Commandment No. 5: Thou shall prioritize certain positions over others
Just before 2015’s draft, we looked at the draft history of the Cowboys over the previous five years. It concluded that Dallas has a preference to draft the following positions, in order, t1) Defensive Line t1) Linebackers, t1) Cornerbacks, t4) Offensive Line, t4) Wide Receiver.
What were 2015’s first four picks? Hybrid DB, DE, OL, LB. In 2016, the Cowboys sure enough picked two defensive linemen, a linebacker and a cornerback, taking off a year from the OL and WR, partially because they had to grab a RB and QB. They honed in on DL and CB in 2017.
Here’s what we wrote heading into 2018:
“They appear ready to focus on linebacker, wide receiver and offensive line in 2018.”
Vander Esch, Connor Williams and Michael Gallup later…
In 2019 we wrote:
“There’s a case to be made that all five of the priority positions are needs once again, with defensive line being the highest priority a pseudo-starting spot open for a linebacker and the final three being needs for the near future with a lot of expiring contracts.”
DT Trysten Hill, Interior OL Connor McGovern, slot WR/backup RB Tony Pollard, CB Michael Jackson were the Cowboys first four picks.
This is what they do.
Those positions have constant turnover. The DT plugs were filled with aging vets and Hill didn’t show anything a new coaching staff can bank on. Travis Frederick retired and Tyron Smith missed three games yet again. They let Byron Jones walk in free agency and Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis are in the final year of their deal. Sean Lee is on his last legs, Jaylon Smith’s might not last and Vander Esch is a concern to play football again.
It appears the only thing that may throw this off is finally addressing the need at safety, but fans have been holding their breath there for decades.
Commandment No. 6: Thou shall follow the money
The Cowboys failed to do so last year and now have a glaring need at the corner position after the departure of Jones in free agency. To make matters worse, as mentioned above the long-term status of Awuzie and Lewis are tentative.
Also following the 2021 season, the guaranteed money on the books for Tyron Smith runs out, making that a possible position of flexibity.
Where else are there money concerns? DT Tyrone Crawford is in the final year of his deal and a new DT may lead to his release and $8 million in cap and cash savings.
We recently highlighted when big deals could be escaped, and the learning curve on a new wideout would coincide with Cooper’s guaranteed money running out and Michael Gallup’s free agency.
In 2022, they are CURRENTLY projected to rank as the highest payroll in:
RB
WR
OLand they don't have a QB on the books past 2020 right now.
Cooper was a 2-year deal, y'all. Even though Fredbeard's included and will go away, they'd still be 1st in OL lol
— KD Drummond (@KDDrummondNFL) April 21, 2020
Commandment No. 7: Thou shall not covet small-schoolers
Since Will McClay’s ascension following the 2013 draft, the club has preferred to steer clear of most small-school prospects. The transition was clear in analyzing previous drafts. From 2009 through 2013, the Cowboys took seven players from non-FBS schools with no success. Starting with the 2014 class, that number dropped all the way to zero.
McClay confirmed as much soon after the 2014 draft, via ESPN.
“The difference is if you’re from a small school and you’re coming into this situation you might not be ready for the bright lights,” said Will McClay, the Cowboys’ assistant director of player personnel, who put the draft board together. “The guys who have been through playing those games where there are 90,000 people in the stands, they’ve had those situations there, they’ll [be] a little bit [more] used to it. If they got the same physical traits, I’m going to go with the guy whose been there before, [over] the guy who you got to wait to come up.”
Power 5 (SEC, B1G, Big 12, Pac 12, ACC) over Group of 5 (AAC, C-USA, MAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt) over FCS and everyone else.
2019: Power 5 (6), Group of 5 (2), Others (0)
2018: Power 5 (5), Group of 5 (4), Others (0)
2017: Power 5 (8), Group of 5 (1), Others (0)
2016: Power 5 (7), Group of 5 (2), Others (0)
2015: Power 5 (7), Group of 5 (1), Others (0)
2014: Power 5 (7), Group of 5 (2), Others (0)
This is bad news for anyone craving safety Kyle Dugger from Leonoir-Rhyne (South Atlantic Conference) but good news if they have eyes on Appalachian State linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither (Sun Belt).
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