What about Jared Gaither?
by The Triplets on Mar 3, 2010 5:37 PM CST
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PrintHe fits the profile of a Cowboys lineman, at 6-9 340 and he's only 23 (per ESPN), and he is likely to receive a first round tender per ESPN.
NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported on Wednesday that the Baltimore Ravens are placing the first round RFA tender on Jared Gaither.
Also, this is what the scouting section of the ESPN player profiler says,
Gaither is a young, ascending player and the Ravens' starting left tackle. He has tremendous size, particularly with his extreme height and overall length, to man the blind side. However, there are times when his high center of gravity is used against Gaither. Gaither remains a work in progress but is a punishing finisher in Baltimore's power blocking scheme. As he gains experience, his hand placement and understanding of his opponent will improve.
Now, considering that it seems likely Russell Okung, Bryan Bulaga, Bruce Campbell, Anthony Davis, Trent Williams, and Mike Iupati will be gone by the time we pick I think it makes some sense to look into this option. We know he can play already, so there's less risk. I think that if the Cowboys scouting department would grade him higher than any lineman we could get in round 1, we should at least consider making him an offer.
Also, we would have a legitimate shot at signing him away seeing as the Ravens have Michael Oher who they know can play the left side and so might decide to part with him for a first rounder.
Another thing to consider is our first rounder may very well have only second round value (depending on how many first round grades our scouts assign) and thus our pick is more like a high second rounder.
My only reservation, is we can't know who would fall to us at 27 right now, and I don't like trading draft picks for players. (Every time I think of the Joey Galloway or Roy Williams trades I get very angry, all the young talent we gave up for them).
However, this may be the best shot we have at shoring up our line and considering Jerry's comments concerning whether or not we can get another good year from Flo, this should be looked into in my opinion. Your thoughts?
Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.
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Its worth at least considering
if it would only cost us a first round. However, if we did it, he would more or less demand to play now due to the fact that any contract used to get him away would be pretty large so it would probably be the end of the Flozell era in Dallas.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
I'm interested
I wonder why BAL would put up a 23 yr old LT on the trade block? If it’s only because Oher is going to be the LT in the future, or is it something else?
to make the jump to the next level, Odrick said today he needs to work on one area. "Just being more violent overall,'' Odrick said. "Play the game and play it right, violently.''
He's a RFA, just like Miles
I wouldnt necessarily consider that the trading block…Although, if they are only tendering a 1st for him(rather than 1st & 3rd like Miles will be) that is kinda strange.
That's GM code for make us an offer
After reading through the BAL site, it seems that Oher is eventually going to be moved to LT, and Gaither is scheduled to become an UFA next season, so if he wants LT money next season, he won’t get it from BAL. This is Ozzie Newsome making sure he gets something for a guy who is good enough to be LT on a lot of teams.
Their website is in favor of moving him for a 1st or 2nd, then dealing for Brandon Marshall, which sense.
to make the jump to the next level, Odrick said today he needs to work on one area. "Just being more violent overall,'' Odrick said. "Play the game and play it right, violently.''
*makes sense
to make the jump to the next level, Odrick said today he needs to work on one area. "Just being more violent overall,'' Odrick said. "Play the game and play it right, violently.''
Wow seems like a great deal from our perspective
and give them Roy Williams while we are at it
2009 BTB Fantasy Champ... Deal with it
Out of all the FA's thrown around as possible Cowboys in 2010
This one seems like it’s not only possible, but would solve a major problem. Being the guy is only 23, it’s almost like getting a rookie. Plus BAL would be getting a good return on a 5th rd supp. draft pick, and he’d be out of their conference.
I guess the rest is up to the Jones’s to get a deal together if they want him.
to make the jump to the next level, Odrick said today he needs to work on one area. "Just being more violent overall,'' Odrick said. "Play the game and play it right, violently.''
by APerfectStar on Mar 3, 2010 10:25 PM CST up reply actions
I agree.
For Gaither I would be willing to trade our first, but would be interested in seeing if we could work out a different deal with perhaps 2011 picks involved so as to stay active in this deep draft.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
by Cowboyfan729 on Mar 3, 2010 11:02 PM CST up reply actions
I would take that deal in a second
the guy is proven. That makes him better than everyone except for maybe Okung.
2009 BTB Fantasy Champ... Deal with it
Gentlemen, gentlemen
this isn’t fantasy football.
Gather may be better than an OT you could get at 27, but is he really better than a player you might have rated 12th or 15th or thereabouts?
Cause those guys fall.
Flo dropped way down in ’98. He was the 19th or so in my draft books that year.
Tony Brackens dropped way down in ’96.
Aaron Rodgers dropped big time.
