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So just using Kiper's ratings above and plugging in some with our picks:
1/24- Zion Johnson OL Boston College: immediate upgrade at LG or potentially at C
2/56- Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan: (no way this guy last this long, but an interior OL and OT prospect first two picks would go long way to fixing OL for years)
3/88- Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia: possible heir to Shultz if they cant get a longterm deal done but fills need for solid 2nd TE
4/129- Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson: we know they will be looking at WR's, probably more than 1 if they keep all 9 picks and dont get one early
5/155: Micheal Clemons, DE, Texas A&M: DL help
5/167: Carson Strong, QB, Nevada: A QB prospect with real arm talent for a change
5/176: Ed Ingram, OG, LSU: I dont think he falls anywhere near this far and maybe 3 OL is overkill, but more quality depth and proven starter in the SEC
5/178: Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor: I think they'll try to get a RB somewhere, but another WR with raw talent and speed
6/193: Cameron Dicker PK Texas: I'd rather have Cade York from LSU but he will go a lot earlier. Still, potential solution to kicking problem for a few years
1/24- Zion Johnson OL Boston College: immediate upgrade at LG or potentially at C
2/56- Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan: (no way this guy last this long, but an interior OL and OT prospect first two picks would go long way to fixing OL for years)
3/88- Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia: possible heir to Shultz if they cant get a longterm deal done but fills need for solid 2nd TE
4/129- Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson: we know they will be looking at WR's, probably more than 1 if they keep all 9 picks and dont get one early
5/155: Micheal Clemons, DE, Texas A&M: DL help
5/167: Carson Strong, QB, Nevada: A QB prospect with real arm talent for a change
5/176: Ed Ingram, OG, LSU: I dont think he falls anywhere near this far and maybe 3 OL is overkill, but more quality depth and proven starter in the SEC
5/178: Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor: I think they'll try to get a RB somewhere, but another WR with raw talent and speed
6/193: Cameron Dicker PK Texas: I'd rather have Cade York from LSU but he will go a lot earlier. Still, potential solution to kicking problem for a few years
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I honestly haven't looked at London that much, had assumed all along he was way out of reach. Maybe he is a really good prospect, I am not sure.
In the end it doesn't matter how good he is if nobody protects the QB, and they have to fix the running game. The run game sux ass because the guys we have had can't get any push or create any lanes. Too many plays are blown up in the backfield. With Zeke and Pollard we should be able to run pretty much anytime we want, but too many plays get blown up for no gains or losses (especially on 1st down) and it puts us constantly behind the chains. And if they want to maximize Prescott's development and effectiveness, they have to have OL that are not constantly shoved back into his face.
I'm like you, give me Zion or Green and I'd be pretty happy. Linderbaum would probably be an upgrade at C, but then they still have the LG problem. Haven't seen it mentioned at all, but if they went for Linderbaum maybe Biadasz would move to LG. IMO the worst part of his game is his shotgun snapping, and perhaps if he can move to G where he doesnt have to think about that and focus strictly on the blocking part, he would be ok. The pre-draft stuff on Biadasz, some had the opinion he could play C or G in the NFL. Otherwise if they get Linderbaum they still need to get a quality potential starting LG somewhere in the middle rounds (which is doable) or maybe they sign a free agent on Monday.
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How Ted Williams' mantra helps explain Cowboys' big vs. small school draft debate
Since Will McClay (left) took over running the draft in 2014 for Jerry Jones, the Cowboys have chosen Power 5 prospects with 74% of their draft picks. James D. Smith via AP Photo
Apr 27, 2022
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Todd ArcherESPN Staff Writer
FRISCO, Texas -- Jason Garrett had a picture of Ted Williams on his desk when he was head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and every spring it reminded him what mattered most when it came to the NFL draft.
The picture was from Williams’ book, “The Science of Hitting,” with seven baseballs going across the strike zone and 11 down the zone. Inside each baseball was the batting average correlated to the pitch location. Belt-high over the middle of the plate was the highest. Too high, too low, too far inside or too far outside and the numbers dropped.
Williams’ first mantra was, “get a good pitch to hit.”
