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There's always a debate about whether or not a head coach and his staff are the most important part of an NFL team. Surely, ridiculously bad coaches are a detriment to any roster, but outside of that, just how much impact can a coach have? It's almost impossible to separate leadership and direction from roster talent. Fans in Dallas know that Barry Switzer was able to take Jimmy Johnson's roster and parlay that into a championship, just as fans in New England know the legendary Bill Belichick wasn't able to find success once Tom Brady left for Tampa and won a Lombardi trophy in Florida.
The ability of a front office to identify talent, and manage the roster as draft picks turn into veterans is probably more fundamental of a role in a team's success than the day-to-day coaching aspect. Which is why the Cowboys' money man Stephen Jones is the ire of so many corners of the Dallas fanbase. Will McClay seems to do an applaudable job of identifying talent when he doesn't need to bend to the whims of a coaching staff's insistence, but Jones' failure to win a negotiation or bring in outside talent seems to doom those efforts.
Nonetheless, the needs refresh every year and the best tool in an personnel director's bag is an ability to identify star players who are projected lower than where they should be. Finding gold where others see a reach is the fundamental gift that separates top evaluators from the rest.
This draft class has a definite, beauty-is-in-the-beholder's-eye feel to it. Seen as a lackluster class, franchises are going to move in and out of their draft slots and select players the draft boards think should be much lower. At the end of the day, it won't matter whether the Daniel Jeremiahs, Mel Kipers and their ilk feel about a pick. The GM that finds the DaRon Blands, Puka Nacuas and the like are the ones who will be revered when it's all said and done.
Reaching for players is one thing. Reaching for players and hitting? That's where front office legends are made. Looking at the consensus draft boards, here are three picks, seen as being outside the range of the Cowboys' first, second and third-round selections, we feel would shock the public but earn their adoration when it's all said and done.
Starks has Pro Bowl potential and has the ability to be a slot defender as well as a single-high or split safety; he's that talented. If Dallas doesn't resolve their nickel corner role with a high-pedigree player in post-draft free agency, Starks can start there as a rookie, no problem. If they have a NCB, he can replace Donovan Wilson or Malik Hooker, neither of which is a perfect fit in a split-safety system.
He's a highly intelligent defensive back who is strong in both coverage, range and tackling.
Scouting Report
By the time the Cowboys are back on the clock at No. 44, several players whom they likely assumed would be selected will still be available. That's simply the nature of the second round and this year that may be a bigger group than normal. No matter, Porter would be a tremendous pick for them on Day 2. The sixth-year prospect will enter the league with a much more mature body than most of his counterparts, which may mean he doesn't have as long a career as others, but he may not hit the dreaded rookie wall like a 22-year old. Porter played wideout until his fourth year, and his ball-hawking skills are transparent, just as his track speed is.
Adding him to the mix gives the Cowboys plenty of configuration options and fail safes depending on how things go with Trevon Diggs' knee and Bland's contract negotiations.
Scouting Report
There are going to be a ton of people who discount Walker, not just for playing at a lower-level school in Central Arkansas, but also for his build. Walker barely clears 6-feet tall, but his smaller height and compact build seem to work to his advantage on the field. He's been insanely productive across his career, and stepping up in competition at the Senior Bowl cemented that he can have that level of success against players who will be in the league.
Scouting Report
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 2025 Draft: Cowboys should so-called reach for 3 prospects to prosper
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The ability of a front office to identify talent, and manage the roster as draft picks turn into veterans is probably more fundamental of a role in a team's success than the day-to-day coaching aspect. Which is why the Cowboys' money man Stephen Jones is the ire of so many corners of the Dallas fanbase. Will McClay seems to do an applaudable job of identifying talent when he doesn't need to bend to the whims of a coaching staff's insistence, but Jones' failure to win a negotiation or bring in outside talent seems to doom those efforts.
Nonetheless, the needs refresh every year and the best tool in an personnel director's bag is an ability to identify star players who are projected lower than where they should be. Finding gold where others see a reach is the fundamental gift that separates top evaluators from the rest.
This draft class has a definite, beauty-is-in-the-beholder's-eye feel to it. Seen as a lackluster class, franchises are going to move in and out of their draft slots and select players the draft boards think should be much lower. At the end of the day, it won't matter whether the Daniel Jeremiahs, Mel Kipers and their ilk feel about a pick. The GM that finds the DaRon Blands, Puka Nacuas and the like are the ones who will be revered when it's all said and done.
Reaching for players is one thing. Reaching for players and hitting? That's where front office legends are made. Looking at the consensus draft boards, here are three picks, seen as being outside the range of the Cowboys' first, second and third-round selections, we feel would shock the public but earn their adoration when it's all said and done.
Favorite Outside Top 20 pick for No. 12. Safety Malaki Starks, Georgia
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Starks has Pro Bowl potential and has the ability to be a slot defender as well as a single-high or split safety; he's that talented. If Dallas doesn't resolve their nickel corner role with a high-pedigree player in post-draft free agency, Starks can start there as a rookie, no problem. If they have a NCB, he can replace Donovan Wilson or Malik Hooker, neither of which is a perfect fit in a split-safety system.
He's a highly intelligent defensive back who is strong in both coverage, range and tackling.
Scouting Report
Favorite Outside Top 50 pick for No. 44 - CB Darien Porter, Iowa State
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By the time the Cowboys are back on the clock at No. 44, several players whom they likely assumed would be selected will still be available. That's simply the nature of the second round and this year that may be a bigger group than normal. No matter, Porter would be a tremendous pick for them on Day 2. The sixth-year prospect will enter the league with a much more mature body than most of his counterparts, which may mean he doesn't have as long a career as others, but he may not hit the dreaded rookie wall like a 22-year old. Porter played wideout until his fourth year, and his ball-hawking skills are transparent, just as his track speed is.
Adding him to the mix gives the Cowboys plenty of configuration options and fail safes depending on how things go with Trevon Diggs' knee and Bland's contract negotiations.
Scouting Report
Favorite Outside Top 100 pick for No. 76 - Edge David Walker, Central Arkansas
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There are going to be a ton of people who discount Walker, not just for playing at a lower-level school in Central Arkansas, but also for his build. Walker barely clears 6-feet tall, but his smaller height and compact build seem to work to his advantage on the field. He's been insanely productive across his career, and stepping up in competition at the Senior Bowl cemented that he can have that level of success against players who will be in the league.
Scouting Report
Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 2025 Draft: Cowboys should so-called reach for 3 prospects to prosper
Continue reading...
