Dallas Cowboys Draft: Scariest NFC East Draft Additions
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Cowboys’ 2014 NFL draft added much needed depth and competition. They solidified the offensive line and added the “quarterback hunter” which seemed to be the main objective of this draft. It’s clear the Cowboys got better in a few spots and could’ve added a sleeper in the seventh or via undrafted free agency. Unfortunately, every other team in the league gets a turn to draft too. I’ve chosen a player from each of the NFC East rival teams that scares me the most, for this year and looking forward.
Redskins- Morgan Moses OT
When the Redskins were on the clock at 47, the pick we traded them, and walked away with Trent Murphy, I was pretty happy. Murphy is a big outside linebacker/ defensive end with potential and a nose for the quarterback but I thought the pick was too high for a player of Murphy’s existing skills. A Redskins fan at the draft felt similarly. When the cameras focused on him after the Murphy pick he looked into the camera and exclaimed, “ What? Morgan Moses!” I thought that reaction was spot on. Moses made much more sense and surely he wouldn’t be there by the time their next selection arrived. Unfortunately for Cowboy Nation, he was available and they took him.
Moses addresses a position of need and many saw him as a late first round talent with the ability to play left tackle in the NFL. Now that he is on the Redskins he will start at right tackle, opposite Trent Williams. If Moses becomes the player many believe he can the Redskins will have one of the best tackle duos in the league. With the Cowboys deficiency of pressuring the quarterback, the Redskins addition of Morgan Moses will make that aspect of the game that much more difficult for the boys come this fall.
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Giants- Andre Williams RB
This was tougher than the other two. First of all, I couldn’t believe, and am so thankful, the Giants didn’t take Aaron Donald. I had read about Donald for months and had fallen in love with the idea of him as the Cowboys 3 technique for years to come. So, to see him playing for the enemy against the Cowboys would’ve been devastating.
Still, I think Odell Beckham in the first was a solid selection and seeing how much we struggle with Victor Cruz I’m very nervous to see how we will fair against two of them. The player the Giants took later in the draft that scares me almost as much is Andre Williams, a projected third rounder that the Giants were able to pick up in the fourth.
Williams is an explosive, 4.5 40 and 38″ vertical, no nonsense, punishing runner with good make-up and high character. His game out of the backfield as a receiving back is sub par so that’s the good news but, he is exactly the kind of runner you give the ball to in November and December when playing in New Jersey at MetLife Stadium and let him punish the opposing defense. He reminds me of a more explosive, homerun threat Brandon Jacobs, who has done his fair share of damage to the boys’ Defense in years past . He won’t break a sweat running through the arm tackles that the Cowboys often deploy on defense. Also, just for fun and a little proof, he may have the best highlight tapes of this year’s rookie class. Go check them out.
Eagles- Josh Huff WR
The Eagles drafting Josh Huff is the reason I began writing this piece. In every mock draft I put together I slotted Josh Huff to the Cowboys’ with their fourth pick. The Eagles drafted Jordan Matthews, another wide receiver, from Vanderbilt in the second. So, many thought they had addressed that area of need but one round later they double dipped and took Huff.
Huff was expected to go in the fourth or fifth so the Eagles taking him in the third shows you how high they were on him. It also didn’t hurt that he played for Chip Kelly at Oregon but that’s also a testament to his abilities as a player and teammate.
Many have Huff slotted in the number four spot on the depth chart but, the fact that Chip Kelly wasn’t willing to bet a third round pick on him says that he intends to use Huff and he surely has a lot in mind. Huff is one of those players that’s quicker than fast. He “only” ran a 4.51 but he’s one of those guys that cuts at full speed. He’s very elusive, has sure hands, and unlike a lot of receivers is devoted to blocking for his running backs. I can see Nick Foles falling in love with Huff and Cowboys fans growing to despise him. Let’s hope my pre-draft fascination has blinded me and I’m wrong about Huff.
In fact,…..
Let’s hope I’m wrong about all these players!