So did Mike Jenkins.
So you pull the trigger now and on draft day a real stud drops to 27.
Who’s gonna be saying “thank you” then?
Patience, people It’s March 3rd.
say Raf
if it does turn out that this draft has only 21 first rounders per your inside source, wouldn’t that make it more likely Jerry would look into something like this?
Also, it seems my reservation about getting Gaither lines up with yours
My only reservation, is we can’t know who would fall to us at 27 right now…
Anyways, I didn’t mean this was a done deal, or a sure thing. I just thought it would be interesting to hear what fellow btbers opinions were seeing as this seems a possibility.
From your reply I guess I have one question, are you dead set against this idea, or do you have reservations about it? I guess how strongly for or against it are you? Is it just that a stud might fall or are there other reasons?
by The Triplets on Mar 4, 2010 12:59 AM CST up reply actions
It's worth considering
but how does the team rate Gaither?
My bigger point is yours. What’s the rush? They can cut this deal if they really like it when they’re on the clock in April.
Yes, agree there is no rush
But it’s the most interesting RFA availability I’ve heard so far.
to make the jump to the next level, Odrick said today he needs to work on one area. "Just being more violent overall,'' Odrick said. "Play the game and play it right, violently.''
I wouldn't be too upset no matter who drops to #27
If Dallas pulls in a LT of Gaither’s quality who’s only 24 and has his best football ahead of him.
to make the jump to the next level, Odrick said today he needs to work on one area. "Just being more violent overall,'' Odrick said. "Play the game and play it right, violently.''
by APerfectStar on Mar 4, 2010 12:59 AM CST up reply actions
I mostly agree with that
Can anybody come up with a player who realistically could fall to us that they would take over Gaither? (That means, Suh, McCoy, Berry, etc. are out, but maybe a guy like Earl Thomas or Anthony Davis are in)
Thoughts?
I can't think of anyone besides Earl Thomas
I would rank Gaither over all the possible LT’s
Maybe Iupati? But LT trumps LG
Pouncey? LT trumps C
to make the jump to the next level, Odrick said today he needs to work on one area. "Just being more violent overall,'' Odrick said. "Play the game and play it right, violently.''
Agreed
I would love for the Cowboys to take Pouncey from a need-meets-value perspective, but a good LT like Gaither trumps that since we could just pick up a C/G guy in the 3rd or 4th round (J.D. Walton jumps to mind). To be honest, if we walked away from the draft with Gaither, a guy like Walton, along with solid S (Burnett in the second or a guy like Major Harris in the third) and WR prospect (Taylor Price in the second or Jacoby Ford later on would be quite nice) I would be thrilled.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
Ehhh
I am not so sure. I think he is a good bit tougher over the middle than DHB and seems to be a little quicker and more agile than DHB (although maybe not as fast).
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
a pass rushing 3-4 DE
a stud safety; either spot could push our D towards some of the best defensive football played in a decade
by AustonianAggie on Mar 4, 2010 10:41 AM CST up reply actions
Also, Free is the LT of the future, so Gaither is not a need but an accessory
by AustonianAggie on Mar 4, 2010 10:41 AM CST up reply actions
Gaither Would Upgrade RT
by allowing Free to compete with Colombo; and Gaither would provide depth at LT and hasten the day Flo is retired. There is no way Dallas can consider any offensive line additions that are starters and possible Pro Bowl talent as accessory. There is no weaker link on this team than the combination of its depth at oline, its starting LT, and the overall poor pass protection that is the mark of this oline group
This again.
And I might even take him over Earl Thomas, considering there are still some pretty good guys that will be available in the 2nd and some good FA options too.
Ready for some baseball.
My Fantasy Is Emerging As Fact
Flo is old and hobbled. Dallas is weak at pass protection at the tackle spots. Dallas lacks depth at the oline. Jared Gaither fits the bill. Earlier during this discussion, the consensus was that there were no quality LTs availabe or that would hit the market. Obviously that turned out not to be true. The only question is whether Dallas wants to roll the dice on the decaying Hotel for another year. I expect the answer is no and Dallas will make a move to shore up its oline starting with LT. This immediately shores up RT since Free can now challenge Colombo. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a sign and trade for a LT that allows Dallas to keep its one this year. And, it may not be Gaither . . . but Dallas simply has no choice but to address its oline this year and they must start with LT and think about Right Guard and Center.
I doubt tackles will fall
more often than not they get over drafted.
