On drafting a wide receiver in the first round: I don't think so. So all those mocks with the Cowboys taking DeSean Jackson, just ignore, and not because the dude is only 5-9, meaning your barely 6-2 quarterback would be throwing down to his wideout. Said Jerry of selecting a receiver with one of the Cowboys' two first-round picks, "If you are looking for an immediate impact receiver, it's not there." And he means one to take over for Terrell Owens if injured or they fail to re-sign him for 2009. "We have that in Terry Glenn," Jones said, "we may have the best thing since ice cream in-house." He means, the chance of Glenn playing this year, and he admits, that's no slam dunk but feels optimistic about it, and that this alternative is as good as any of the available wide receivers in the draft being productive as a rookie.
Not news here. I wouldnt be surprised if we dont see a WR at all in this draft
On drafting a running back in the first round: "I believe at some place in the draft we can address an additional back," Jones said. Some place? There's probably not a mock draft out there that doesn't have the Cowboys selecting a running back in the first round. But Jones sounded rather blasé about taking a back, even Felix Jones, the guy some think is a slam dunk just because of his Hog roots. Jones would go on to diffuse the possibility by saying having Marion Barber "puts us in good shape there . . . so there is no gun to our head at running back." He would go on to say negotiations with Barber on an extension would have no influence, one way or another, on their draft strategy.
3rd, 4th or 5th round?
On drafting a cornerback in the first round: Now we're on to something it seems, and this has nothing to do with Terence Newman entering the final year of his deal or Anthony Henry having turned 31 and seemingly injury prone. Because when asked if he considered a third corner like a starter, Jones said, "Yes I do . . . you've really got to have more than three." There was more to read between the lines at corner. Jones said the team's draft board doesn't reflect a significant drop in talent between the corners considered the top three or four in this draft and maybe the next four, which would bode well for staying put at 22 or 28 and taking a guy good enough to be considered your third corner and eventually a future starter. He also said where the Cowboys are in the first round "is a good place to look" for cornerbacks. Bookmark that.
No news here
Don't summarily dismiss selecting an offensive lineman: Of course the Cowboys haven't taken an offensive lineman in the first round since 1981, but what if there was first-round quality at No. 28, sort of a bonus pick if you get exactly what you were looking for at 22? Hey, I'm not dreaming this up. Jerry brought it up - sorta. When asked what he expected out of his first-round
picks this first year, he didn't hesitate to say, "Significant contributors . . . even with an offensive lineman," which to me means there is a crack in some door for just that. Hmmm. Word is, there will be an offensive lineman worthy of a first-round pick in the Cowboys' first-round vicinity, and even though they spent a third last year on James Marten and a fourth on Doug Free, let's face it, Marc Colombo might be in his final year with the team, who knows how long Flozell Adams will last at left tackle and what's wrong with a talented lineman challenging Kyle Kosier at left guard. There is this, too, and Jones brought this up unprovoked: The Cowboys paid a dear price in free agency for missing on second-round pick Jacob Rogers and giving up on third-round pick Stephen Peterman, thus being forced to pay huge bucks to sign free agent Leonard Davis, re-sign Andre Gurode, re-sign Flo and sign Kosier in free agency. That price also was dear because the Cowboys spent so much of their draft resources the past six to eight years desperately searching for cornerbacks and pass rushers that they neglected the offensive line. Keep that in the back of your mind.
If Clady, Williams or Albert are there at 22, thats gonna be the pick IMO. I think Jones wants a CB in round 1 first and formost, and he knows he can get a good one at 28
On the possibility of trading out of the first round at No. 28: Seemingly very decent. Again, not me, Jones, and this has to do with the idea whoever is taken with a first-round pick on Saturday needs to be a "significant contributor" in 2008. Jones said if the guy the Cowboys are looking at is considered "a project," meaning will need a year or two to develop while making first-round money, then you will "see me coming down" - meaning trading out of the first round for a pick higher in the second. Jones also thinks that is a possibility anyway because there is a good chance some team high in the second round will see a quarterback they think is worth paying premium price to move up for, say like a Brian Brohm. Teams know the Cowboys are willing trade partners.
