C
Cr122
Guest
Updated: April 10, 2011, 7:17 PM
Tight Enough?
Injury Proved Importance Of TE Depth
By Josh Ellis
Notre Dame's Kyle Rudolph is projected as the top tight end prospect in this draft.
Editor's Note: As the April 28-30 NFL Draft approaches, DallasCowboys.com's 12-part Draft Series will analyze every position, the Cowboys' needs at each, who might be available for their eight picks and some interesting draft nuggets. Part 3 will feature tight ends.)
Position Outlook: At the very top, the tight end position is as much set as any spot on any team in the league, as Jason Witten is making a strong case for Ring of Honor, if not Hall of Fame honors after his career. So despite the public wishes of Martellus Bennett, there will be no competition, at least for the starting job at this position.
Bennett may get his wish by being pushed for his No. 2 job in training camp, however, especially if the surgically-repaired knee of John Phillips is 100 percent. Last year, Phillips was more impressive than Bennett in San Antonio, but tore his ACL in the preseason opener, ending his second season in the league before it really got started. Because of their strong depth, the Cowboys had avoided the position in the draft, instead waiting until rookie free agency to lure Scott Sicko away from grad school. But Sicko's heart was never in pro football, and he didn't become the fill-in for Phillips that the club might have imagined.
Witten was solid as ever, earning a seventh straight Pro Bowl appearance, and Bennett played more consistently than in his first two seasons, but the lack of a solid No. 3 tight end partially handcuffed Jason Garrett's offense at times. The Cowboys ended the year with former Cleveland draft pick Martin Rucker on their roster, and Jason Pociask on the practice squad. Neither would be an ideal replacement if one of the top three were injured again, however.
Draft Prospects: The first tight end expected to go off the board is Notre Dame's Kyle Rudolph, while Luke Stocker of Tennessee and Jordan Cameron of Southern Cal appear likely to follow soon thereafter. They won't be of any consideration for the Cowboys, however.
That's not to say the position isn't of some concern given Bennett's sketchiness, and the fact that he's in the last year or his contract, plus Phillips' recovery from arthroscopic surgery. The Cowboys simply have too many other needs to bring in a potential No. 3 until the very late rounds, or in undrafted free agency. But because of the league's lockout, rookie free agents cannot be signed until after a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is in place.
Late considerations or priority free agents could include Andre Smith (6-5, 272) of Virginia Tech, Charlie Gantt (6-5, 260) from Michigan State, Joe Torchia (6-6, 260) of Virginia and Brett Brackett (6-6, 246) of Penn State, along with perhaps a dozen others.
Eventual Available Vets: It's highly unlikely that a tight end would be targeted by the Cowboys in free agency, whenever it comes around, though perhaps this time around a more proven veteran would be a consideration if there was a training camp injury.
Among the more under-the-radar names expected for unrestricted free agency at the position, guys who might still be without a team when the season starts, are David Martin of the Bills, Reggie Kelly from Cincinnati and Ben Patrick of Arizona.
Still, it's more likely the Cowboys will have a hardy undrafted player they would like to step into an open spot than to bring in a stopgap free agent.
Draft Nuggets: Marshall's Lee Smith, projected as a mid-round prospect, is the son of the late Daryle Smith, who played offensive tackle for the Cowboys in 1987-88 before joining the Cleveland Browns in 1989 and spending 1990-92 with Philadelphia ... Stephen Skelton of Fordham is the younger brother of Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton . . . Texas' Greg Smith has some experience as a long-snapper.
Look Back: Twice in team history have the Cowboys selected tight ends in the first round of the draft, first taking Billie Joe Dupree out of Michigan State in 1973, and in 1997 selecting David LaFleur from LSU.
Needing to replace the receiving threat of Jay Novacek in their offense, Dallas thought the 6-7, 272-pounder would develop into more than just a blocker in the NFL following an All-America senior season. He did catch 35 passes in 1999, with seven touchdowns, but mostly served as a big body on the end of the line during his four years with the team, while unheralded Eric Bjornson was the team's primary pass-catcher at the position.
Following an injury-filled 2000 season, the Cowboys released LaFleur, and he retired.
