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The bad 2009 class is officially over
March, 28, 2013
By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com
With Victor Butler agreeing to a two-year deal with the New Orleans Saints on Thursday it mean the ending of the Dallas Cowboys' 2009 draft class.
The Cowboys drafted 12 players in 2009 and it was billed as a special teams draft. What it became was one of the worst drafts in the last ten years.
No starters were developed from this class and six made the 53-man roster. Things started off badly when the Cowboys began the draft without a first-round pick, handed to the Detroit as part of the Roy Williams deal. But with a second-round choice, the Cowboys traded it to Buffalo for a third-and-fourth round pick.
What did the Bills do with the pick?
Center Eric Wood was selected at No. 28.
We review the 2009 class:
Jason Williams. He was a third round pick, 69th overall from Western Illinois. He did make the team but had a little impact. Williams was supposed to be an outside linebacker with pass rushing ability. He struggled to learn Wade Phillips' defense and didn't earn a single-start. He played a career-high 14 games with the Carolina Panthers in 2011.
Robert Brewster. The tackle, a third rounder from Ball State, was the 75th overall selection. Let's just say Brewster's body wasn't in shape the moment he arrived at Valley Ranch. He was on the practice squad and that's about it. He never developed the strength necessary to be counted on to play in the NFL.
Stephen McGee. He was a backup who didn't develop. McGee struggled to convert from a quarterback that played out of the shotgun, to someone who needed to take snaps from center. The fourth-round pick from Texas A&M stayed way too long before getting released last summer.
Victor Butler. The Cowboys had some hopes for their fourth-round pick, 110 overall, on special teams and to provide some solid pass rush skills. Butler was inconsistent with the Cowboys and after touring at least four NFL teams this offseason, found a home with the Saints. Butler has potential, but needs to solve the inconsistency problems.
Brandon Williams. The linebacker from Texas Tech was a another fourth-round pick. The Fort Worth native played six games in 2010 and that was it. He didn't show much ability, now he did battle some injuries, but when healthy was inconsistent.
DeAngelo Smith. Smith was a fifth-round pick who didn't make the 53-man roster. The Cowboys thought he could be a solid cover guy, but just didn't provide the team with enough confidence to not only make the team, but to sustain a long-term career. Smith's claim to fame was getting beat by David Buehler in the 40 during training camp.
Michael Hamlin. The safety from Clemson was a fifth-round choice who did make the team but had little impact. He didn't contribute much on special teams. He played in four games with Jacksonville in 2010 and is out of the league.
David Buehler. The kicker from USC displayed a strong leg on kickoffs yet a groin injury in 2011 ended his time with the Cowboys. Buehler, a fifth-round pick, converted 75 percent of his field goals, including a career-long 53 yarder. Consistency was an issue and he didn't kick for anybody last season as he recovered from surgery on his groin. He signed with the New York Giants and could make the roster.
Stephen Hodge. The linebacker/safety from TCU just couldn't recover from his knee injuries. Hodge was projected as a special teams ace but his health prevented him from doing that. This is a sixth-round pick that just didn't work.
John Phillips. The tight end was a sixth-round pick who played well at times. He wasn't better than Martellus Bennett, a second-round pick from 2008. Phillips tore his ACL in the 2010 preseason opener and it slowed his progress. He was surpassed by James Hanna, a sixth-round pick in 2012, late in the season. Phillips signed a free agent deal with San Diego.
Mike Mickens. He was a seventh-round selection who is out of the league and didn't play any NFL games.
Manuel Johnson. Johnson was an East Texas favorite who made some plays in the preseason but just never did enough to make the 53-man roster.
March, 28, 2013
By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com
With Victor Butler agreeing to a two-year deal with the New Orleans Saints on Thursday it mean the ending of the Dallas Cowboys' 2009 draft class.
The Cowboys drafted 12 players in 2009 and it was billed as a special teams draft. What it became was one of the worst drafts in the last ten years.
No starters were developed from this class and six made the 53-man roster. Things started off badly when the Cowboys began the draft without a first-round pick, handed to the Detroit as part of the Roy Williams deal. But with a second-round choice, the Cowboys traded it to Buffalo for a third-and-fourth round pick.
What did the Bills do with the pick?
Center Eric Wood was selected at No. 28.
We review the 2009 class:
Jason Williams. He was a third round pick, 69th overall from Western Illinois. He did make the team but had a little impact. Williams was supposed to be an outside linebacker with pass rushing ability. He struggled to learn Wade Phillips' defense and didn't earn a single-start. He played a career-high 14 games with the Carolina Panthers in 2011.
Robert Brewster. The tackle, a third rounder from Ball State, was the 75th overall selection. Let's just say Brewster's body wasn't in shape the moment he arrived at Valley Ranch. He was on the practice squad and that's about it. He never developed the strength necessary to be counted on to play in the NFL.
Stephen McGee. He was a backup who didn't develop. McGee struggled to convert from a quarterback that played out of the shotgun, to someone who needed to take snaps from center. The fourth-round pick from Texas A&M stayed way too long before getting released last summer.
Victor Butler. The Cowboys had some hopes for their fourth-round pick, 110 overall, on special teams and to provide some solid pass rush skills. Butler was inconsistent with the Cowboys and after touring at least four NFL teams this offseason, found a home with the Saints. Butler has potential, but needs to solve the inconsistency problems.
Brandon Williams. The linebacker from Texas Tech was a another fourth-round pick. The Fort Worth native played six games in 2010 and that was it. He didn't show much ability, now he did battle some injuries, but when healthy was inconsistent.
DeAngelo Smith. Smith was a fifth-round pick who didn't make the 53-man roster. The Cowboys thought he could be a solid cover guy, but just didn't provide the team with enough confidence to not only make the team, but to sustain a long-term career. Smith's claim to fame was getting beat by David Buehler in the 40 during training camp.
Michael Hamlin. The safety from Clemson was a fifth-round choice who did make the team but had little impact. He didn't contribute much on special teams. He played in four games with Jacksonville in 2010 and is out of the league.
David Buehler. The kicker from USC displayed a strong leg on kickoffs yet a groin injury in 2011 ended his time with the Cowboys. Buehler, a fifth-round pick, converted 75 percent of his field goals, including a career-long 53 yarder. Consistency was an issue and he didn't kick for anybody last season as he recovered from surgery on his groin. He signed with the New York Giants and could make the roster.
Stephen Hodge. The linebacker/safety from TCU just couldn't recover from his knee injuries. Hodge was projected as a special teams ace but his health prevented him from doing that. This is a sixth-round pick that just didn't work.
John Phillips. The tight end was a sixth-round pick who played well at times. He wasn't better than Martellus Bennett, a second-round pick from 2008. Phillips tore his ACL in the 2010 preseason opener and it slowed his progress. He was surpassed by James Hanna, a sixth-round pick in 2012, late in the season. Phillips signed a free agent deal with San Diego.
Mike Mickens. He was a seventh-round selection who is out of the league and didn't play any NFL games.
Manuel Johnson. Johnson was an East Texas favorite who made some plays in the preseason but just never did enough to make the 53-man roster.