I would say highly likley
On using a first-round pick to trade for a veteran wide receiver: Absolutely, and Jones makes no bones about it. Now he would not say if there has been any backroom dalliance with Cincinnati's Chad Johnson, because as Jones pointed out, that would be tampering since Cincinnati hasn't given the disgruntled receiver permission to fly-fish for a trade, even if his agent is Drew Rosenhaus. (Washington, are you paying attention?) But he did say, however vague he was about the timing, that sometime between the end of the season and this week he did inquire about the possibility of trading for a veteran wide receiver, and the Cowboys have been linked in a recent report to have inquired about Johnson. Now if this were to happen, it would be April 26, when teams on the clock value these draft choices the most.
Redskins are making the reallllllly it hard for us. If the value has really been set at 2 #1's, its not going down
Forget about using a current player in a draft-day trade: Those of you out there promoting the use of a Bobby Carpenter or a Roy Williams or whoever else is in your fantasy to acquire the moon, forget about it. Jones unequivocally said not going to happen on draft day. "A poor time to get value out of a player is on draft day," he said. So don't ask again.
Same as last year. No surprise here
On the possibility of spending a second-day draft choice on a quarterback, since one recent mock had the Cowboys taking Andre Woodson in the fourth round: Didn't seem like the Cowboys think that absolutely must take place, and there is no reason to throw up a smoke screen for second-day intentions. Jones said, "We really like the progress we've seen in our young quarterback." He means last year's rookie practice squadder Richard Bartel, who was signed only after Matt Moore was claimed off waivers by Carolina following the final cut. "He has really gotten himself looking more like a quarterback," and would go on to say it wouldn't disappoint him if they came out of the draft without adding another quarterback.
No QB
On the benefits of addressing the safety position in the draft instead of free agency, considering the price paid this year for free-agent safeties: A very prudent move, even in the first round, which would fly directly in the face of team precedent. Yes, I know the Cowboys selected Roy Williams with a first-round pick in 2002. But he's the only safety selected with a first-round pick in club history. Yet how crazy have these free-agent contracts been this year? First the Colts retain Bob Sanders on a five-year, $37.5 million deal, which includes an $8 million signing bonus and $20 million in guarantees. Then there is Gibril Wilson turning his Super Bowl ring into a six-year, $39 million deal, with $16 million guaranteed from Oakland, and Cincy's Madieu Williams getting six years, $33 million from Minnesota. Gosh, that makes Ken Hamlin's $4.396 million franchise tender for this season seem like a steal for the Cowboys, and Jones did say the safety position is the last one with "some semblance of value" to franchise. But when it comes to free agency, "those salaries have gotten up there in the top 10 pick" range, Jones pointed out, meaning if you are going to get a good one, you might as well get one in the draft since free agency has become as, if not more expensive. So a safety with the 28th pick if available and worthy of being selected there? Maybe not so farfetched anymore, with Hamlin franchised for only one year, Williams possibly in a put-up or shut-up season and Patrick Watkins still seemingly in limbo. And let's not forget, there is no more Keith Davis. So the Cowboys could qualify a safety somewhere on the first day and certainly in the top three rounds since that guy definitely should be good enough to contribute "significantly" on special teams, possibly on the nickel or if Roy isn't "putting up."
Remember Phillps was there 3rd rated DB, ahead of Jenkins and Talib
So while it might seem Jerry didn't say a lot, if you are into interpreting what he might have been saying, he said a mouthful on Tuesday, with the draft now just four days away.
To review, he's not as hot and bothered about selecting a first-round wide receiver and running back as everyone seems to think he should be; a cornerback is a good possibility; trading up into the top 10 is rather unlikely; trading up into the teens does not seem his intention; trading out of the first round with the 28th is a good possibility, as is staying put at 22 and 28; and don't totally scoff at the possibility of taking an offensive lineman or safety in the first-round.
And here's to hoping your parakeet doesn't end up soiling all this, too
Ive seen Williams on some dropping lists. He could be there at 22.
Albert could be our LT of the future, with Flo here, we would have about 2 years to develope him. Its interesting, what would you do. Plug him in at G immediatly and keep him there, or sit him and let him learn LT?
Spags: Reading between the lines
Spags: Reading between the lines
Linear Mode
