The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2010 NFL Draft coming off of an NFC East Division title, and a playoff win over Philadelphia. Their goal was to provide depth as much as fill holes, and the Cowboys got more of the former than the latter.
Dez Bryant feel all the way to the 24th overall selection, where Dallas traded up three spots to take him and keep him away from Baltimore. Having Bryant on one side opposite Miles Austin gives the Cowboys and Tony Romo even more weapons for their passing game. Sean Lee has battled injuries but when he is healthy he can be a factor playing linebacker for Dallas. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is a small school speed burner out if Indiana (Pa.), and has the potential to develop into an very good cornerback.
The Cowboys needed to replace Flozell Adams at offensive tackle, and may have gotten him in Sam Young, a late round sleeper out of Notre Dame. At 6'8, 315, he has the size to play the position, but will need to work on his technique in order to move into the lineup with the Cowboys.
Draft Grade: B
Showing posts with label Dez Bryant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dez Bryant. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Chad Henne's New Best Friend
The Denver Broncos finally dealt wide receiver Brandon Marshall, one day after he signed a one year tender with the club. Many people believed the destination for Marshall was going to be Seattle. But the Seahawks used the 2nd round pick in this years draft to acquire Charlie Whitehurst. Denver shopped around and found a buyer in the Miami Dolphins.
Upon hearing the news, Chad Henne must be grinning ear to ear. He now gets to throw to a receiver that is one of a handful of players who has three consecutive seasons of 100+ receptions. He now has a legitimate #1 target that he did not have last season. All of this is courtesy of a franchise that seems bent on self implosion on the offensive side of the ball.
I'm still trying to figure out how a team can trade a quarterback in Jay Cutler and a receiver in Brandon Marshall that were going to be the cornerstone of their offense for years. I can't remember any team making trades like that in recent memory. One thing the Broncos did that the Steelers did not do is get some value in a trade for a receiver. Granted, the Santonio Holmes case may have been a bit more extreme, but Denver now has three of the top 45 picks in a very deep draft.
I have had the Broncos pegged to take Dez Bryant with the #11 overall selection, mainly because of the uncertain future of Marshall with the club. Now that seems to be a certainty. They have plenty of holes on the defensive side and they should be able to shore them up with the 43rd and 45th picks.
The fact that Miami did not have to give up their first round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft makes them the winner in this trade. I have had them taking Rolando McClain with the 12th overall selection all along, and I can still see them taking the Alabama middle linebacker with that pick. Bill Parcells had great defenses with the New York Giants, and though he had Lawrence Taylor on the outside the defense was anchored in the middle by Harry Carson. I see McClain filling the same role in Miami. Now the question seems to be can Denver and Josh McDaniels handle another receiver with a new set of baggage.
Upon hearing the news, Chad Henne must be grinning ear to ear. He now gets to throw to a receiver that is one of a handful of players who has three consecutive seasons of 100+ receptions. He now has a legitimate #1 target that he did not have last season. All of this is courtesy of a franchise that seems bent on self implosion on the offensive side of the ball.
I'm still trying to figure out how a team can trade a quarterback in Jay Cutler and a receiver in Brandon Marshall that were going to be the cornerstone of their offense for years. I can't remember any team making trades like that in recent memory. One thing the Broncos did that the Steelers did not do is get some value in a trade for a receiver. Granted, the Santonio Holmes case may have been a bit more extreme, but Denver now has three of the top 45 picks in a very deep draft.
I have had the Broncos pegged to take Dez Bryant with the #11 overall selection, mainly because of the uncertain future of Marshall with the club. Now that seems to be a certainty. They have plenty of holes on the defensive side and they should be able to shore them up with the 43rd and 45th picks.