2009 BTB Fantasy Champ... Deal with it
True Dat
But I am hoping Dallas tries to secure a veteran LT and kick Flo to the curb or at least try and make him earn a roster spot. This is the essential first step to fixing the oline. Then a center would provide depth at both guards spots by leveraging the prospect Gurode could move to guard if necessary. We would have competition at both tackles spots, and center, and even left guard. Dallas is never going to get past the Vikings in the next few years if they do not fix the leaking pass protection at the tackle spots.
nice to get some
feedback on this from you guys. It seems like it could be a possibility and I’d have to say I’d be pretty happy if it happened, but we’ve still got too wait an make sure that BAL only puts the first rounder on him as they reportedly will.
Also other teams might be interested, so we could be in a bit of a bidding war perhaps?
I just saw that.
For some reason, I had been thinking he only received a second. That would have been quite appealing, but I’ll pass for a 1 and a 3.
I might
I think people over-value third round picks too much. People think it is a great round because it is considered “first day”, but in terms of actually hitting on players it is closer to the fourth round.
2009 BTB Fantasy Champ... Deal with it
true—- but Jason Witten was a 3rd Rounder
(but so was perennial back up Jason Hatcher)
by AustonianAggie on Mar 4, 2010 10:43 AM CST up reply actions
My only worry would be
losing two more picks headed into this draft when we’re already going to be a pick short. That would leave us with only a 2,4,6, and 7, plus any compensatory picks we may receive (which I don’t think will be too promising).
by Mandmeisterx on Mar 4, 2010 10:59 AM CST up reply actions
O-Line Help
obviously, we need it, and we need it immediately. Regardless of who falls to #27 we probably won’t insert him into an offense on a team that is poisd to make a run.
Maybe you insert a rookie IF you are a moderate to bad team, but not on a team like ours.
I would be fine with trading the 27th pick for someone like this who is VERY young, has tons of up side and would step in immediately.
This does not mortgage our future by any means, if we trade OUT of the first round we just en up with more picks and there are not going to be that many spots on this roster. Even if we do ‘turn over’ the 10 spots that Jerry mentions in some of his interviews, 6 or more will probably be draft picks (role players now and our future later) and the rest will be free agents we need to step in right now to improve at O Line, Safety, Kicker (possibly, if Buehler does not pan out as a true kicker).
With that said we DON’T need more draft picks in later rounds for players who might not make the team anyway.
Our window is open NOW, for probably the next four years, barring catastrophic injury to a Romo, Austin, Witten, D Ware, or the like…
I think our running back stuation will yield some players / picks after this season, i think this year we will keep all three, but after this year we probably won’t have that luxury, so we will work that situation for players or picks….
with all that said i think giving up a first round pick for an O lineman who is VERY young with tremendous upside and who is no worse than the player he would replace is a real solid move.
Two things not to like
First, he is recovering from a neck injury, and neck injuries to linemen make me jittery. Ask Chris Samuels.
Second, he hired Drew Rosenhaus. ’Nuff said.
I would let someone else, who needs an OT, take the risk on him and hope that a player we have ranked higher falls a bit as a result.
Stay put. Protect the pick. Use it wisely.
"Emotion is highly overrated in football. My wife Corky is emotional as hell but can't play football worth a damn."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dallas can bring him in for a medical before signing an offer sheet
And Drew Rosenhous has a good relationship with the Jones’s.
I don’t see either thing as a problem.
to make the jump to the next level, Odrick said today he needs to work on one area. "Just being more violent overall,'' Odrick said. "Play the game and play it right, violently.''
Neck issues are impossible to gauge in a medical
Most people have compressed or herniated disks in their spine somewhere, but only small percentage actually ever have to face any pain, numbness or loss of strength from it.
Again, a known neck issue is enough reason to stay away.
"Emotion is highly overrated in football. My wife Corky is emotional as hell but can't play football worth a damn."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I don't know Gaither's ability
how does he compare to Free’s potential?
We saw a glimpse of Free at the end of the year and I think the organization feels he is the future at LT, possibly this year. I think the organization is thinking of 2nd-4th round as an area they can get the future RT possibly, though if an elite tackle is available in the 1st they’d take it. I just am not sure they are sold on using the 27th pick for tackle which is what this deal would require them to decide.
Regarding trading back in the draft with the 27th pick, I imagine that trade would net a 2nd or 3rd this year and possibly a 1st rounder next year. That doesn’t result in more picks this year but could allow us to move back in a deep draft this year where there will still be value and pick up picks for next year when the depth will be lacking and we can pick earlier.
The real question
is do we think he’ll still be around, unsigned by the Draft? To an extent, you overpay now for certainty – just like CHI did to get J Peppers. The Free at LT equation is speculative because we just don’t have enough empirical evidence to know, however Free at RT has been demonstrated – QED (gotta love Latin in HS. Thanks, Jesuits).
I'm not losing my memory, I'm living in the now
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