“To me, that’s such a great reminder and we’re talking the greatest hitter of all time,” Garrett said. “You can take a chance and swing at a pretty bad pitch way out there and roll the dice, but you’ll have success two out of 10 times. If you take one in the middle of the plate, you’ll have success five out of 10 times.”
The analogy to the NFL draft is related to a big-school, small-school debate among the Cowboys' decision-makers. To them, the middle-of-the-plate pitches represent players from Power 5 schools. Those pitches low and away or high and wide come from below that level.
While there are exceptions to every rule, most of the players in the NFL come from Power 5 schools, and the Cowboys have become a much more Power-5 heavy team.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, since 2014 when vice president of player personnel Will McClay took over the draft preparation, the Cowboys have made 70 draft picks with 52 coming from Power 5 schools (74%), which is right around the league average. From 2006-13, the Cowboys had 62 selections with 35 coming from Power 5 schools (56%), which ranked 30th in the league.
As the Cowboys prepare for the 2022 draft, that is a statistic that should be remembered.
“Guys in the Power 5 schools have an advantage in the evaluation process because you see them against similar level type of players and programs," McClay said. "Smaller school players should stand out by dominating at their level or have elite physical traits for the position that can match up to players that play at the NFL level."
Among the Cowboys’ national pre-draft visitors to The Star, 23 of the 28 players were from Power 5 schools.
“They’re the Power 5 for a reason,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “They’ve got some really good football players, but at the same time there are good players who aren’t in the Power 5 ... I don’t think it’s been a conscientious effort to say ‘Hey, we’re going to get away from smaller schools and look at Power 5 only and that’s where we’re going to pick from.’ It’s more just our evaluation process evolving to where that’s where we’ve ended up over the past four, five, six, seven years whatever time frame that is.”
It wasn't always that way. Throughout the history of the Cowboys, they have found some of their best players at smaller programs. Safety Cliff Harris (Ouachita Baptist) and receiver Drew Pearson (Tulsa) went from undrafted free agents to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tony Romo went from undrafted quarterback out of Eastern Illinois to the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards.
Offensive tackle Rayfield Wright played basketball at Fort Valley State before becoming a seventh-round pick in 1967 and a Hall of Famer. Another Hall of Famer, Bob Hayes, was a track star at Florida A&M before the Cowboys took the receiver in the seventh round in 1964. Ed “Too Tall” Jones was the No. 1 overall pick in 1974, but he came from Tennessee State. Offensive lineman Herb Scott is one of the most underrated players in franchise history after he was a 13th round pick from Virginia Union in 1975.
Since Jerry Jones has been owner and general manager in 1989, the Cowboys have made some notable selections from small schools. Three-time Super Bowl champion Leon Lett -- also their current assistant D-line coach -- was the 173rd pick from Emporia State in 1991. One of the best offensive linemen in NFL history, Hall of Famer Larry Allen, was a second round pick from Sonoma State in 1994.
In 2005, the Cowboys selected DeMarcus Ware out of Troy in the first round. He became the franchise leader in sacks and is sure to be selected for induction into the Hall of Fame, perhaps as soon as 2023.
The Cowboys have spent some high picks on non-Power 5 prospects since McClay has been running the draft. In 2015, the Cowboys selected corner Byron Jones in the first round out of Connecticut. In 2018, they took linebacker Leighton Vander Esch out of Boise State in the first round. Both made a Pro Bowl in Dallas. In 2019, their first pick was Trysten Hill from Central Florida in the second round.
Most of the Cowboys non-Power 5 picks, however, have come in Rounds 4-7, although DeMarcus Lawrence (second, Boise State, 2014), Michael Gallup (third, Colorado State, 2018) are the exceptions since McClay’s ascension in the draft room.
Last year, 10 of the Cowboys’ 11 picks came from Power 5 schools. Fourth-rounder Josh Ball came from Marshall, although he started his career at Florida State.
"Players can come from anywhere and we look everywhere for players," McClay said. "The NFL is becoming more and more about size, speed and matchups. At the end of the day we’re looking for players that have a chance to compete at this level regardless of where they come from.”
