Mock Draft

It’s that time for my ultimate draft update. I will be forecasting the possible picks that I believe that Dallas Cowboys should be making. I am not going to compile a complete mock draft, but I am going to break down each round (except the 7th) for the Cowboys and make a realistic pick. So, here we go:

Round #1:
The Cowboys have the 22nd overall pick in the first round. There has been a lot of speculation on what position the Cowboys are going to target here. With the recent addition of Ken Hamlin at safety a lot of people are thinking that TO is going to get cut and this pick will be a wide receiver. However, being a Cowboys fan for as long as I can remember, I know Jerry Jones is not going to cut TO. That still leaves the option of taking a wide receiver like Robert Meachem or Dwayne Jarrett, but I think this pick has to be a defensive one. While the immediate need is at safety, it is highly doubtful that a quality safety will be available at their pick. That state of the secondary is really in flux, but I think they have enough personnel to compile a decent one. So, which does that leave? A struggling pass rush that Wade Phillips is determined to fix. Greg Ellis will be returning and Bobby Carpenter will be backing him up. So, outside linebacker is set. The defensive ends, Canty and Spears are young, but they have proven to be ineffective. I believe that this pick will be in the defensive line/pass rush category. Gains Adams is not really big enough to play in a 3 – 4 line and Jamaal Anderson, Alan Branch, and Amobi Okoye will probably be off the board. The first question here is who is going to be replaced. I think that answer is Spears, whom will be moving to backup defensive tackle. That should alleviate how many snaps Ferguson takes a game. So, the pick should be an end. That end is Adam Carriker of Nebraska. Carriker is an end/tackle tweener that is idea for the 3 – 4. He is extremely strong and is one of the most intense guys around.

Round #2:
The Cowboys have the 21st (53rd Overall) pick in the second round. This is going to be a very important pick because they do not have a third round pick this year. There are really many, many options here. The wide receivers on this team, Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn are aging and it is not really known if Patrick Crayton will ever be more then a third receiver. However, Miles Austin and Sam Hurd are being viewed as potential projects with big upsides. Jerry Jones is on the record claiming he could see them as number one receivers. Last year, the Cowboys picked Montavious Stanley in the later rounds with hopes that he would be able to win the backup defensive tackle spot. That did not happen and he was cut. He is now back on the team, but he obviously is not then answer to that problem, but picking Carriker and moving Spears to tackle would solve it. So, what does that leave? Offensive Guard. I know we just signed Leonard Davis, but there is a good possibility that we are going let Flo go at the end of the year and move Davis to tackle. A guard would thus be needed. That guy should be Josh Beekman of Boston College. He will be a great back up and he could even push Kyle Koiser for his job at right guard.

Round #4:
The Cowboys have the 23rd (122nd Overall) pick in the fourth round. I think this is the point where the Cowboys should add a wide receiver. It is actually funny because they picked Skyler Green in the fourth round last year and it didn’t really work out. I think I have found just the right the guy for this pick. Craig Davis of LSU was often overshadowed by his counterpart Dwayne Bowe, but he without has skills to be a good receiver in the NFL. It might be a stretch to think he will be available here, but I think he will be and this pick would bring in some good competition for Austin and Hurd. So, I think Davis would be an excellent pick here.

Round #5:
The Cowboys have the 22rd (159th Overall) pick in the fifth round. I know it seems like I have been ignoring the secondary, but I am going to address that with this pick. Kenny Scott, a cornerback out of Georgia Tech, has been viewed as having a good upside. He is a bit undersized and he does have some off the field issues, but he ran a great 40 and he has a lot of starting experience. If Henry is going to be moved to safety Scott could be able to do a decent job taking his place. I know plugging in a rookie 5th rounder sounds crazy, but if he comes through it will make the Cowboys look like geniuses. So, I would definitely take Kenny Davis with this pick.

Round #6:
The Cowboys have the 21st (195th Overall) and the 26th (200th Overall) picks in the sixth round. The first of these should be used to replace Ryan Fowler at backup middle linebacker. I think that guy is going to be Kelvin Smith out of Syracuse. Smith is a four year starter and was originally recruited by current linebackers coach Paul Pasqualoni. The second pick in this round should revert back to the offensive line. With Pat McQuistan as the only proven back-up tackle on the roster adding one here would be a good idea. Chris Denman of Fresno State would be an ideal fit. He is a good run blocker that will need to develop his pass blocking skills. He is a good project to embark on with this pick.