The fact that Miami did not have to give up their first round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft makes them the winner in this trade. I have had them taking Rolando McClain with the 12th overall selection all along, and I can still see them taking the Alabama middle linebacker with that pick. Bill Parcells had great defenses with the New York Giants, and though he had Lawrence Taylor on the outside the defense was anchored in the middle by Harry Carson. I see McClain filling the same role in Miami. Now the question seems to be can Denver and Josh McDaniels handle another receiver with a new set of baggage.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
DSA Player Rankings 4.0
The 4th DSA Player Rankings are out, and there is a definite separation at the top. Sam Bradford, Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy, Russell Okung and Eric Berry look are the clear choice for the Top 5 of all the mock drafts I have compiled for the latest DSA's, with Bradford moving into the top spot in place of Suh. Bryan Bulaga and Trent Williams are getting a lot of looks at the 4th Overall selection if Russell Okung goes to Detroit at #2. Bulaga is steadily gaining on Jimmy Clausen for the sixth slot in the DSA's because Clausen has dropped in many mock drafts after the Redskins traded for Donovan McNabb. Williams has moved up past Joe Haden for the 8th slot, as Haden has been tabbed for a mid-teen selection and Williams has been getting looks at the 4th slot.
The biggest mover up has been Sean Weatherspoon, moving up four spots from #29 to #25. No big moves down, but Dez Bryant has been on a downward slide ever since his Pro Day Workout. The DSA Player Rankings 4.0 are:
1) Sam Bradford 2.00
2) Ndamukong Suh 2.18
3) Gerald McCoy 3.11
4) Russell Okung 3.89
5) Eric Berry 5.68
6) Jimmy Clausen 8.16
7) Bryan Bulaga 9.26
8) Trent Williams 11.00
9) Joe Haden 11.03
10) Rolando McClain 12.21
11) Derrick Morgan 12.97
12) C.J. Spiller 13.45
13) Dez Bryant 14.21
14) Dan Williams 16.16
15) Anthony Davis 16.95
16) Jason Pierre-Paul 17.53
17) Earl Thomas 17.55
18) Bruce Campbell 18.24
19) Sergio Kindle 21.47
20) Brandon Graham 21.61
21) Mike Iupati 22.45
22) Taylor Mays 22.50
23) Kyle Wilson 23.05
24) Jermaine Gresham 26.66
25) Sean Weatherspoon 27.32
26) Maurkice Pouncey 27.37
27) Carlos Dunlap 27.47
28) Everson Griffen 27.89
29) Brian Price 28.03
30) Ryan Mathews 28.63
31) Jared Odrick 28.87
32) Jerry Hughes 30.42
33) Golden Tate 30.68
34) Charles Brown 31.11
35) Demaryius Thomas 31.13
36) Patrick Robinson 32.13
37) Devin McCourtey 32.37
38) Arrelious Benn 32.84
With two weeks until the 2010 NFL Draft, I can see Bryan Bulaga moving in front of Jimmy Clausen in the DSA's, but one thing is becoming certain: Sam Bradford is going 1st Overall to St. Louis. You can almost say that Detroit is on the clock. Let the deliberations and arguments as to who the Lions will select begin.
The biggest mover up has been Sean Weatherspoon, moving up four spots from #29 to #25. No big moves down, but Dez Bryant has been on a downward slide ever since his Pro Day Workout. The DSA Player Rankings 4.0 are:
1) Sam Bradford 2.00
2) Ndamukong Suh 2.18
3) Gerald McCoy 3.11
4) Russell Okung 3.89
5) Eric Berry 5.68
6) Jimmy Clausen 8.16
7) Bryan Bulaga 9.26
8) Trent Williams 11.00
9) Joe Haden 11.03
10) Rolando McClain 12.21
11) Derrick Morgan 12.97
12) C.J. Spiller 13.45
13) Dez Bryant 14.21
14) Dan Williams 16.16
15) Anthony Davis 16.95
16) Jason Pierre-Paul 17.53
17) Earl Thomas 17.55
18) Bruce Campbell 18.24
19) Sergio Kindle 21.47
20) Brandon Graham 21.61
21) Mike Iupati 22.45
22) Taylor Mays 22.50
23) Kyle Wilson 23.05
24) Jermaine Gresham 26.66
25) Sean Weatherspoon 27.32
26) Maurkice Pouncey 27.37
27) Carlos Dunlap 27.47
28) Everson Griffen 27.89
29) Brian Price 28.03
30) Ryan Mathews 28.63
31) Jared Odrick 28.87
32) Jerry Hughes 30.42
33) Golden Tate 30.68
34) Charles Brown 31.11
35) Demaryius Thomas 31.13
36) Patrick Robinson 32.13
37) Devin McCourtey 32.37
38) Arrelious Benn 32.84
With two weeks until the 2010 NFL Draft, I can see Bryan Bulaga moving in front of Jimmy Clausen in the DSA's, but one thing is becoming certain: Sam Bradford is going 1st Overall to St. Louis. You can almost say that Detroit is on the clock. Let the deliberations and arguments as to who the Lions will select begin.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
What a Difference a Pro Day Makes
Even with the NFL Scouting Combine, draft prospects seem to feel more at ease in the comfy confines of their college practice fields. College Pro Day workouts are structured to the point of being scripted. But no matter what players still have to perform, and two of the top prospects showed just that the last 2 days.
