Free Agency, Trades, Cuts, and Draft...

I like the kid, but I don’t think he brings THAT MUCH of a different dimension to the running game anymore. I saw DeMarco Murray do a lot of things that Felix can do, plus he is more physical and doesn’t constantly get shoestrung (tackled because someone nicked his foot or barely got a hand on him as he was moving forward). I don’t know what I would try to get for him but I would be all for grabbing a guy like David Wilson, Lamar Miller or a power back like Chris Polk is supposed to be to take his place. Then you have an every down back that is pretty good in space, a power dude to handle the tough stuff and a nimble guy that runs purely with heart in Phillip Tanner. Best part is that any of them could handle a starting role, which Felix hasn’t done so well at.

I will be shocked if Dre is still there @ 14. I think he is undoubtebly a top 10 pick. Next Kwame Geathers and Dontari Poe are also first round talents so they will not be there in the second either. Also Peter Konz will not make it to the second round either. Peter Konz with ONE HAND is better than a 3rd rounder. There are 6 players on NFP that have an 8.0 or better rating in this draft so far, and Konz is one of them. He won’t be a top 10 pick, but he isn’t escaping the first round, and if he did, it’s early second round.

In the second round it is more likely to grab a player like Montana CB Trumaine Johnson or VTech CB Jayron Hosley or Maybe Markell Martin will have some value there (but you might be able to wait until the third from what I hear), or probably you pick up your Offensive guard or maybe a center (Konz will be gone) like Ben Jones from Georgia.

In the third I hear Jayron Hosley might make it there, but I think he will blow up the combine and pro days and will be a second round talent when all is said and done and would be a great option for a 4th corner right now as he is a backfield bandit and much better than Alan Ball is right now.

I will do another edition of keeping up with the collegiates after the combine and we will see where people have gone and we will also know the possible draftees for sure by then as well.

Also in Free Agency Deunta Williams out of UNC is there as he was never drafted and took a year off to rehab his broken leg. Guy is about the same size as Dez Bryant and about the same hand size too. He was a former wide reciever and has great ball skills and could be a good free agent pickup this off-season. If nothing else he is worth bringing in for camp

and peter konz isn’t gonna last until the third, he’s gone in the late first

The way he caught fire the last quarter of the season is what Tennessee has been waiting for since they drafted him. He will be a big part of their offensive plans, especially with a green QB.

I like your thought process, but you just went more Madden than real life.

I see us making one good addition (probably in the secondary), and a few high upside free agents (really like the Terrell Thomas gamble)

I would be shocked if either Campbell or Carr made it to free agency. Both are very good young players.

The basic idea is right….it is just too grand.

You obviously put a lot of thought into it. I like the process, but like someone above said, your end result is something straight out of Madden, which is something I probably would’ve ended up doing.

My strategy for the draft is we need to absolutely nail this draft class from top to bottom. Therefore with that being said here’s my 5 round mock draft (with reasoning behind each pick):

RD1: (If David DeCastro is off the board)Nick Perry (DE at USC, 3-4 OLB for Dallas): he’s 6’3 250 and runs 4.6 40. He’s rated by NFL Draft Scout as the top DE prospect in this year’s draft. They list him at DE because that’s the position he played at USC. In 2011, he led the Pac-12 with 9.5 sacks, had 54 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 3 passes broken up. His career totals are 105 Tackles, 23 sacks, and 29 tackles for loss.

The kid put up these numbers in the Pac-12 which features good offenses, and good play from the QBs. He wasn’t putting up these numbers against predominantly scrub offenses in the SEC like Ingram and Upshaw. Moreover, he possess ideal size and speed for a pass rushing 3-4 OLB.

RD2: Markelle Martin (FS/SS Ok State): NFL Draft Scout rates Martin as the best FS prospect in the draft. Our safety play has been atrocious for quite some time, and Martin can help change that. He’s 6’1 198 and runs a 4.47 40. Can play either the FS or SS positions. He’s got good coverage skills; a hard hitter, who tackles well (especially in run support); he comes out of the Troy Polamalu mold. In 2009, he had 45 tackles, and 11 pass broken up. In 2010, he had 55 tackles, 3 INTs, and 10 passes broken up. In 2011, he had 74 tackles, 2 Forced Fumbles, and 11 passes broken up. He’s also a RKG, a good teammate and does well in the classroom. I trust his production in the Big 12 as the offensive talent is second to maybe the schools in the Pac 12. When you have a position of need, and you have the chance to take the best player at that position, you don’t leave it to chance, you must take him and not look back.

Furthermore, waiting till the 3rd round to take Aaron Henry would be foolish. For starters, Henry has been at Wisconsin since 2007, switched positions from corner, but also has an injury history. He has bust written all over him, and like I said, the Cowboys can’t afford to get cute in this draft.

