#9 Dallas Cowboys
What They Need: It’s always interesting when a talented team that underachieved the previous year picks this high in the draft. I get the feeling that with the correct selection, the Cowboys could be right back in contention for a deep playoff run. Offensively, Dallas has no need for the skill positions. Tony Romo is a little older, but he's still in his prime as one of the top-10 quarterbacks in the league. Dez Bryant looks like a budding superstar, and Miles Austin is a Pro Bowl-level player. Jason Witten is aging, but is still very good. Felix Jones is a tremendous talent at the running back position, but he’s always injured. Marion Barber is a bruiser, but he’s been banged up as well and has lost a step. Drafting a running back here would be an outside possibility. It would be a fun pick for the fans, but it’s not a pressing need. The offensive line by contrast, is a huge area of need. Marc Colombo is getting on in years and has never been stellar. Alex Barron is an embarrassment when forced into action, and Doug Free is largely unproven. Kyle Kosier is probably their most solid lineman, but as is the theme, he's 32 and not getting younger. Next to Kosier plays aging center Andre Gurode. The other guard, Leonard Davis, is 32 but he moves like he’s 42. The line desperately needs an infusion of youth and athleticism. Defensively the Cowboys run a 3-4, just keep that in mind moving forward here. Their front three is solid, with Jay Ratliff the only standout. Though Ratliff plays the nose, he’s slightly undersized for that position and could move to end if Dallas drafted a big nose tackle with this pick. The inside linebackers aren’t special, but they’re solid enough. There wouldn’t be a middle linebacker prospect worthy of the ninth pick any way. In terms of pass rush, when you have DeMarcus Ware, that’s all you need. Anthony Spencer brings some nice pressure opposite him, though anyone playing opposite Ware will get some sack opportunities. In the secondary Terence Newman is still a good cover man, but at 32 is getting old. Mike Jenkins, who was so good two years ago, took a step back last year. I view that as an aberration, indicative of a struggling team. Jenkins is really talented and only 25. The safety position is weak but won’t be addressed this high in the proceedings. The Cowboys' main need areas are offensive line, defensive line, middle linebacker, and safety. Running back and corner are outside possibilities for this pick.
Who They Might Pick: We’re starting to move to the second tier of prospects at this point in the draft, not to say there aren’t really good players available. Given who’ll be available, they should address either the offensive or defensive line. If they go with offensive line, they’ll take a tackle; guards and centers are a rarity among top ten picks. The offensive tackles to choose from should be USC’s Tyron Smith, Colorado’s Nate Solder, and Boston College’s Anthony Costanzo. I leave Wisconsin’s Gabe Carimi off the list because he’s a plodding, run blocking tackle. The Boys' priority has to be athleticism. If they go with defensive line, the pick here should be Stephen Paea from Oregon State, though Corey Liuget from Illinois and Phil Talyor from Baylor are possibilities as well.
My Advice: Take the USC tackle Tyron Smith. He’s a great athlete who should start at left tackle right away, allowing Doug Free to move to right tackle. That would represent two young and athletic bookend tackles to help protect Romo, while Kosier, Gurode, and Davis blast open holes in the middle. That trio in the middle of the offensive line can be really good, but they have to be surrounded by athletic tackles, or the whole offensive line is too slow to pass protect. In drafting Smith you make the whole offensive line better, allowing Romo, Felix, Bryant, Austin, and Witten to flourish.
What They Need: It’s always interesting when a talented team that underachieved the previous year picks this high in the draft. I get the feeling that with the correct selection, the Cowboys could be right back in contention for a deep playoff run. Offensively, Dallas has no need for the skill positions. Tony Romo is a little older, but he's still in his prime as one of the top-10 quarterbacks in the league. Dez Bryant looks like a budding superstar, and Miles Austin is a Pro Bowl-level player. Jason Witten is aging, but is still very good. Felix Jones is a tremendous talent at the running back position, but he’s always injured. Marion Barber is a bruiser, but he’s been banged up as well and has lost a step. Drafting a running back here would be an outside possibility. It would be a fun pick for the fans, but it’s not a pressing need. The offensive line by contrast, is a huge area of need. Marc Colombo is getting on in years and has never been stellar. Alex Barron is an embarrassment when forced into action, and Doug Free is largely unproven. Kyle Kosier is probably their most solid lineman, but as is the theme, he's 32 and not getting younger. Next to Kosier plays aging center Andre Gurode. The other guard, Leonard Davis, is 32 but he moves like he’s 42. The line desperately needs an infusion of youth and athleticism. Defensively the Cowboys run a 3-4, just keep that in mind moving forward here. Their front three is solid, with Jay Ratliff the only standout. Though Ratliff plays the nose, he’s slightly undersized for that position and could move to end if Dallas drafted a big nose tackle with this pick. The inside linebackers aren’t special, but they’re solid enough. There wouldn’t be a middle linebacker prospect worthy of the ninth pick any way. In terms of pass rush, when you have DeMarcus Ware, that’s all you need. Anthony Spencer brings some nice pressure opposite him, though anyone playing opposite Ware will get some sack opportunities. In the secondary Terence Newman is still a good cover man, but at 32 is getting old. Mike Jenkins, who was so good two years ago, took a step back last year. I view that as an aberration, indicative of a struggling team. Jenkins is really talented and only 25. The safety position is weak but won’t be addressed this high in the proceedings. The Cowboys' main need areas are offensive line, defensive line, middle linebacker, and safety. Running back and corner are outside possibilities for this pick.
