Cowboys: What We Know and What We Don’t

By Daniel Ruppert | Mar 8, 2016

Nov 15, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones haves to fans before a football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

With free tampering starting Monday and free agency starting Wednesday, here is what we know and what we don’t know so far.

Two names are being connected to the Dallas Cowboys on the start of the legal tampering period — defensive end Adrian Clayborn and running back Lamar Miller. It may not be what many fans are expecting, but it should be one they are familiar with. However, there is still a long road to go before the draft.

With Clayborn, there is some insight that the Cowboys are looking for some bolstering on the defensive line. The questions is, “Why Clayborn?”

Clayborn can be a decent pass rusher when healthy, however, staying healthy has been a problem for him. He tore a ligament in his knee in 2012, had a torn bicep in 2014, and has had problems with Erb’s Palsey (nerve damage suffered at birth). He could be had fairly cheap and if he can stay healthy can help the Cowboys weak pass rush.

Chasing Clayborn could mean anything concerning the future of Greg Hardy, either way, it could add some depth on the defensive line. Looking at what this means for the draft, if the Cowboys get Clayborn and also retain Hardy, the defensive line could become less of a likelihood early in the draft.

Depending on how the Cowboys decide to move forward with Hardy, it could point to whether the Cowboys are looking to target a player like Joey Bosa in the draft.

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At running back, Lamar Miller, is still somewhat early into his career. He has only been in the league four years, and has only had one season in which he ran for over 1000 yards. His career average is 4.6 yards, however, this is behind a Dolphins offensive line that is no where near what the Cowboys have. Miller has the vision and skills to be an effective running back on the Cowboys.

If the Cowboys do in fact go after Miller in free agency, then that would probably mean that Ohio St. running back Ezekiel Elliot is not going to be the pick at number four either. Again, it could tip the hat on which way the Cowboys are leaning in the draft. If both of these happen, the next logical positions are cornerback and quarterback.

Speaking of quarterbacks, rumor has it the Cowboys are not interested in Robert Griffin III. While there has been some mention of Colt McCoy as more of a target. Jerry Jones has not spent a 1-3 round pick on quarterback since 2001 on a guy named Quincy Carter, and Jerry has eluded he does not plan on spending a first round this year on a quarterback.

This all means that cornerback could be the pick when it comes to the draft. While many are high on Jalen Ramsey out of Florida St, his lack of creating turnovers might give pause to the Cowboys who ranked dead last in 2015 with only 11 turnovers created. Vernon Hargreaves might be more adept at creating turnovers, if the Cowboys don’t mind his average height. But, there are still some other options.

If the Cowboys don’t resign Rolando McClain again, then of course that could be a sign that Myles Jack would be the pick in the draft. It all depends on if the Cowboys want to lose a player who knows the system at one of the most vital spots on the defense. If I were the Cowboys, I would resign McClain, and look elsewhere in the draft.

Related Story: Cowboys Should Choose Rolando McClain - Not Myles Jack

So until everything starts to unfold starting Wednesday, it is all speculation. One thing Cowboy fans should be ready for is the Cowboys not making a ton of moves early in the free agency period. They have tried to find value after the initial dust settles, believing that you don’t get value by paying a lot early.

Although the Broncos have done that in recent seasons and that played a key role in the Super Bowl they won last month.

If I had to guess at this point how the Cowboys will draft, it would look something like this as of today:

Round 1 – Joey Bosa, Ohio St., Defensive End

Round 2 – Derrick Henry, Alabama, Running Back

Round 3 – Braxton Miller, Ohio St., Wide Receiver/Quarterback

There is some question as to why I would think Miller in round three, I think with his ability to make plays and potential at quarterback, it might interest the Cowboys to use him as a returner, a receiver, and potential third string quarterback, allowing for a veteran backup for a year or two behind starting quarterback Tony Romo, until the draft yields a better crop of passers.

Next: Cowboys Feel The Need, The Need For Speed

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Sure, it is early, but until the moves start happening, all of this could change. What we know is that the Cowboys are targeting certain players at this point, and those players tend to hint at how they will draft. What we don’t know is if any of the moves will work. Stay tuned to the next week, because more hints will come.

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