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Around SBN: NFL Week One: Previews and Predictions for all 15 games

The Power of the 7th Round....

With the first pick in the 6th Round the Cowboys selected a bit of a head scratcher in Erik Walden.  I frantically dug through my numerous draft guides and computer printouts to find absolutely nothing about this kid.  When I watched a youtube.com video of Erik's low budget workout, I was even less impressed.  Why did we reach for this kid with players like Josh Barrett, Domonique Barber, Erin Henderson, Paul Hubbard, Andre Woodson, and Razorback Peyton Hillis still on the board?

Still upset, my buddies told me to get over it....for it's just a 6th round pick and it doesn't matter.

That made me mad and got me thinking; Where would we have been last season if it weren't for our 7th round picks in our previous drafts?

Jason Ferguson gets injured - insert 7th round pick Jay Ratliff

Terry Glenn is injured - insert 7th round pick Patrick Crayton

Terrance Newman gets hurt - insert 7th round selection Jacque Reeves

Jacque Reeves moves into the LCB position - insert 7th round selection Nate Jones as our Nickel Corner

 

My point is that these picks do count.  Of course every year we hear all about guys like Tom Brady and Marques Colston that end up being absolute steals in the late rounds of the NFL Draft.  But what we often overlook is theother guys that fight every practice to get better and stay on the 53-man roster.  These are players that accept their role as a reserve and/or special teams player.  These are guys that are cut and re-sign and then get thrown into a starting role at a moments notice.  Without our success in the 7th round over the last several years, we don't win 13 games last season.  The fact is, these picks do count and these picks are very important.  Of course the jury is still out on Walden, but in my mind there was still a lot of value on the board that could have added to our roster before the cigars were lit.

Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.

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i really wanted to see Erin Henderson if he was available late get a pick here

.500 or bust!

Bad Vibes Kill Rallies!

"Well, we are one of the cheapest teams in Major League Baseball"
-Tom Hicks 4/8/2008

by Jayslick on Apr 29, 2008 11:54 AM CDT reply actions  

Couldn't agree more....

I thought his size and strength made him a perfect fit at ILB in our 34. Getting Henderson might have been good “insurance” if Zach Thomas is not able to stay healthy and we need some additional depth.

Cowboy Up!

by CowboyCrazy on Apr 29, 2008 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions  

He's another guy who had a bad injury history

Talented but oft injured, like Josh Barnett.

T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003

by APerfectStar on Apr 29, 2008 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions  

My thoughts exactly CowboyCrazy

Wasted pick, for a guy who had a good shot of going undrafted. The worst thing is, we are loaded at LB. Really thin at NT,SS,FB could have gotten someone to at least compete for a position of need, rather than a position of strength.

T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003

by APerfectStar on Apr 29, 2008 3:28 PM CDT reply actions  

I agree....I'm completely baffled by that selection.....seriously dumbfounded....

I can name 20 DE/OLB prospects better than this guy….and they weren’t even drafted…..the 6th round???

Are you kiddin’ me Jerry ????

that pick alone made me grade them with a B instead of A…

If he turns into Justin Tuck, good deal…..but I’m not counting on him even making the roster…

A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.

"If you don’t take him off the field as a coach, he will just about die out there," Jerry Jones said. "That impacted my decision. It’s a Michael Irvin-type work ethic. That’s what we are talking about with Felix Jones."
- Owner/G.M of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones

by BoyzRback on Apr 29, 2008 8:25 PM CDT reply actions  

he may turn into something

apparently management saw something in him….because we probably could have signed him as a UDFA…...IMO

You'll never get in a traffic jam,while going the extra mile. -Roger staubach

by TrueBlue24 on Apr 29, 2008 11:42 PM CDT up reply actions  

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