Sam Bradford had more to lose than anyone with his Oklahoma Pro Day. Coming off of a shoulder injury that required surgery and caused him to sit out most of the 2009 season, Bradford needed to impress and then some after not throwing or working out at the NFL Combine. He did just that. 63 passes. 62 completions. And many thought that ball could have been caught. His accuracy was considered his strength, and he showed just how pinpoint that accuracy can be. He has filled out physically, and he carries the extra weight well. He is a deceptive 235 pounds. He always looked skinny but now it looks like he is maturing in the manner he needs to in order to withstand the rigors of an NFL season. The St. Louis Rams have pretty much made up their minds about selecting Bradford, and the choice was cemented by his Pro Day workout. Look for Bradford to sign a contract equal to or better than the one Matthew Stafford signed with Detroit in 2009, and he can thank his workout performance for that.
The next day Dez Bryant held his Pro Day workout. After running the 40 in a slower than expected time, he got the same response as Joe Haden after the NFL Combine. That he looks faster on film. But Haden ran a bit faster in his Pro Day workout, and any doubts about his ability seems to have been put to rest. Bryant is a different story, and there is a recent draft pick that some will probably start to compare him to. Mike Williams from USC.
Williams was seen as the top receiveing prospect coming out of college, but he had to sit out a year due his unsuccessful challenge of the NFL Draft eligibility policy. The time off seemed to allow a lot of rust to settle and he never did live up to expectations. He was a bit taller and heavier than Bryant, but it is going to be tough not to comapre the two receivers. Bryant sat out the 2009 season at Oklahoma State, and now it looks like he isn't the reciever he was in college. Now Jerry Jones is looking to wine and dine Bryant. If he is still avaliable at the #27 slot for Dallas, he is going to lose a lot of money in signing bonus because of a slow 40 time at his Pro Day workout. Let's hope Bryant has a much more successful career than Mike Williams did.
Sam Bradford had more to lose than anyone with his Oklahoma Pro Day. Coming off of a shoulder injury that required surgery and caused him to sit out most of the 2009 season, Bradford needed to impress and then some after not throwing or working out at the NFL Combine. He did just that. 63 passes. 62 completions. And many thought that ball could have been caught. His accuracy was considered his strength, and he showed just how pinpoint that accuracy can be. He has filled out physically, and he carries the extra weight well. He is a deceptive 235 pounds. He always looked skinny but now it looks like he is maturing in the manner he needs to in order to withstand the rigors of an NFL season. The St. Louis Rams have pretty much made up their minds about selecting Bradford, and the choice was cemented by his Pro Day workout. Look for Bradford to sign a contract equal to or better than the one Matthew Stafford signed with Detroit in 2009, and he can thank his workout performance for that.
The next day Dez Bryant held his Pro Day workout. After running the 40 in a slower than expected time, he got the same response as Joe Haden after the NFL Combine. That he looks faster on film. But Haden ran a bit faster in his Pro Day workout, and any doubts about his ability seems to have been put to rest. Bryant is a different story, and there is a recent draft pick that some will probably start to compare him to. Mike Williams from USC.
Williams was seen as the top receiveing prospect coming out of college, but he had to sit out a year due his unsuccessful challenge of the NFL Draft eligibility policy. The time off seemed to allow a lot of rust to settle and he never did live up to expectations. He was a bit taller and heavier than Bryant, but it is going to be tough not to comapre the two receivers. Bryant sat out the 2009 season at Oklahoma State, and now it looks like he isn't the reciever he was in college. Now Jerry Jones is looking to wine and dine Bryant. If he is still avaliable at the #27 slot for Dallas, he is going to lose a lot of money in signing bonus because of a slow 40 time at his Pro Day workout. Let's hope Bryant has a much more successful career than Mike Williams did.
