What Will Jerry Jones Do With the Dallas Cowboys 1st Round Draft Pick?
Dallas Cowboys Owner and GM Jerry Jones was unusually aggressive at the beginning of the 2012 NFL Free Agency period. Dallas Cowboy fans have grown accustomed to Jerry Jones adopting a much more “wait and see” attitude towards free agency, usually looking for more value after the initial flurry of free agent signing ends. With the exception of the attempt to sign that CB who now plays in Philly, Jerry Jones has not aggressively pursued any big name free agents in recent years. Everything changed this year: Jerry Jones used the Franchise Tag to lock up Anthony Spencer, then he managed to impress Brandon Carr (the most highly coveted CB on the market) enough to sign with the Dallas Cowboys without even meeting with any other NFL teams. After the two big deals (Spencer and Carr), Jerry proceeded to sign the most free agents he has ever signed since the beginning of modern free agency.
It has been argued that the aggressive and thorough approach to filling all the glaring holes in the Cowboys via free agency is part of the ‘Jason Garrett Effect'(click here to read). The Cowboys certainly still have many ‘needs’ for ‘upgrades’, but Jerry Jones (because of Jason Garrett) have done a masterful job in free agency of reducing every “glaring hole” to “could an upgrade”. The free agents acquired will allow Jason Garrett, Jerry Jones, and the Cowboys Cowboys Scouting Department to entertain many more options with how they use that all important 14th pick. If they had not signed Carr, they would have been tempted to reach for a CB; the same could be said for OLB if they hadn’t sign Spencer.
Our fan question this week is, once again, from outside the United States. It is nice to be reminded that the Cowboy Nation has a global presence.
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"Julian Cain, Toronto: Given that all of the glaring needs have been filled via free agency (Spencer at OLB, Carr at DB, Pool at safety, and 2 OL) and they can take a “best player available” approach, do you think they will be looking for a pass-rusher with the 1st pick, or is there another hole/need I am missing?"
Todd Toombs: I think in light of the free agency moves the Cowboys have made the draft just got a lot more unpredictable. Jerry Jones has surprised us before – like drafting DeMarco Murray last year when it did not appear that running back was a need at the time. It worked our pretty well I would say but initially it left a lot of experts scratching their heads. I think this year’s draft could see some more surprises. The first round pick at #14 could be anything from a cornerback (Kirkpatrick or Jenkins?), a safety (Barron?), a guard (DeCastro?), a linebacker (Coples?), or a defensive lineman (Poe?). It will depend on who is still available and which of those players likely grades out as “the best athlete”. Garrett doesn’t really believe in drafting for specific need (as evidenced by all of the holes they filled via free agency) and is a “best athlete available” guy who wants to build depth and a solid foundation for the future. I would expect some surprises from the Cowboys – like maybe taking a Ryan Tannehill at #14 so he can develop as Romo’s eventual replacement. One thing is for sure: Jerry rarely follows “conventional wisdom” and I don’t expect him to start now.Click here to see Todd’s recent’s articles at The Landry Hat.
Steven Phillips: Now that a lot of holes have been filled during the free agency period I think their are two possible ways owner and general manager Jerry Jones and head coach Jason Garrett draft. They could go with the best player available and hope some of the higher ranked talent drops to them, like the year Dez Bryant slid, or they go with a pass rusher. The draft is a very fluid thing so it will all depend on how picks 1-13 go. We may end up seeing more draft day trades that could completely mix up everyone’s draft board and we may not. In the end I think the Cowboys take the best player available (within reason) at the number 14 pick instead of reaching for a player that is not worth the pick. Click here to see Steven’s recent posts at The Landry Hat.
Brad Austin: The ‘best player available’ line is nothing more than that, a company line. There are always 3 or 4 positions of at least slight need that trump all others. If it were truly best available, Dallas would be open to adding a Quarterback or Offensive Tackle if the right one realistically landed in the 14th spot. They aren’t and shouldn’t be. Aside from that, the Cowboys only have one new guard on the roster that could potentially start for a playoff contending team. And neither
Nate Livings nor Mackenzy Bernadeau is the quality of Montrae Holland or a younger Kyle Kosier. Adding another starting guard early in the draft is paramount. And David DeCastro would be a Godsend with pick #14. Check out Brad’s recent posts at TLH here.
