Cowboys’ draft won’t be complete until next year

By Carlos Zepeda  |   Thursday, May 03, 2007  |  Comments( 4 )

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Dallas Cowboys fans should be satisfied with owner Jerry Jones' adoption of the Bill Belichick draft strategy, which consists of trading down in Round 1 and grabbing an additional first-round pick in the next draft.

Jones used his negotiating skills to get a stud pass-rushing linebacker who will fit beautifully into Wade Phillips' defense. After passing on Brady Quinn, Jones placed the future of the offense in the hands of quarterback Tony Romo. It was the pat on the back that Romo has needed since his fumbled snap that ended last year's playoff run.

With that said, it's time to see how some of this year's draft selections will fit into the organization.

First round (No. 26 overall): Anthony Spencer, DE, Purdue University.
Spencer has what it takes to be a star in Dallas. He will be the perfect complement to pass-rushing linebacker DeMarcus Ware, and both will bring the pain to opposing backfields. Six of the last seven NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year awards have gone to linebackers, and with opponents focusing on Ware, Spencer will have an easier path to the quarterback.

Third round (No. 67): James Marten, LT, Boston College.

Marten was a bruising run blocker at B.C. He is a project tackle and may have to move to the right side to utilize his run-blocking strength. The Cowboys are trying to find a future replacement for Pro Bowl LT Flozell Adams, and Jones has said he wants to build the offensive line through the draft. That makes Marten a wise pick.

Fourth round (No. 103): Isaiah Stanback, QB, University of Washington.

The Cowboys are hoping to turn this athletic QB into a future receiver, and Stanback is a very gifted athlete. He ran the 100 meter dash in 10.48 seconds at Washington, and he played receiver during his redshirt freshman year, finishing with 10 catches for 143 yards. The potential is there for Stanback to be the next Antwaan Randle El.

Players Dallas could have picked but didn't:

- Kareem Brown, DT, University of Miami (No. 127):

Brown finished his senior season with 11½ sacks and was named defensive player of the year on a team that featured first-round picks Jon Beason and Brandon Meriweather. (The Cowboys picked Doug Free, a left tackle from Northern Illinois, with the 122nd pick.)

- Mike Walker, WR, University of Central Florida (No. 79):

Ninety catches, 1,178 yards, seven touchdowns and a 4.45 40-yard dash. He tore up his knee in his junior year, which scared off some scouts, but the stats don't lie: This kid can play. (The Cowboys picked the abovementioned Marten here.)

- Mason Crosby, K, University of Colorado (No. 193):

Crosby was considered to have the strongest leg of any kicker in the draft. Only 18 of his 61 kickoffs were returned, and 33 of his 43 touchbacks went out of the endzone. Scouts wondered if it was the thin air in Colorado that made for the ridiculous stats, but Crosby also kicked a 58-yard field goal at Miami. Dallas was looking for a kickoff specialist, and it took kicker Nick Folk from the University of Arizona at No. 178.

The 2007 draft actually won't be complete until next year, when Dallas gets that extra first-round pick from Cleveland. The chances are very good that it will be a top-10 pick, so here are some names, along with their 2006 stats, to consider for the '08 draft.

*Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas: 1,647 yards, 14 touchdowns.
*Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia: 1,744 yards, 16 touchdowns.
*Pat White, QB, West Virginia: 2,884 all-purpose yards (1,655 passing, 1,219 rushing) and 31 total touchdowns (18 rushing, 13 passing).
*Chad Henne, QB, Michigan: 2,508 yards passing, 22 touchdowns.
*Limus Sweed, WR, Texas: 801 yards receiving, 12 touchdowns.

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CommentsComments: 4  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Jay		12:10 PM
05/04/2007
I agree that their draft will NOT be completed until next year, as they have two first rounds picks and should select Darren ...
No.2
Capt Z		04:41 PM
05/07/2007
RB's and QB's for 2008. Provided Brad Johnson does not return, I can agree we will need a QB, but what is wrong with our current ...
No.3
Jesse		08:19 AM
05/08/2007
Carlos, you're right. Jerry Jones put the pause button on this year's team. They'll need more than a RB and QB after DT, OL, QB ...
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