Quick Recap:
Round #1: Adam Carriker, defensive end, Nebraska
Round #2: Josh Beekman, offensive guard, Boston College
Round #4: Craig Davis, wide receiver, LSU
Round #5: Kenny Scott, cornerback, Georgia Tech
Round #6: Kelvin Smith, middle linebacker, Syracuse
Round #6: Chris Denham, offensive tackle, Fresno State

Revenue Sharing/Rule Changes

One of the hottest topics that is constantly floating around in the NFl is the issue of revenue sharing. I personally am not a fan. In my opinion revenue sharing should not exist. In fact I think teams that display poor home attendance figures should be penalized. The average attendance for the previous season should be calculated for each team at the start of each season. If the attendance in a particular game in the following season exceeds that average, the visiting team should receive that additional revenue. Thus teams that sell out ever game will never have to forfeit any revenue from ticket sales. This could potentially destroy owners who do not put the full effort into making their teams as good as they can possibly be. Teams that choose to spend half the money that other teams spend should not get the same return. That is a common fact of business. The more risk you take, the higher the reward can be.

It was also discussed at recent owner meetings that there are going to be some rule changes for next season. First, and foremost for a Cowboys fan, the balls used in the kicking game are going to be required to be broken in for over 40 minutes to ensure they are not slick. For those that have not heard, the ball Romo dropped was a brand new ball that had not been broken in. There is also going to be a penalty enforced for players that spike the ball somewhere other then the end zone. I think it is going to be treated as a delay of game. One of the more interesting new implementations will be that one defensive player is allowed to have a receiver in his helmet, much like a quarterback. This will allow defensive coordinators to call in plays to a designated player. There is only one player that is allowed to have this receiver, so when he is not in the game, signal calling must be used. Something that would have been helpful this year, coaches who are still in the playoffs will be allowed to partake in a second interview during the dead week before the Super Bowl. Two rules are also still being reviewed. Mike Nolan (head coach of the 49ers) proposed that the pass interference penalty be altered to 15 yards, unless it is blatant, in which it will continue to be at the spot of the foul. I am in full support of that because it will help our secondary.

Hamlin Added At Saftey

I was against the signing of Ken Hamlin from the beginning and I still do not think it was a great idea. However Hamlin signed a one year contract worth about 2.5 million. This did not use much cap space and it certainly does not indicate the Cowboys are committing to Hamlin as a long term solution. Hamlin is young, at age 26, and he is very athletic, but I just don't see him working out. Darren Woodson pledged his support for Pat Watkins the other day. He claimed that Watkins is capable of being the proper complement to Roy Williams. I am still sticking with my gut here and I am going to say that Anthony should be moved to free safety. Who better to provide coverage then a former cornerback. He is not included in the poll on the Cowboys website that Hamlin is winning by a large majority.

Quick Update

Jamel Richarson and Jim Molinaro have signed, but they seem to have passed on Brock Berlin. Jerry Jones stated that it is still a possibility that the team will take a journeyman quarterback in the later rounds and attempt to turn him into another Romo. Molinaro should help fill the void that recent cut Jason Fabini left and Richardson will add depth at wide receiver. Talks are still being held Hamlin, but I hope it doesn't work out. On another note I would like to see the Cowboys bring in Randall Gay, a cornerback with New England last year. Gay had a great rookie season, but last year was cut short by injury.

Free Agent Workouts

Three unrestricted free agents that are flying under the radar were brought in for workouts at the ranch. Brock Berlin, a quarterback, spent the last two years trying out with Jason Garret in Miami. However, he never made the team or the practice squad. I would love to see him make the team and become another Tony Romo, but probably will not happen here. Berlin was a highly touted high school recruit but he never had much success at the University of Florida and later the University of Miami. Nevertheless he is most likely going to be invited to camp to compete with Matt Barker (last year's practice squad quarterback) for the third quarterback position. Highly sought after Jamel Richardson, also worked out. Richardson is a wide receiver, who spend the last few years in the CFL. He is regarded as one of the better receivers in the CFL and he has also scheduled a workout with the Colts. The last one, Jim Molinaro was a restricted free agent offensive lineman that did not receive a tendered offer from Washington. While he has experience I highly doubt he will do much, besides maybe push Cory Proctor a little harder.

Ken Hamlin also visited today to discuss a possible contract with the Cowboys. Hamlin played free safety last year with the Seahawks. This would be an awful sign in my opinion. Hamlin was not even offered a deal to come back to Seattle and the Saints recently passed on him signing Kevin Kaesviharn instead. Hamlin is also a bigger, hard hitting safety. Roy Williams already does that. Signing Hamlin would add depth behind Williams at strong safety, but bringing him in to start at free safety would be a huge mistake. We need someone who can cover very well to make of for Roy Williams' frequent misreads in coverage. I am a full supporter of moving Henry to free safety and drafting a corner with the first round pick. If the Jerry Jones is serious about Hamlin, then that would lead me to believe that they want to take a wide receiver in the first round, which would ultimately point to TO's release. This is a horrible plan.

