Cowboys News & Notes: Why "Those Pesky, Pesky Cowboys" May Not Draft A QB High

Tim Hasselbeck: If Cowboys draft Wentz or Goff that high, they're 'punting on 2016' | SportsDay
Interesting take from a former NFL QB.

The Dallas Cowboys, in the division that they play in, may not be - and most likely aren't - picking this high again next year. And Tony Romo is a year older and potentially another year with an injury. Having said that, if you're doing that, this idea that everything is gonna be perfect with Carson Wentz learning behind Tony Romo and they're gonna hold hands and skip to the meeting room is just not realistic.

The truth of the matter is you're punting on 2016 if you draft Carson Wentz that high, or Jared Goff that high. I think it's more likely that it happens considering the owner is the GM. It's a winnable division and if you get into the tournament with Tony Romo as your quarterback, you've got a good shot.

More teams could prevent 49ers from drafting a QB than you might think - Niners Nation
49ers fans spend almost as much time obsessing over whether the Cowboys will draft a QB as Cowboys fans do.

Those pesky, pesky Cowboys.

Yeah, the Cowboys are already in the discussion when it comes to foiling the 49ers' plans but if they somehow don't end up with Wentz or Goff, then they could become a thorn in San Francisco's side once again as they look for someone to give them insurance against an aging and deteriorating Tony Romo.

The #Cowboys draft strategy is simple. Win now take RB Elliott & back to the off you had in 2014. Secure the future, take a QB @nflnetwork

— Charley Casserly (@CharleyCasserly) March 31, 2016

Perfect Pairs: Ideal top two draft picks for NFC East clubs - Bucky Brooks & Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com
Jeremiah and Brooks identify ideal scenarios for NFC East teams in the early rounds of this year's draft, and have the Cowboys going defense with their first two picks.

Brooks' perfect draft pair: Ohio State DE Joey Bosa (Round 1, pick 4); Miami CB Artie Burns (Round 2, pick 34)

Brooks' take: I struggled with this one because the hopeful GM in me would say 'take a quarterback at No. 4. We never pick in the top 10. Let's get a guy who can be a bridge after Tony Romo.' But I'm going to go with the win-now mentality. Bosa is a nice fit in this defense. I believe his versatility is what makes him attractive to the Cowboys. You can play him inside at defensive tackle and he might be a guy who can get you double-digit sacks on the inside. The Cowboys have been struggling at the cornerback position. Burns would be a nice find in the second round. He's long, rangy and has ball skills. He's very talented and athletic.

Pass rush over back end of defense? - Bob Sturm, SportsDay
In his weekly mailbag, Stum gets asked whether the pass rush is more important than the secondary, and drops some interesting thoughts in his response.

There is nothing wrong with that line of thinking at all. I would argue that if you want the best pass rusher, you must also check Noah Spence out, but I think he is way more of a pass-rush only guy and an issue that high in the 1st round against the run. Bosa is the most well-rounded of the group and over the past week I have been advised to get more acquainted with Oregon's Deforest Buckner as a possibility, too.

I don't like the fit, but I also concede I cannot see hypothetical fits and positional conversions very well - I didn't like Zack Martin in Round 1 to play guard if he had never done it at Notre Dame - so there is a big drop off from NFL scouts to bloggers online. I am the first to admit I am nowhere near that league.

Getting more picks makes sense for Dallas Cowboys - Todd Archer, ESPN
With many roster holes to fill, trading the No. 4 overall draft pick for more selections later would likely be best for Dallas instead of trading up, Archer argues in his response to a reader question.

Now, as far as trading down, I would entertain it but I would have to be overwhelmed to make the move. Again, with the fourth pick you should get a cornerstone player. But if you can add picks - a future first or second or third round picks - then you would have to think about it. The Cowboys have multiple needs on both sides of the ball and having multiple bites at the apple would help them fill those holes.

Tracking the fifth-year option outlook for all 32 first-round picks of the 2013 NFL draft - Charles Robinson, Yahoo Sports
Robinson takes a look at the future of the first-round class of 2013, and which players are likely to have their fifth-year option picked up. Teams have until May 2 to notify players whether they intend to pick up the extra year or not. Here's his take on Travis Frederick, the Cowboys' first-rounder in 2013:

Travis Frederick, OC, Dallas Cowboys (5th Year: $8.8 million)

Outlook: Frederick is easily the best offensive lineman from the first round of the 2013 draft. A two-time All Pro and two-time Pro Bowler who has played every single offensive snap for Dallas since he was drafted.

Likelihood option is picked up: High. He's worth every penny of the $8.8 million he'll get under the fifth-year option.

And here's Jerry Jones, from an article in 2013, already talking about that fifth-year option for Frederick.

"We wanted to get [Frederick] in the first round because we wanted five years on him. If you get out of that first round, you don’t get it," Jones said in April, referring to how contracts for second-round picks don’t have an option for a fifth year. "That’s a big year for an interior lineman if he’s a good one."

Additions aside, Cowboys need more from those who remain on defense - Dallas Cowboys Blog- ESPN
Linebacker Sean Lee knows the defense didn't do enough last year, and he says each Cowboy needs to do more to become a playmaker in 2016.

"For us defensively, we have to find a way to step up in big situations. We have to find a way to get more turnovers, make plays in the fourth quarter," Lee said. "I think they’ve brought in guys who like to play the right way. At the same point, all of us – our main focus is ourselves. How can we get better? How can I play better? How can I play at a higher level so I can make plays? So you look at that and you watch that, but at the end of the day it’s about what type of work we put in, day in and day out, to get better."

Some Dallas Cowboys getting head start on offseason program - Todd Archer, ESPN
Dallas' offseason program doesn't officially begin until April 18, but some players are already working out at the team facility, Archer reports.

A number of players have been working out at Valley Ranch regularly on their own.

"I know we have a team that I think likes to work the right way in the offseason, likes to work hard," linebacker Sean Lee said. "That’s one problem we didn’t have last year. I thought we worked extremely hard. Now it’s time to turn that into production."

Cowboys’ Offseason Workout Program Gets Underway April 18 - Dallas Cowboys
The NFL announced the offseason program schedule on Friday. Here#s the Cowboys' schedule:

First Day: April 18
OTA Offseason Workouts: May 24-26, May 31, June 1-2, June 6-8
Mandatory Minicamp: June 14-16

All teams that play on Thursday this year will wear a color rush uniform. - Michael Rothstein, ESPN
When the NFL sees the chance to make an extra buck, it pounces: The abominable, head-to-toe, single-hue "Color Rush" uniforms are going to be worn by every team playing on Thursday this season.

Colin Cowherd announced on his show that Stan Kroenke and Jerry Jones are pushing for the Raiders to relocate to Las Vegas - Twitter
And nowhere is there a bigger buck to be made than by moving a team to Las Vegas. Why not the the Raiders?