Cowboys Draft '10, Mock 5.0 -- Trade Down City

This is an excellent draft. The first 4 picks would be solid contributors right off the bat. The ILB pick is perfect and excellent value. Ducasse fits our RT mold and has LT upside. It does not force safety but finds a good one in round 3. NT needs an upgrade and gets one, CB and C are fortified by solid prospects.

loving this scenario, big time.

I just don’t see another area on this team that is nearly as important. But if we do trade back, I hope we decide to go with quantity … again… on the O-Line. Shot-gun style drafting of 3 OLinemen, knowing that maybe only 2 make the final cut… but that would hopefully be 2 solid additions to the ONLY area of dire need on this team.

that he will stay put at 27? Or is that BS?

In a normal draft year there are 1st round grades placed on 22, 23 players (or thereabout) Isn’t is quite possible that with the great influx of underclassmen jumping in this year that there could easily be 1st round grades on 30 or more prospects. And doesn’t that translate to more prospects with second and third round grades and so forth?

Everything I’ve read is that this could be the deepest draft since 1983 which leads me to think the Boys should easily have access to a 1st round talent when 27 comes around.

Anyone care to help me out with my thought process? Is there a website somewhere that sets a draft board like the pros do and rates the talent according to 1st, 2nd, etc. round talents?

If this draft is so deep I’d be tempted to trade future picks to move up in the mid rounds of this one.

But I feel like we could get Pouncey at 27 and then Ducasse at 59 and that alone would make for a great draft in my eyes.

Why would it make sense, with so many teams angling for an OT, to expect to see him there at #57?

man I hate trading down; seems like when we do we get the Sherman Williams and Dwayne Goodriches; but since this is just mental masturbation anyway:
Spikes should be there at 38; gives us an active presence in the middle and insurance.
would prefer Saffold at 59 since he’s a better LT prospect even though his arms are an inch shorter than Vlads.
Doubt Burnett will be there at 81 as he’s projected as a solid 2 especially with a 4.4 on his pro day; if not go with Reshad Jones of Georgia;
love Ford at 90; sub 4.3 guys are rare; hope he’s still there;
big reach for Wood; see him as a 6-7 round guy. If we go with a NT in round 4 suggest Ross out of E. Carolina; pure NT
not seeing Turner listed in the top 50 CBs so would suggest Burney from CO; sub 4.4 at his pro day and solid at 5’10" 200 lbs.
like Matthews in round 7; if for no other reason he’s got the pedigree.

I’ve got a bad feeling about Brandon Spikes. I understand all that’s been said about his instincts, awareness, and knowledge, but can he overcome the crippling lack of speed when faced with NFL talent?
I look at Brandon Spikes, and I see current-day Takeo Spikes being abused in coverage over and over again. I hope I’m wrong; I’ve seen the guy and love his style of play. But that’s the impression I got.

Only took you 5 mocks to get it right, but better late than never. [Full disclosure, I kina liked your Mock 1.0]

I’ll take this draft and not look back.

I don’t like the first two picks. I don’t want to see the Cowboys go LB with our first pick in this draft since that is supposedly what last draft was for. If the Cowboys really need a LB behind Bradie James, I would much rather they wait until the third or fourth round and go for someone like Micah Johnson. rather try to get a safety like Nate Allen or go for a WR that can make plays. We could also use that pick to get maybe a falling offensive lineman since I find it very unlikely that a guy like Ducasse will go until #59.

Speaking of Ducasse, I think it is important to note that his career path is likely that of a guard. That doesn’t bother me terribly since we need a good interior lineman just as well, but I don’t really see him as a tackle.

As for the rest of the draft, I am pretty okay with the picks considering I particularly love Morgan Burnett (although I think he is a second round safety for sure) and Jacoby Ford, but that start to the draft just is not very appealing.

Guy like ford with that much speed, can be as slow as lineman in a 3 cone drill, if people want to be hard on spikes for his 40, then people should be hard on ford for his 3 cone drill. He was absolutely miserable.

instead of Al Woods I would rather go for Linval Joseph. He is bigger and has major upside.

Didn’t you see his 40 time?

Defense: A
ST: B
Offense: C (unless Ducasse can challenge for LG spot as a rookie, then a B)

Overall, I like it.

I’m not sure at all that Allen would be an upgrade over Hamlin ballhawking wise. So I say, give me some Burnett. But he’s climbing up some boards after a very good performance on his Pro Day, so I don’t think he would be around on the 3rd.

I would rather the Cowboys draft one of the Nittany Lion LBs that they are bringing in for a visit (Sean Lee and Navarro Bowman). They have good instincts AND are fast and athletic. I’ve seen Spikes play several times last year, and was not impressed. I’ve seen many Penn State games and think Lee and Bowman are far better players. If the Cowboys want to draft a big, slow linebacker they wait until later in the draft and pick someone like Micah Johnson.

I love this draft except I would draft a C/G (Pouncey Please) as my top pick. I would probably not happen at 39 like you have it here. But what about 36?

Do think this could happen if you use scenario 2 instead of 1?

I’d love to get Spikes, Ducasse, Burnett and Ford.

Would Mardy Gilyard be available where Ford is? Because even though I am a fan of Ford, I’m more of a fan or Mardy

IMHO, even though it is too early to tell, I think last year’s draft was a throw-away.

Now, having said that, and since it is your blog, I have a real problem with Spikes being the best player on the board at #38. That being the case, I would go with the top OL prospect or cover safety on the board; there is a good chance Maurkice Pouncey or even Charles Brown will still be around here. With that #59 pick, I have no real problem with Ducasse if a lineman wasn’t picked at 38. If that was the case, and if that earlier pick was a center or guard, we really need a tackle here so let’s go with the best available—Ducasse will play guard in the NFL. How about Jared Veldheer, a true left tackle that can replace Big Flo in a year or two.

In the third round, I see Burnett as more of a SS, rather than a cover guy, so I would go with Nate Allen, if he is still on the board, or even a CB who likes to hit. There are probably no free safeties, other than possibly Nate Allen, available here without reaching an awfully long way, so I am OK with Burnett if that is the case.

For that second third round pick, #90, I hate itsey, bitsey, teeny, weeny receivers! So, this would probably be a pretty good place to get that ILB—Sean Lee is a possibility here—but there may not be anyone available without reaching. Rather than reaching for an ILB, I am going to reach for someone else here: another OT, Tony Washington. First round potential, that if I don’t grab him here, may not be available shortly

In the fourth round, if he is still available, I would go with Jordan Shipley. The third round was a little too early, but he is good value here. If he is gone, then I am OK with your pick, Al Wood, at NT.

Sixth and seventh rounds? Who knows. Let’s go with a CB, A.J. Jefferson, Fresno State; and a SS, Barry Church, Toledo.

The only guys I really like are Earl Thomas, Maurkice Pouncey, Dez Bryant, and Anthony Davis/Bruce Campbell who are all unlikely to be there when the ’Boys pick.

I guess a trade would be the best option although I would probably be content with giving up our 1st rounder for Jared Gaither.