Cowboys News: Do Cowboys Have To Draft A Pass Rusher In The First Round?

Dallas Cowboys: 28 is not too late! Cowboys have uncovered draft gems late in first round - Brandon George, SportsDay
If you're drafting at the top of the draft year after year, you're doing something wrong, and teams like the Patriots, Seahawks, and Packers show that you can draft well even if you're drafting at the bottom of each round year after year.

In fact, recent history shows that the Cowboys have fared very well when they've had a first-round pick at 24th or later. Four of the Cowboys' last five late first-round picks played in at least one Pro Bowl during their time in Dallas.

The only one who hasn't is starting safety Byron Jones, who just finished his second year in the league. Before Jones, the Cowboys' previous two late first-round picks were receiver Dez Bryant in 2010 and center Travis Frederick in 2013. Dallas selected cornerback Mike Jenkins 25th overall in 2008 out of South Florida. In 2007, the Cowboys drafted defensive end Anthony Spencer 26th overall out of Purdue.

Todd McShay breaks down the Cowboys' pass rush draft needs - SportsDay Staff
ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay recently joined 103.3 FM to talk pass rushers.

Tak has exceptional speed, and when I watch him on tape, I see a guy who has some tightness, but he explodes off the line. He's only 6'2". He's only 250. And like I said, 4.59 was his official [40] time at Indianapolis, but I don't know that I've watched a player that I've enjoyed more all year long in terms of effort and just sustained intensity for four quarters like I did with him. I just loved watching Tak McKinley. So, his hand usage isn't quite where it needs to be, and I think if he figures it out and develops properly, he's got a chance to be really good...I don't see him busting, let's put it that way, but I don't know if 6'2", 250 is what you're looking for as a defensive end in their scheme.

I think Taco Charlton is probably more of an ideal fit as a 4-3 defensive end from Michigan - 6'5 ½", 277 pounds - but he doesn't have the speed and explosiveness that some of those other guys do. So, it really comes down to what [the Cowboys] are exactly looking for. Are they willing to give up a little bit of size in order to finally get that guy who is a terror off the edge?

Pass Rush A Top Priority That Cowboys Might Ignore - Connor Livesay, Cowboys Nation
Livesay argues the Cowboys need more quality, and not more bodies, for their pass rush.

The Cowboys don’t need more bodies at defensive end. They need difference makers. They don’t have space in the locker room for any more mid to late round workout warriors. If Dallas wants to address the defensive line and find that "war daddy" rusher, they need to do it in the first round. The Cowboys should have a large selection to choose from at pick 28. Guys like Charles Harris, T.J. Watt, and Takk McKinley are likely to still be available when the Cowboys are on the clock.

To me, if Dallas does not select a pass rusher at 28 and a guy like Derek Rivers, Tyus Bowser, or Tarell Basham are off the board at pick 60, spending a pick on a defensive end who cannot offer much of a contribution right away, and adding another body to an already crowded defensive line room, may be a pointless pick for a team that has plenty of #2 and #3 rushers but lacks the true #1 to really get after opposing quarterbacks.

2017 NFL Draft: A Dallas Cowboys Edge Rusher Target In Each Round - Randy Gurzi, The Landry hat
Gurzi suggests there will be a pass rush option for the Cowboys in each round of the draft.

Round 1: T.J. Watt — Wisconsin
Round 2: Jordan Willis — Kansas State
Round 3: Tanoh Kpassagnon — Villanova
Round 4: Daeshon Hall — Texas A&M
Round 5: Josh Carraway — TCU
Round 6: Hunter Dimick — Utah
Round 7: Darius English — South Carolina

Cowboys will add at least one more QB - Todd Archer, ESPN
The Cowboys brought in at least six quarterbacks for a workout during Dallas day on Friday, and Archer explains in his latest mailbag that the Cowboys could be looking to add up to two QBs.

They will add a quarterback, if not two quarterbacks. They need the arms just to get through the offseason work and training camp. I don't believe they have moved Jameill Showers back to quarterback after he switched to safety last season.

I don't see the Cowboys adding one of the bigger-named quarterbacks, like Colin Kaepernick, in free agency. Perhaps they go a lower-level, like Luke McCown or someone of that ilk. I don't see the Cowboys making a trade either. They don't want to give up draft capital. They will go with Kellen Moore as the backup. That leaves the draft. Before picking Dak Prescott in the fourth round last year, you have to go back to Stephen McGee in the fourth round of the 2009 draft to find the last quarterback they drafted. That's a long time. I believe they will add a quarterback in the draft, but not until the middle rounds, like the fourth. Among the list of pre-draft visitors this year, there isn't a quarterback among the group, but that doesn't mean they won't pick one.

Jason Witten writes an epic goodbye letter to Tony Romo - Andre Vergara, Foxsports
Just a few weeks after saying goodbye to DeMarcus Ware publicly, Witten penned a goodbye letter to his good friend Tony Romo.

And it didn't take long for Romo to reply in kind.

You made football a lot easier for me because of your greatness...but you also made my life better by being in it. Gonna miss u the most 82 https://t.co/MHyW171d53

— Tony Romo (@tonyromo) April 8, 2017

Dak Prescott and his Cowboys teammates say farewell to Tony Romo - Harry Lyles, SBNation.com
Lyles with a collection of well wishes from Romo's former teammates, including Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Terrance Williams, Tyrone Crawford, Damien Wilson, Jason Witten, and even J.J. Watt.

My best get-off ever all for naught thanks to that spin. Congrats on a great career @tonyromo, enjoy the next phase.https://t.co/0NZNBQuZx0

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) April 4, 2017

Mavericks to sign Tony Romo to honor former Cowboys quarterback - SI.com Staff
Even the Mavericks are getting in on the Romo goodbye action.

The Dallas Mavericks plan on honoring former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo by signing him to a one-day deal, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

The Mavericks expect to have Romo in uniform and on the bench for the team's regular season home finale against the Denver Nuggets. He is not expected to play in the game.

Nevada sports books get approval to take bets on NFL Draft – Todd Dewey, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Looks like the Nevada Gaming Control Board granted approval for the state’s sports books to offer prop bets on the draft.

Bettors won’t be able to wager on which player will be the No. 1 overall pick. But they’ll be able to wager on the total number of quarterbacks drafted in the first round, whether there will be more offensive players than defensive players drafted in the first round, and the over/under of the draft position for the first kicker taken, to name a few.

Other approved props include the total number of players drafted from a particular college or conference for the first round and for the entire draft. There also will be matchup props on which college and/or conference will have more players drafted in the first round and in the entire draft, as well as other props.