Friday, March 26, 2010
DSA Player Rankings 2.0
The latest DSA Player Rankings are here, and it goes to show that some players pick up momentum and others fall out of favor. But the fallen are lead by the two players that seem to be dropping the fastest. Dez Bryant fell fro 8th to 13th, and Bruce Campbell went from 15th to 19th. The top of the DSA Rankings stayed the same for the first seven positions, and most mock drafts have those players going to the teams in the matching slots with the exception of Jimmy Clausen, who looks to be headed to Buffalo with the 9th over pick. But enough drafts have Clausen going to Washington at #4 to push his average higher. So here is the latest DSA Player Rankings:
1) Ndamukong Suh 1.77
2) Sam Bradford 2.73
3) Gerald McCoy 2.77
4) Russell Okung 4.14
5) Eric Berry 5.36
6) Jimmy Clausen 7.23
7) Joe Haden 10.32
8) Bryan Bulaga 10.77
9) Rolando McClain 12.00
10) Derrick Morgan 12.41
11) Trent Williams 12.68
12) C.J. Spiller 13.77
13) Dez Bryant 13.82
14) Anthony Davis 14.86
15) Dan Williams 16.82
16) Earl Thomas 17.32
17) Jason Pierre-Paul 18.41
18) Sergio Kindle 19.86
19) Bruce Campbell 20.77
20) Taylor Mays 21.95
21) Brandon Graham 22.95
22) Mike Iupati 23.18
23) Kyle Wilson 24.45
24) Brian Price 26.41
25) Carlos Dunlap 26.45
26) Everson Griffen 26.95
27) Jermaine Gresham 27.77
28) Maurkice Pouncey 27.86
29) Sean Weatherspoon 28.55
30) Jerry Hughes 28.95
31) Jared Odrick 29.32
32) Ryan Mathews 29.45
33) Golden Tate 29.64
34) Demaryius Thomas 29.82
35) Charles Brown 30.82
36) Arrelious Benn 31.91
37) Patrick Robinson 32.00
38) Devin McCourtey 33.18
Demayrius Thomas has worked onto the list as many see him moving up their boards, with Baltimore eyeing him at #25 to pair up with Anquan Boldin. One thing is certain though-there is a lot of depth in the draft at just about every position. Teams drafting late in the first round are going to get players who some people see as middle first rounders, and players looked at as late round picks are going to slide to the second round through no fault of their own. If a team is looking to draft the best player available they might not have enough time on the clock in Round 1 to make a decision.
1) Ndamukong Suh 1.77
2) Sam Bradford 2.73
3) Gerald McCoy 2.77
4) Russell Okung 4.14
5) Eric Berry 5.36
6) Jimmy Clausen 7.23
7) Joe Haden 10.32
8) Bryan Bulaga 10.77
9) Rolando McClain 12.00
10) Derrick Morgan 12.41
11) Trent Williams 12.68
12) C.J. Spiller 13.77
13) Dez Bryant 13.82
14) Anthony Davis 14.86
15) Dan Williams 16.82
16) Earl Thomas 17.32
17) Jason Pierre-Paul 18.41
18) Sergio Kindle 19.86
19) Bruce Campbell 20.77
20) Taylor Mays 21.95
21) Brandon Graham 22.95
22) Mike Iupati 23.18
23) Kyle Wilson 24.45
24) Brian Price 26.41
25) Carlos Dunlap 26.45
26) Everson Griffen 26.95
27) Jermaine Gresham 27.77
28) Maurkice Pouncey 27.86
29) Sean Weatherspoon 28.55
30) Jerry Hughes 28.95
31) Jared Odrick 29.32
32) Ryan Mathews 29.45
33) Golden Tate 29.64
34) Demaryius Thomas 29.82
35) Charles Brown 30.82
36) Arrelious Benn 31.91
37) Patrick Robinson 32.00
38) Devin McCourtey 33.18
Demayrius Thomas has worked onto the list as many see him moving up their boards, with Baltimore eyeing him at #25 to pair up with Anquan Boldin. One thing is certain though-there is a lot of depth in the draft at just about every position. Teams drafting late in the first round are going to get players who some people see as middle first rounders, and players looked at as late round picks are going to slide to the second round through no fault of their own. If a team is looking to draft the best player available they might not have enough time on the clock in Round 1 to make a decision.
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