Also, strong safety is not closed off merely with the signing of Brodney Pool. His recent performance for the New York Jets was less than worthy of a starting role, which leaves safety a large possibility in the first round. Add to that list a massive defensive lineman to stuff the middle, and also a pass-rushing DE/OLB. So the 4 possible positions addressed with #14 will come down to Guard, Strong Safety, Defensive Tackle, and pass rushing DE/OLB.
Artie Cappello: Outside of Brandon Carr, Julian, I don’t know that we have filled all our glaring needs. Jerry and Stephen Jones seem to be taking more of a general or bulk approach by identifying the weakest parts of the team – the entire defense and the offensive line- and throwing bodies in there hoping some will stick. I think Anthony Spencer is a solid OLB, but we have a glaring need for another pass rusher closer to D Ware’s abilities. Rob Ryan’s defense works best if you can get real pressure on opposing QB’s on a consistent basis. The Cowboys have not been able to do that. The theory has always been to select the best player available in the draft. Let’s hope the the best player available is a pass rusher as you suggest. Check out Artie’s recent TLH Posts here.
Mike Finke: How ‘Bout them Cowboys?!?! Jerry Jones is doing exactly what he needed to do this free agency and I couldn’t be happier. He has expressed his desire to have a New York Giants pass rush and I think that’s exactly what he has in mind. At this point I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we took Dontari Poe and Poe is a beast. He had better numbers than Heloti Ngata at the combine and Ngata turned into one of the best defensive in the game. Cowboys fans need to get excited about this upcoming season. The pieces are all falling into place. Go Cowboys. Check out Mike’s recent posts at TLH here.
Mark Contreras: I don’t think anything is out of the question. I have a real problem with “best player available” and “filling a need.” Both of those are bad arguments. What teams should (and actually) do is draft the best available player that fits a need. Theoretically, you could have the best available player in every round be a RG. You gonna take 7 RGs? How about 7 QBs? 7 punters? 7 anything? What if you’re the New England Patriots? You gonna draft 7 QBs to sit behind Brady? No, because that’s asinine. What you would (and what teams) do is draft the best available player that fits something on their team that is lacking….. Just like you do in pick-up basketball/football/baseball/soccer/badminton. Click here to take a look at Mark’s recent articles at TLH.
B-rad: There are still many needs and even a few holes to fill on this squad. Spencer is in place on a one-year deal so there is a need at this position, if they thought Spencer was the answer going forward he would have a multi-year deal in lieu of the franchise tag. Pool is also on a one year deal and has an injury history that frankly makes me nervous Add to that he is a questionable upgrade at best and the safety position is far from settled, though I think they are hoping that someone in house steps up to the plate here. The OG signings are underwhelming and add nothing other than size and some experience but I don’t see it as shoring up the line at all. Also Mike Jenkins is in last year of his rookie deal and we know that CBs demand a King’s ransom in FA, so he will be expensive to keep especially if he shines in a contract year, making a top flight CB on a rookie contract fiscally appealing. Then there is the possibility that an offensive prospect too good to pass up at 14 is available, strange things happen on draft day.
All that said, the Cowboys will draft a pass rusher with their first round pick. A disruptive pass rush has proven to be the key to victory for at least the last 5 Championship teams and has always been coveted by JJ. So a DE or OLB is my odds on favourite.
C. Joseph Wright: The “best player available” strategy is not meant to suggest that a team is open to drafting a player at every position in every round; it means that a team doesn’t feel like it “must” draft a for specific position in certain rounds. It is meant to allow the freedom to select a player at several positions in every round. While the Cowboys may not have many ‘must-fill holes’, they still have numerous positions that could use an upgrade. The biggest need in the first round is finding an impact player in the defensive front five. The Cowboys will mots likely draft an OLB, DT, or DE in the first round. My personal preference is a monster DT who can play NT in a 3-4, allowing Ratliff to move to DE at least some of the time. A true NT would provide more overall benefit to the defense than either a DE, or OLB.
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