Junk/Sturm inspired this thread. Why do Cowboys suck at the draft so bad?

[ZeroClub]

I think we got enamored with hitting on Romo, Ratliff, and Austin and fall in love with guys who should be drafted in the 6th or 7th or should go undrafted. Then we reach for them in the 3rd through 5th.

I like the theory. It makes sense to me. But I don't remember hearing the draft analysts on draft day say that the Cowboys' 3rd, 4th, or 5th round choices are usually taken a round or two too early. Have you heard otherwise?

 

[ZeroClub]

For this analysis to be any sort of meaningful it would have to be compared across the league.

If we hit on 30% of our late round draft picks as a standalone stat that looks bad.

But if the rest of the league is hitting at an average of about 20% suddenly we are above average.

I don't know if we are or aren't but you can't just look at our drafts and say oh we're terrible. You need a point of reference.

This is exactly correct.

... the hit rate on draft choices league-wide simply isn't as high as most assume.

 

[Midswat]

Now that I think about it, I think our success is better in UDFA than in the middle rounds of the draft because Jerry is less involved in acquiring UDFAs'.

I think Jerry involves himself very little with the farther a name is from the top of the draft. UDFA is all on the scouts.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

I think it's because Jerry is willing to pay up and simply outbid other teams for the best undrafted free agents. In the draft everyone is equal, but as soon as it's over the teams with the biggest bankrolls have a big advantage.

Still... Ratliff and Josh Brent and Lissemore and even Alan Ball were pretty good picks for seventh rounders.

 

[UVAwahoos]

Give me a break, dbair. Other than the Romo one in 2010, what you listed wasn't even serious as NFL injury situations go. The Giants were worse off than us with had several guys on IR last year. LG? Losing your LG is nothing.

And even regarding 2010, how about Houston losing their starting QB (and backup) and best defensive player for the year? What about the Patriots going 11-5 the year Brady was lost the first game of the year?

Yet somehow those teams carry on and manage win.

How about the Steelers last season with their O-line? Garrett was crippled with his new O-line, but Pittsburgh overcame a much worse situation. They also had injuries at several other key positions throughout the season. Apparently Garrett is the only coach who requires all-pro talent at all 22 starting positions and at least pro bowl-level backups for those starters in order to have a chance at a wildcard birth.

As the next Tom Landry, I guess he deserves it.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

We're pretty good in the 7th rounds.

I think the biggest problem is that we reach for "safe" players as opposed to the high risk/high reward guys that we used to target in the early '00s that end up having barely enough talent to make a roster.

Just my take.

 

[Midswat]

I think it's because Jerry is willing to pay up and simply outbid other teams for the best undrafted free agents. In the draft everyone is equal, but as soon as it's over the teams with the biggest bankrolls have a big advantage.

But I never hear about us grossly overpaying, or even outbidding anyone.

 

[cmd34]

Now that I think about it, I think our success is better in UDFA than in the middle rounds of the draft because Jerry is less involved in acquiring UDFAs'.

I think Jerry involves himself very little with the farther a name is from the top of the draft. UDFA is all on the scouts.

This. Add in the fact that because Jerry has done such a bad job of building the bottom half of the roster that UDFA's have a lort more opportunities on this roster.

I also think it has a lot to do with Jerry's self image of being a risk-taker and a wheeler and dealer. He likes to take guys in rounds 3 to 5 that no one else is talking about. He wants to find hidden gems so that he will be perceived as a "talent man". Matt Johnson may be a fine player...for a 6th rounder. Robert Brewster was seomeone Jerry supposedly thought he saw things that other scouts were missing.

 

[superpunk]

But I never hear about us grossly overpaying, or even outbidding anyone.

I think it's the prestige of playing in Dallas that gives us a leg up when it comes to players deciding where they want to have their first NFL job.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I think it's the prestige of playing in Dallas that gives us a leg up when it comes to players deciding where they want to have their first NFL job.

Or this. See Romo

This. Add in the fact that because Jerry has done such a bad job of building the bottom half of the roster that UDFA's have a lort more opportunities on this roster.

^^^more likely than your homer-o fantasy.

 

[Sheik]

I think our team should really consider winning a playoff game or two this year. Then we can stop being a collection of bitchy faggots.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

It's called being a realist, Sheik.

 

[Midswat]

lol

(at sheik's comment, no sacamano)

 

[Bob Sacamano]

(like anyone cares what Midswat thinks)

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

But I never hear about us grossly overpaying, or even outbidding anyone.

Happens a lot... Jerry just paid Leary like a fifth round pick. :confused

 

[Midswat]

Happens a lot... Jerry just paid Leary like a fifth round pick. :confused

That was the only time that came to mind.

Sort of like how Romo taking less to come here came to mind.


Edit: I'm not saying it doesn't happen all the time. I guess I never really paid attention to how much we pay these guys. Usually only like 2500-20,000 to sign.

I just have never heard it reported that we're out bidding other teams for undrafted guys.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Seems like when AdamJT posts his UFA thread with all the salaries and bonuses paid, there are usually a couple of players who are paid near the top of the league for UFAs. Not everyone of course -- a lot of these guys are just camp bodies.

 

[superpunk]

Why do people enter the supplemental draft rather than just become UDFAs

 

[cmd34]

Seems like when AdamJT posts his UFA thread with all the salaries and bonuses paid, there are usually a couple of players who are paid near the top of the league for UFAs. Not everyone of course -- a lot of these guys are just camp bodies.

I'll try to find it but I saw a post from Adam where it had the Cowboys as the top paying team for UDFA's for like 5 out of 6 years. The recent CBA altered the UDFA bidding process and I remember another article this past year saying how that would hurt and limit Jerry, again stating that we are one of the top paying teams. I will post when I find them.

 

[cmd34]

Why do people enter the supplemental draft rather than just become UDFAs

deadlines.

Players who enter the Supp have had their draft eligibility changed..academic issues, booted off team, coaching change they didn't like, etc... since the regular draft's deadline.