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Some of the mocks from the Cowboys website:
Rob Phillips:
Kyle Youmans
David Helman
Nick Eatman
Analysis: I hear a lot of talk about trading up in this draft, but I don't think the Cowboys should do that. They need their picks, especially the ones in the first three rounds. If anything, I could see them trading down, especially if teams are trying to get in the 20s to take a QB. I think the other writers might be right with Kenyon Green, but I went with Smith, who could be there in a trade-back scenario. He's played tackle but has the size to play guard now and eventually slide outside down the road. This is a pick for the short-term at guard and hopefully the long-term at tackle. Dotson would have to fall to them at 56 but I'm banking on maybe a first-round trade that allows them to pick sooner. Ruckert is a big body they need at tight end and Danny Gray gives them the top-end speed I've been waiting for. Six of my nine picks are offensive and I know they still need a kicker but I'm not betting they do that unless they maybe trade into the seventh round and get one.
Rob Phillips:
- 1(24): Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M
- 2(56): Drake Jackson, DE, USC
- 3(88): David Bell, WR, Purdue
- 4(129): Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego St.
- 5(155): Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor
- 5(167): Eyioma Uwazurike, DT, Iowa St.
- 5(176): Jaylen Watson, CB, Washington State
- 5(178): Tyrion Davis-Price, RB, LSU
- 6(193): Gabe Brkic, K, Oklahoma
Kyle Youmans
- 1(24): Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College
- 2(56): Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama
- 3(88): Sam Williams, Edge, Ole Miss
- 4(129): Cade Otton, TE, Washington
- 5(155): Spencer Burford, OL, UTSA
- 5(167): Esezi Otomewo, Edge, Minnesota
- 5(176): Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor
- 5(178): Dane Belton, DS, Missouri
- 6(193): Logan Bruss, IOL, Wisconsin
David Helman
- 1(24): Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M
- 2(56): Drake Jackson, DE, USC
- 3(88): Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia
- 4(129): Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State
- 5(155): Jake Ferguson, TE, Wisconsin
- 5(167): Rachaad White, RB ASU
- 5(176): Cade York, K, LSU
- 5(178): Velus Jones Jr., WR, Tennessee
- 6(193): Daron Bland, CB, Fresno State
Nick Eatman
- 1(24): Tyler Smith, G/T, Tulsa
- 2(56): Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
- 3(88): Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State
- 4(129): Alex Wright, DE, Ala-Birmingham
- 5(155): Danny Gray, WR, SMU
- 5(167): Rachaad White, RB Arizona State
- 5(176): Spencer Burford, OT, UT-San Antonio
- 5(178): Percy Butler, S, Louisiana
- 6(193): Devin Harper, OLB, Oklahoma State
Analysis: I hear a lot of talk about trading up in this draft, but I don't think the Cowboys should do that. They need their picks, especially the ones in the first three rounds. If anything, I could see them trading down, especially if teams are trying to get in the 20s to take a QB. I think the other writers might be right with Kenyon Green, but I went with Smith, who could be there in a trade-back scenario. He's played tackle but has the size to play guard now and eventually slide outside down the road. This is a pick for the short-term at guard and hopefully the long-term at tackle. Dotson would have to fall to them at 56 but I'm banking on maybe a first-round trade that allows them to pick sooner. Ruckert is a big body they need at tight end and Danny Gray gives them the top-end speed I've been waiting for. Six of my nine picks are offensive and I know they still need a kicker but I'm not betting they do that unless they maybe trade into the seventh round and get one.
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L O L
Way to go Donkos, Gregory probably ripped his rotator cuff after getting stoned and falling down the stairs celebrating over that stupid contract he got.
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Dude, first off he isn't fat.
Secondly, if you don't spend anytime reading up on the draft don't make dumbass statements like "he wasn't on ANYONE's draft board". They've been saying for over a week this kid was probably going in the first round. Tennessee was pretty clearly going to take him, but we drafted him they traded out of the 1st rd.
That said, I would have definitely taken Jermaine Johnson instead of him and I don't see how the Cowboys could claim they had Smith rated ahead of him on their board. Some people early this morning said Johnson could go top-10 and he was right there for us to get at 24, and we clearly needed a DE after the Gregory crap.