Crazy Ray Passes

For as long as this franchise has been around Crazy Ray has been on the sidelines cheering them on. He eventually fell victim to multiple illness and passed away last week. While he was not an official mascot, he was one of the symbols of this team. For those of you that never knew about Crazy Ray, he basically dressed up like a cowboy, with the traditional hat, boots, and mock pistols. Ray always brought a smile to everyones face during the games and he will never be forgotten.

In other news, Ryan Fowler's contract offer from the Titans was not matched. Eleven million dollars for a reserve was just too high a cost. I am curious to see how they are going to fill the hole at middle linebacker at this juncture. I would love to get a veteran, just as insurance. However, James and Ayodele have been very good and injury free. A fourth round pick seems like most likely course of action to fill this hole.

Stay tuned, because in the near future I am going to post a full seven round breakdown of whom I believe the Cowboys should be taking in the upcoming NFL draft.

Correction

Ryan Fowler has apparently signed an offer sheet with Tennesse Titans instead of the Philidelphia Eagles. Tennesse is offering him the opportunity to start and they tossed out a four year deal worth eleven million dollars. Fowler, being a Duke product, would love to return back to the southeast and compete for a starting job. It is highly doutbful that the Cowboys are going to match that offer. I did not think that Fowler would command that kind of money. Now it looks as if we are going to have to spend a thrid or fourth round pick on a middle linebacker, again. As I previously discussed, I hope they don't sign Singleton back and move Carpenter back to the middle. Carpenter is far better as an outside linebacker because of his significant size. They need someone smaller and quicker for the middle.

Fowler Signs Offer Sheet With Eagles

Ryan Fowler, an restricted free agent, signed an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Eagles. Fowler was signed by the Cowboys a few years ago after he went undrafted out of Duke University. Thus if the Cowboys fail to match the Eagles' offer, they will not get any compensation for Fowler. In my opinion I would strongly recommend making Fowler a long term offer. Fowler has been an exceptional special teams player and he is our most valuable reserve middle linebacker. Losing Fowler would just create another depth issue. I highly doubt the Cowboys plan on resigning Al Singleton because they want Bobby Carpenter to take over his duty as the primary backup to Greg Ellis. If we let Fowler go then Carpenter would have to moved back to middle linebacker and Al Singleton would have to be signed. This would be be a costly move and would take up unnecessary cap space, plus Singleton is old. On top of all of that, how could we let the division rival Eagles pick up Fowler? So, starting now, the Cowboys have one week to make Fowler an offer and I recommend they do.

Colombo FINALLY Signs

All is finally happy in my little world because Marc Colombo finally signed with the Cowboys. The contract is a two year deal for seven million dollars, with four guaranteed. I would have liked to have seen them signed Colombo for more time, but as I previously mentioned he was injured for the majority of his first three seasons in the NFL. He was a first round pick out of Boston College and he has not lived up to his potential, but I think this is the season that he is going to play to all of his capabilities. If he completes the whole season without injury, then he really needs to be resigned to a long term deal. If you have not been keeping up with my previous posts, Colombo will be retaining his starting spot at right tackle next year. Thus, new signee, Leonard Davis will be playing at right guard. As like last year, Flozell Adams and Kyle Koiser will hold down the left side and Andre Gurode will be the man in the middle. I can finally say that this year's offensive line is going to very talented. Assuming that no major injuries occur, this will be one of the best units in the NFL.

Coleman and Johnson Depart

Kenyon Coleman, the Cowboys thrid option at defensive end left in free agency to join the Jets. Coleman was a solid contributor after the Cowboys switched to the 3-4 and he will be missed. Coleman primarily played on thrid down situations and usually provided a good pass rush, something that Spears and Canty seem to have difficulty with these day. Coleman will be playing the same type of role in New York. He was not considered one of the Cowboys priorties because they probably feel that Jason Hatcher is ready for a bigger role in the defense. While I do think Hatcher is ready for a bigger role, it would have nice to have Coleman back as an insurance policy. If one of the defensive ends gets hurt, we would only have two ends with experience.

As I predicted Al Johnson was not retained by the team, however he did sign with the Cardinals. As a second round pick he was ultimalty a disapointment. When he was picked, he was expeced to start at center with Gurode playing right guard. This experiment lasted for one season before the Cowboys realized they were better off with Gurode at center. Parcells frequently said that Johnson was not the right size to play center. Johnson was considered too tall and he frequently found himself getting toppled over from the bottom. Some people around the league, like the Cardinals, believe he is still capable of being a good player in the NFL, but I would not expect to hear much about him again.

More Signings

Leonard Davis was introduced today in a press conference with Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips. After the conference the Cowboys had two more announcements.

