5 Things the Draft Taught us About the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys entered last week’s NFL Draft with 8 picks. For only the second time in the Jerry Jones era, the Cowboys made a selection every time they went on the clock, avoiding all draft day trades. The Cowboys also ended their 29 year streak, the longest in the NFL, without taking an offensive lineman in the first round when they selected Tyron Smith ninth overall.

The draft provided us with eight new Cowboys, but it also taught us a number of other things about the ‘Boys as they enter the 2011 season (fingers crossed). Here are some things we now know about the Cowboys that we didn’t know before the draft.

5 – The Cowboys have an eye on the future not just the present.

The Cowboys had 8 starters last year that were 30 years of age or older, Tony Romo(QB), Marc Colombo(OT), Leonard Davis, Kyle Kosier(G), Andre Gurode(C), Bradie James, Keith Brooking(ILB), and Terence Newman(CB). Other than Tony Romo, the number of years these players have left in the league is quite minimal, but the Cowboys might already have their replacements on the roster. With their 8 selections in the draft the Cowboys selected 5 players who play the same position as one of these ageing players. If we exclude quarterback then the only two positions that weren’t covered this draft were inside linebacker and guard. The Cowboys though, have two ageing players at these spots and they did pick up one player at that position in the draft. It’s unlikely that all 5 of their picks will replace these starters, but at least the Cowboys are keeping one eye on the future.

4 – They’ve got faith in their cornerbacks.

Many pundits predicted that the Cowboys would select Prince Amukumara with their first pick in the draft. The Cowboys secondary struggled in 2010. They finished 26th against the pass and tied for last in the league in touchdown passes given up (33). These awful statistics had many believing that an immediate upgrade at the position was needed. However, the Cowboys do have two starting Pro Bowl corners on their roster. Both Mike Jenkins and Terence Newman were selected to the 2009 Pro Bowl, and despite struggling last year were given a vote of confidence by the Cowboys staff during the draft. “The Prince” was still on the board when the Cowboys selected ninth, but they felt that offensive tackle was a more glaring need. In fact, the Cowboys waited until the fifth round to select a corner, when they picked Josh Thomas.

3 – The Cowboys will make a free agent signing(s) this offseason.

If the NFL returns to the 2010 rules for the 2011 season then the Dallas Cowboys will have fewer unrestricted free agents. Stephen Bowen, Jason Hatcher, Sam Hurd, and Doug Free would all become restricted free agents, while the likes of Kyle Kosier, Gerald Sensabaugh, and Marcus Spears would remain unrestricted free agents. Regardless of the rules next year, it is quite clear that the Cowboys would like a number of these players to return. After the draft, I can say with certainty that the Cowboys will make at least one unrestricted free agent signing this offseason, if not two or three. The Cowboys entered the draft with a need at both safety and defensive end, however, they did not pick any players at these positions. The Cowboys will not sit tight at these two positions when free agency begins.

2 – So long Marion Barber … and Tashard Choice?

I was not surprised that the Cowboys picked up a running back in this year’s draft, but I was surprised that they selected one in the third round. At the end of the 2010 season I believed that Marion Barber had played his last game for the Cowboys. I anticipated the Cowboys selecting a running back in one of the late rounds of the draft, to provide them with depth at the position for the eventual trade or release of Barber. I then assumed that Choice would move up one spot on the depth chart, but the drafting of DeMarco Murray in the third round has called that into question. The Cowboys surely have plans for Murray to make an immediate impact or they would not have selected him so high. Choice will not want to stick around Dallas to stay third on the depth chart, so it is possible that both Barber and Choice could be sent packing.

1 – Protecting Tony Romo is priority number one.

The Cowboys took great strides towards better protecting Tony Romo during this year’s draft. DeMarco Murray, the Cowboys third round selection, is expected to become the Cowboys third down back. Not only is he an excellent receiver out of the back field, but he was considered one of the best pass blocking running backs in the draft. Last season, Tony Romo suffered a broken collarbone when fullback Chris Gronkowski missed a blocking assignment. In the seventh round of the draft, the Cowboys picked up Shaun Chapas. Chapas is a very good blocking fullback and he could very well take Gronkowski’s spot in the starting line up this season. The offensive line also came under a lot of scrutiny last season, therefore, drafting an offensive lineman, even in the first round was not a surprise, but nobody would have predicted that the Cowboys would select three offensive lineman in this year’s draft.

The Cowboys have now picked up 8 new players. During draft weekend we learnt not only about these players, but also about the Cowboys off-season plans. Let’s just hope we actually do have a season in 2011.