Up Next: Wide Receiver
Tight Enough?
Injury Proved Importance Of TE Depth
By Josh Ellis
Notre Dame's Kyle Rudolph is projected as the top tight end prospect in this draft.
Editor's Note: As the April 28-30 NFL Draft approaches, DallasCowboys.com's 12-part Draft Series will analyze every position, the Cowboys' needs at each, who might be available for their eight picks and some interesting draft nuggets. Part 3 will feature tight ends.)
Position Outlook: At the very top, the tight end position is as much set as any spot on any team in the league, as Jason Witten is making a strong case for Ring of Honor, if not Hall of Fame honors after his career. So despite the public wishes of Martellus Bennett, there will be no competition, at least for the starting job at this position.
Bennett may get his wish by being pushed for his No. 2 job in training camp, however, especially if the surgically-repaired knee of John Phillips is 100 percent. Last year, Phillips was more impressive than Bennett in San Antonio, but tore his ACL in the preseason opener, ending his second season in the league before it really got started. Because of their strong depth, the Cowboys had avoided the position in the draft, instead waiting until rookie free agency to lure Scott Sicko away from grad school. But Sicko's heart was never in pro football, and he didn't become the fill-in for Phillips that the club might have imagined.
Witten was solid as ever, earning a seventh straight Pro Bowl appearance, and Bennett played more consistently than in his first two seasons, but the lack of a solid No. 3 tight end partially handcuffed Jason Garrett's offense at times. The Cowboys ended the year with former Cleveland draft pick Martin Rucker on their roster, and Jason Pociask on the practice squad. Neither would be an ideal replacement if one of the top three were injured again, however.
Draft Prospects: The first tight end expected to go off the board is Notre Dame's Kyle Rudolph, while Luke Stocker of Tennessee and Jordan Cameron of Southern Cal appear likely to follow soon thereafter. They won't be of any consideration for the Cowboys, however.
That's not to say the position isn't of some concern given Bennett's sketchiness, and the fact that he's in the last year or his contract, plus Phillips' recovery from arthroscopic surgery. The Cowboys simply have too many other needs to bring in a potential No. 3 until the very late rounds, or in undrafted free agency. But because of the league's lockout, rookie free agents cannot be signed until after a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is in place.
Late considerations or priority free agents could include Andre Smith (6-5, 272) of Virginia Tech, Charlie Gantt (6-5, 260) from Michigan State, Joe Torchia (6-6, 260) of Virginia and Brett Brackett (6-6, 246) of Penn State, along with perhaps a dozen others.
Eventual Available Vets: It's highly unlikely that a tight end would be targeted by the Cowboys in free agency, whenever it comes around, though perhaps this time around a more proven veteran would be a consideration if there was a training camp injury.
Among the more under-the-radar names expected for unrestricted free agency at the position, guys who might still be without a team when the season starts, are David Martin of the Bills, Reggie Kelly from Cincinnati and Ben Patrick of Arizona.
Still, it's more likely the Cowboys will have a hardy undrafted player they would like to step into an open spot than to bring in a stopgap free agent.
Draft Nuggets: Marshall's Lee Smith, projected as a mid-round prospect, is the son of the late Daryle Smith, who played offensive tackle for the Cowboys in 1987-88 before joining the Cleveland Browns in 1989 and spending 1990-92 with Philadelphia ... Stephen Skelton of Fordham is the younger brother of Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton . . . Texas' Greg Smith has some experience as a long-snapper.
Look Back: Twice in team history have the Cowboys selected tight ends in the first round of the draft, first taking Billie Joe Dupree out of Michigan State in 1973, and in 1997 selecting David LaFleur from LSU.
Needing to replace the receiving threat of Jay Novacek in their offense, Dallas thought the 6-7, 272-pounder would develop into more than just a blocker in the NFL following an All-America senior season. He did catch 35 passes in 1999, with seven touchdowns, but mostly served as a big body on the end of the line during his four years with the team, while unheralded Eric Bjornson was the team's primary pass-catcher at the position.
Following an injury-filled 2000 season, the Cowboys released LaFleur, and he retired.
Up Next: Wide Receiver