Martin Gramatica will be returning next year to resume his kicking duties. In my opinion he was the best kicker available besides Lawrence Tynes. Tynes was restriced free agent and would have cost the Cowboys a conditional draft pick, so Gramatica was the best route here. I love his ability to come in and make the clutch kick. That 46 yarder to beat the Giants was pretty nasty. Thus is something the team lacked for a long time and hopefully Gramatica can provide more consistency in the kicking game.

The other sign was Brad Johnson, a proven quarterback with plenty of starts under his belt. Getting Johnson is a huge boost to the Cowboys' security. If something happens to Romo (knock on wood) we know will we have a proven guy to trun to. The only potnetial problem with Johnson is that he is a true pocket passer and Romo is not. Therefore the offensive is going to have to be tailored should Johnson need to come in. Nevertheless, Johnson is a good player and will provide tons of security and leadership to this team. It seems like I end every update this way, but we still have not signed Marc Colombo. The latest news is that the Cowboys have offered him a two year contract, but Marc is looking for a longer deal. Colombo has been injury prone, playing in just three games his first three years in the league and last year was the only year he played all 16 games. While it is risky, I think he deserves at least three years, we need him back.

Davis Signs

My anger in my last post has somewhat subsided now that Leonard Davis has officically signed with the Cowboys. His deal is a 7 year deal worth about $49.6 million. I thought it was going to be worse then that, so I guess it worked out, although he is now the highest paid lineman of this offseasn. He probably wasn't best lineman available, but whatever. As I mentioned previously, where he is going to be playing on the line depends on if the Cowboys can get a deal done with Marc Colombo. If Colombo returns Davis will be playing right guard with Colombo back at right tackle. This would be the optimal situation. I would love to see Davis replace Marco Rivera because he was getting pushed back into the backfield on routine. If Colombo does not return Davis will play tackle. There is also a possibilty that Davis could be moving to left tackle for the season after this comming one if Flozell Adams does not return for 2008. All in all this was a good sign and Davis will help our offensive line improve from last season.

Opening Day Failure/Bledsoe Cut

As I perdicted and as Drew Bledsoe wanted he was cut from the Dallas Cowboys. I would love to see him get another opportunity as a starter in this league and I wish him all the best. He did a good job holding down the quarterback position until Romo was ready.

I have to say that the Cowboys have so far sucessfully dug themselves into a huge hole after the opening day of free agency. I metioned in one of my previous posts that I would have loved to see Nate Clements sign in Dallas, but he opted to sign on with the 49ers instead. From a business perspective, he was way over paid. I mean really an eight year, eighty million dollar deal was just outragous for him. This deal drives up the price of all free agent corners and I really think the Cowboys are going to have to turn to the first round of the draft to find their corner. At least thats what I hope they are thinking. The top free agent guards: Eric Steinbach signed with the Browns and Derrick Dockery signed with the Bills. The Cowboys seemed to have their minds made up that they wanted to pass on those guys and get Leonard Davis because of his vesatility to play both guard and tackle at a high level. However, they managed to let him leave and visit, of all places, Washington tomorrow. The also failed to sign Marc Colombo. I mean in a prefect world they would sign Davis to play right guard and Colombo to play right tackle and the offensive line would be looking pretty solid. I just have a bad feeling that Jerry Jones is going to mess all this up again. Maybe the Cowboys are headed down the same road that they were when Jimme Johnson left. While I certainly hope, for my sanity, that this is not the case, the Cowboys are in a hole and they are going to have to over pay players just to get back into this thing.

McBriar Locked Up

Yesterday the Cowboys' pro bowl punter, Matt McBrair signed a five year $8.5 million deal. He also received a $2.5 million bonus. Last year McBrair had a 48.2 yards per punt average, which was the longest average since 1962. So, obviusly getting McBriar back was on the priority list. Feild position can make all the difference in a game and McBriar allows us to get out of our own side of the feild and on to the opponents side. While a lot of people are thinking that $8.5 million might be a little too much for a punter, McBriar is the best in the business and the Cowboys have plenty of cap room to retain him. I hate to say it but if McBriar ever fell off or had a lot of difficulty, they could also cut him and avoid a lagre part of the salary. Free agency starts on friday and it was a great plan to ensure the McBriar never hit the market. Marc Colombo deserves to be signed back and the Cowboys should be making him a fair offer before tomorrow when he hits the market. There is speculation they are going to try to make a puch for the Cardinals' Leonard Davis but I would love to see them sign Colombo back and foucs that money somewhere else that could use more improvement.

In other news the defensive coaching staff still seems to be up in the air. The leading candidate for defensive coordinator appears to be Brian Stewart, last year's secondary coach for the Chargers. I have to say that this would not be the best decision in my mind. The players seem to love Todd Bowles and it might cause a locker room divide to bring in another secondary oriented coach. I would like to see Paul Pasqualoni be named defensive coordinator. He was the head coach at Syracuse for a while and he actually had Stewart work under him there.