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April, 10, 2013

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com



IRVING, Texas – First-round picks have to be the cornerstones of NFL rosters. The majority have to be more than one-contract players. If not, then it means they did not live up to expectations.

With 2008 first-rounders Mike Jenkins gone off to Oakland and Felix Jones all but gone to anywhere else but here, the Cowboys have not extended the contract of one of their first-round picks before it expired since DeMarcus Ware, one of their two first-round picks in 2005.

Through a quirk in the system, Marcus Spears (2005) was a restricted free agent in 2010 and was kept for a year but only because the price was right and cheaper than the guys who backed him up. He ultimately re-signed after the 2011 lockout ended and was cut this offseason after the second year of the current deal. Bobby Carpenter (2006) was traded to St. Louis in the final year of his deal.

The 2007 pick, Anthony Spencer, is on the team but his deal expired after 2011 and the Cowboys have kept him with the franchise tag the last two years. In 2012 they did it because they weren’t sure how much they loved him. They did it this offseason because they didn’t feel like they could lose him. It is possible Spencer could sign a new deal this offseason but there doesn’t seem to be any rush on that one.

The Cowboys had six first-round picks from 2005-08 and have extended one before that player’s deal expired. How does that compare with the rest of the NFC East?

The New York Giants had three and extended one (Mathias Kiwanuka, 2006) and let two walk (Aaron Ross, Kenny Phillips). Philadelphia had two and extended one (Mike Patterson, 2005) but that was in the second year of his deal and he didn’t become a dominant player. Brodrick Bunkley (2006) was traded by the Eagles before his deal was up. Washington had two and kept Carlos Rogers (2005) for a year the same way the Cowboys kept Spears but then he signed with San Francisco in 2012. LaRon Landry (2007) walked after his rookie deal was up with the Redskins.

For the Cowboys, the next first rounder to come due will be Dez Bryant, their top pick in 2010 whose contract is up after the 2014 season. Will Bryant cash in on a big deal before his contract expires?
 
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Bryant will be re-upped unless he gets in big time trouble. Jerry's determined to give him every chance to be a success here. I wouldn't call Spencer a "one-and-done" either.
 

superpunk

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First round is not that great of a look for any member of the east.

I'd imagine if you compared us league-wide it wouldn't be that different.
 

Jon88

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We shouldn't compare ourselves to anyone. That's the Psychology 101 advice everyone should take.

Teams are a different matter. This one is a clusterfuck.
 
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