Who They Might Pick: We’re starting to move to the second tier of prospects at this point in the draft, not to say there aren’t really good players available. Given who’ll be available, they should address either the offensive or defensive line. If they go with offensive line, they’ll take a tackle; guards and centers are a rarity among top ten picks. The offensive tackles to choose from should be USC’s Tyron Smith, Colorado’s Nate Solder, and Boston College’s Anthony Costanzo. I leave Wisconsin’s Gabe Carimi off the list because he’s a plodding, run blocking tackle. The Boys' priority has to be athleticism. If they go with defensive line, the pick here should be Stephen Paea from Oregon State, though Corey Liuget from Illinois and Phil Talyor from Baylor are possibilities as well.
My Advice: Take the USC tackle Tyron Smith. He’s a great athlete who should start at left tackle right away, allowing Doug Free to move to right tackle. That would represent two young and athletic bookend tackles to help protect Romo, while Kosier, Gurode, and Davis blast open holes in the middle. That trio in the middle of the offensive line can be really good, but they have to be surrounded by athletic tackles, or the whole offensive line is too slow to pass protect. In drafting Smith you make the whole offensive line better, allowing Romo, Felix, Bryant, Austin, and Witten to flourish.
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| At the ninth pick, the Dallas Cowboys select Tyron Smith, OT, USC. |
#10 Washington Redskins
What They Need: Can you draft a new owner? I know, I’m hilarious, now settle down so you can read the rest of this. Prevailing logic is that Donovan McNabb will not be a Redskin next year, and that leaves Rex Grossman. So the next chain of logic would say, they need a quarterback, badly. Grossman is horrible, and if he’s your starter, you won't win more than 5 games. Their running back position is equally dire. Clinton Portis is now gone and Ryan Torain is their feature back. Receiver is, well, awful as well. Anthony Armstrong is their best target, and two years ago he was playing in the Arena League. The offensive line is mostly a patchwork. Last year’s top pick Trent Williams should be a very good player at tackle. Opposite him is Jammal Brown, a good player as well. The middle of the line is weak. Defensively the Skins run a 3-4, which is the reason Albert Haynesworth has been so ineffective and so unhappy. Haynesworth is not in Washington’s plans moving forward, leaving the rest of their defensive line is suspect. London Fletcher is still a really good inside linebacker, but he’s 35 years old. Pass rush specialist Brian Orakpo is probably the best player on the entire team. Their cornerbacks are so-so. DeAngelo Hall has great games and terrible games, and Carlos Rogers is solid in coverage but can’t intercept a ball. All Phillip Buchanon brings to the table is speed. Safety is probably the strength of the team, which is not a sign of a very good club. LaRon Landry is a monster; he could be the best safety in the league very soon. Chris Horton is an athletic and talented player next to Landry. So, they need a quarterback, a running back, offensive line help, receivers, defensive linemen, linebackers, and corners. Wow.
Who They Might Pick: I wouldn’t be surprised if Washington traded down from this slot to accrue more selections and address their multiple needs. I would flatout expect them to trade down if Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton are gone and they don’t love Jake Locker. I know coach Mike Shanahan wants to draft and groom a young signal caller, but it has to be the right guy. Locker really played poorly last year, couldn’t raise his team to a high level, and struggled with accuracy at the combine. We’ve seen in recent drafts that winning and accuracy are absolutely premium in evaluating a quarterback. I cannot imagine Locker going this high. Their next most pressing needs are receiver, defensive line, offensive line and cornerback. I don’t think there’s a corner worthy of the 10th pick if Prince Amukamara and Patrick Peterson are gone. That leaves the guy I’ve been name dropping for the last few teams, Stephen Paea, as a strong possibility. Julio Jones would also be a nice pick here. He would add huge talent to a horrible corps of pass catchers and would provide whoever the quarterback is with a nice target. JJ Watt from Wisconsin might be a fit as a 3-4 defensive end. He’s a big, strong, energetic player that has a true knack for making impact plays. He’s the type of guy who may not be a star, but will almost certainly be a positive force for your football team. And maybe without another great direction to go in, Watt could be the guy. Center Mike Pouncey from Florida could also be a good pick, his brother, Maurkice, made the Pro Bowl last year as a rookie also at center. Pouncey would give the Skins three talented lineman to build around, and would set a nice foundation for, again, whoever they find to take snaps.
My Advice: Take Mike Pouncey from Florida. If Washington drafts Julio Jones they could ruin him by throwing him on the field without a competent quarterback. If they pick defense, they won’t be setting the table very well for their eventual signal caller. Some scouts like Mike Pouncey more than his brother; if that’s the case this guy should go in the top-5, but as a center, he won’t. Trent Williams, Pouncey, and Jamal Brown would be a nice core for the offensive line, and would give the whole offense a foundation to build from.
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| With the tenth selection, the Washington Redskins take Mike Pouncey, C, Florida. |
--from Adam
(first image from zimbio.com, second from giantsgab.com)
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