RD3: Kevin Zeitler (G Wisconsin): If Dallas didn’t take David DeCastro in round 1, then this is the best G prospect left in the draft.

RD4: Josh Robinson (CB UCF): Robinson is 5’10 192 and runs 4.49 40. He has 10 career INTs and 36 passes broken up in 3 seasons, which is 2 shy of Asante Samuel’s school record. He was All Conference USA Second team in 2009, First team in both 2010 and 2011. For the 2011 season he had 2 interceptions and 15 pass breakups. Dallas has glaring need to at the corner position, and he addresses that need.

RD5: Casey Hayward (CB Vanderbilt): Hayward is 5’11 188 and runs 4.53 40. Like I said above, this addresses a position of need. He was Vanderbilt’s best player (their shutdown corner). In 2009, he had 58 tackles (40 solo), 8.5 tackles for loss, 7 defended passes and 2 INTs. In 2010, he was 2nd Team All SEC with 70 tackles (58 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 17 passes defended (led league), and 6 INTS. In 2011, again made 2nd Team All SEC with 54 tackles (40 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss, 14 passes defended (lead league), and 4 INTs. According to ESPN, “He’s an above average athlete with excellent instincts and recognition skills, and frequently gets an early break on the ball as he reads both the QB and receiver. He’s best suited to play zone coverage.”

If defense is what you want, especially bolstering up the secondary, then this is the no nonsense draft Dallas needs to shoot for. No guessing/speculating in the first 2 rounds, take highest rated player possible at a position of need who’ve produced at a high level for their school.

will not be cut, not gonna happen, and I would be surprised if Walker gets cut…..and before you cut Elam, you had better have another Saftey on the rooster to start in his place otherwise you are going to be in the same position we were in last year, signing a mid level FA to a short term deal

Jesse Holley may not be too talented, but he’s got a lot of heart and has something special about his game that I can’t pinpoint. He just always seems to find a way to catch the ball when it’s thrown to him, and it’s usually in 3rd/4th down situations. He’s clutch, a RKG, solid special teamer, good depth, and can be had for a very cheap price.

I also might be alone here, but I believe with all the needs that we have, we must resign Montrae “Lumpy” Holland. He was surprisingly consistent this year, and the o-line’s drop off in play was very noticable when he was out for the Giants game. This whole interior o-line needs to be shored up, with 3 new starters. I say sign Carl Nicks, draft Zeitler 3rd round, and put Holland in at RG. He’s solid, cheap, and at worst is good depth.

First thing is Smith and Free need to switch sides. I think most here agree with that. Now let’s get down to the “nitty gritty”. We have 5 or 6 holes to fill. They are:

OG, NG, CB, FS, OLB, 2nd OG or C

This cannot be done strictly through the draft so we have to start with free agents. Stephen Jones says we have money to spend then prove it. Let’s keep it real with a strategy that we could actually execute.

Free Agents
We need to sign Nicks to bolster the interior line. Watch him this weekend the guy is a beast and would help Romo and Murray for many years. Plus he would bring the right kind of attitude after working with Payton. Then sign Grimes to play corner opposite Jenkins. I like his game because he is good against the pass, but also has a physical style of play. Terrel Thomas is another option here. Then get Michael Griffin at FS. Solid player and an immediate upgrade in the secondary. You have just shored up 3 critical spots.

Draft
Take Decastro with the 14th pick. I know it is not sexy, but when we were a dynasty we had the best and nastiest O & D-lines on the planet. We have gotten away from that and gone with the “shiny” picks for far too long. Hence 1 playoff win in 15 years. From left to right across the line would be Smith, Nicks, Costa or K-SKI, Decastro, Free. Now we are talking folks. I can see Romo’s sheepish grin now. Then take your NG with the second pick. Dontari Poe would be the pick, but not likely going to be there. No worries go with Alameda Ta’amu from Washington. He only checks in at 6’3", 337 lbs with a GREAT motor and the girth to plug the middle. Then we can move Rat to DE and upgrade our pass rush and prolong his career at the same time.

At this point you have plenty of depth on the current roster at all offensive positions and could pick the best available defensive player the rest of the draft. Shore up the O-line with free agency and your first round pick and then tighten up the defense. Easily an 11 – 12 win 2012 season and home playoff game. GAMES ARE WON IN THE TRENCHES!!!

The guy has played just two years and picked up three sacks last year despite starting just seven games and missing four others completely. Most Steelers fans on their site seem to believe he will eventually take over for Harrison so I don’t think they would even look to trade him unless a premium pick was involved.