✓
With left guard Kyle Kosier due for unrestricted free agency and right guard Leonard Davis struggling for parts of 2010, the Cowboys used their fourth-round pick on Missouri State guard David Arkin. He may not be able to start right away due in part to a considerable jump in the level of competition, but the Cowboys like his position flexibility. He could contribute at either guard or center. The club's final selection, Wisconsin offensive lineman Bill Nagy, offers similar flexibility.
Inside Linebacker - ✓
With Keith Brooking, 36, and Bradie James, 30, both entering the final year of their contracts, plus the injury history of 2010 second-rounder Sean Lee, it was clear the Cowboys needed help at inside linebacker. In adding North Carolina's Bruce Carter at No. 40 overall, the team made the same deal it had a year prior, taking a first-round talent who had fallen because of medical issues.
Carter, who tore his ACL in November, may not be fully recovered in time for training camp, but owner Jerry Jones said both starters will return in 2011 anyway, so Carter is the kind of future pick the team needed inside its 3-4 defense. His first contributions should come on special teams.
Wide Receiver - ✓
Though not their biggest need, the Cowboys figured they could use more help at receiver because by the end of 2010, injuries had reduced the positions depth to Miles Austin and a handful of practice squad call-ups. Selecting East Carolina's Dwayne Harris in Round 6 provides the team a versatile player who will also be able to contribute on special teams, both in the return game and in coverage.
Running Back - ✓
The Cowboys had a clear intention to get younger and cheaper at the running back position, and their third-round selection of Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray achieves that goal. He is likely to push Marion Barber off the roster completely, and may take carries away from Tashard Choice. The Cowboys also believe he can be a difference-maker in the return game.
Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
The Cowboys addressed their interior oline need in the 4th round, taking Missouri State's David Arkin
IRVING, Texas - For the first time since 2003, the Cowboys sat perfectly still during the NFL Draft, making no trades and simply picking in their assigned slots.
They kept it simple, and will attest that they honored the board with every pick. But the NFL Draft isn't just about picking good players. It's also about improving the team by shoring up weak spots on the roster. The Cowboys didn't do that with every position, but it doesn't mean they're content to retain the status quo, particularly on defense, where only two draft picks were used, tied for the fewest the team has spent on that side of the ball since 1962.
Free agency is still to come following the NFL lockout, unlike in years past when it would precede the draft, allowing teams a more crystallized picture of their holes.
"If you look at player acquisition, it comes in more than just the draft," team vice president Stephen Jones said. "You do it through unrestricted free agency, you can do it through trades, there's a lot of ways to do it. At the end of the day, what we thought, by not having free agency ahead of time, it would probably enable us to really follow our board, and I think we did that. Going in here, I think we thought this was a draft that was really weighted more toward offense."
Here we check how the Cowboys addressed - or failed to address - their biggest needs:
Offensive Tackle - ✓
In targeting USC's Tyron Smith in the first round, the Cowboys had their choice of all the draft's offensive linemen. Not only does Smith project as an upgrade at right tackle, but he could move to the precious left tackle position sooner or later, strengthening the entire line, with veteran Doug Free sliding back to the right side.
Defensive End - X
Despite having at least one unrestricted free agent in Marcus Spears and possibly two more in Stephen Bowen and Jason Hatcher, the Cowboys did not address their 3-4 front in the draft. Late in the first round they made inquiries about trading up to select defensive linemen, including Cameron Heyward of Ohio State, but did not pull the trigger.
The Cowboys can still secure depth at the position by re-signing their free agents or looking for other veterans on the open market. If the uncapped rules of 2010 were to return, the Cowboys would own the rights of Bowen and Hatcher, who were issued one-year tender contracts before the lockout began in March.
Safety - X
Disappointed with this year's safeties class and realizing that they are returning four rookie safeties from last year, the Cowboys avoided the position altogether during the draft. Veteran Gerald Sensabaugh is an unrestricted free agent and fellow 2010 starter Alan Ball is expected to move back to cornerback, so it seems the Cowboys still have work to do here.
Cornerback - ✓
Though the Cowboys finished 26th in pass defense last year and allowed the most passing touchdowns in the league (33), the club waited until the fifth round to address its secondary, tabbing Buffalo corner Josh Thomas.
With Terence Newman now 33 years old, Mike Jenkins going backward in 2010 and Orlando Scandrick entering the final year of his contract, it's possible the Cowboys could look to address the position in free agency, but it remains to be seen whether big fish Nnamdi Asomugha of Oakland will be in play.
Guard/Center - ✓
With left guard Kyle Kosier due for unrestricted free agency and right guard Leonard Davis struggling for parts of 2010, the Cowboys used their fourth-round pick on Missouri State guard David Arkin. He may not be able to start right away due in part to a considerable jump in the level of competition, but the Cowboys like his position flexibility. He could contribute at either guard or center. The club's final selection, Wisconsin offensive lineman Bill Nagy, offers similar flexibility.
Inside Linebacker - ✓
With Keith Brooking, 36, and Bradie James, 30, both entering the final year of their contracts, plus the injury history of 2010 second-rounder Sean Lee, it was clear the Cowboys needed help at inside linebacker. In adding North Carolina's Bruce Carter at No. 40 overall, the team made the same deal it had a year prior, taking a first-round talent who had fallen because of medical issues.
Carter, who tore his ACL in November, may not be fully recovered in time for training camp, but owner Jerry Jones said both starters will return in 2011 anyway, so Carter is the kind of future pick the team needed inside its 3-4 defense. His first contributions should come on special teams.
Wide Receiver - ✓
Though not their biggest need, the Cowboys figured they could use more help at receiver because by the end of 2010, injuries had reduced the positions depth to Miles Austin and a handful of practice squad call-ups. Selecting East Carolina's Dwayne Harris in Round 6 provides the team a versatile player who will also be able to contribute on special teams, both in the return game and in coverage.
Running Back - ✓
The Cowboys had a clear intention to get younger and cheaper at the running back position, and their third-round selection of Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray achieves that goal. He is likely to push Marion Barber off the roster completely, and may take carries away from Tashard Choice. The Cowboys also believe he can be a difference-maker in the return game.
