ESPN Analysts can't see what's being built here.

[Midswat]

NFL future rankings: Only 4 teams projected to be worse than Dallas Cowboys over next 3 seasons
By Jon Machota
jmachota@dallasnews.com
4:08 pm on July 10, 2014


Dallas head coach Jason Garrett is pictured during Dallas Cowboys minicamp held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Thursday, June 19, 2014. (Louis DeLuca/Dallas Morning News)

The future of the Dallas Cowboys will rely heavily on the back of Tony Romo, the continued maturation of Dez Bryant, the growth of a potentially dominant offensive line, continuity on the coaching staff and the ability to find talent to improve a depleted defensive unit.

A group of ESPN experts don’t envision that combination leading Dallas to a very good product on the field over the next three seasons.

The panel of John Clayton, Mel Kiper, Louis Riddick and Mike Sando recently ranked how each NFL team will fare over the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons. (It’s an Insider article, so you have to be a member to read it.)

They had the Cowboys at 28. Yes, only four teams were worse – Cleveland, Buffalo, Miami and Oakland.

To break it down, they rated every team in five categories — roster (excluding quarterback), quarterback, draft, front office and coaching. The Cowboys and Raiders were the only two teams to rank among the NFL’s five worst in four of the five categories.

Quarterback received their best grade, which was 13th. That’s not saying Romo is 13th among QBs, it’s stating over the next three years, that’s where they project the franchise at the position. That’s hard to argue considering Romo’s back issues and his age (34). To have them ranked higher would mean putting a lot of confidence in Brandon Weeden.

Twenty-six teams were graded as having a better overall roster than the Cowboys and 30 were thought to have better coaching.

In regards to Jerry Jones and the front office, Dallas finished 30th, ahead of only Miami and Oakland.

 

[Doomsday]

What's their prior record on predicting this stuff, 3 years into the future?

 

[Midswat]

I think the think that troubles me the most about our future is the QB position.

It ain't coaching because I truly believe Garrett gets the can after this season.

But it's the fact that we have a mid-thirties QB coming off a back injury with a bare cupboard behind him. Literally no young prospects with potential. And we have to listen to our GM and son tell us that yeah Romo is 34, but it's a young 34 because he didn't play his first four years.

 

[Doomsday]

I think the think that troubles me the most about our future is the QB position.

It ain't coaching because I truly believe Garrett gets the can after this season.

But it's the fact that we have a mid-thirties QB coming off a back injury with a bare cupboard behind him. Literally no young prospects with potential. And we have to listen to our GM and son tell us that yeah Romo is 34, but it's a young 34 because he didn't play his first four years.

Yeah that's among the most idiotic and ignorant statements I've heard in recent memory.

For the last three years at least, I have been clamoring for Dallas to pick up a frikkin quarterback in the draft, as Romo's future replacement. To like, I dunno, avoid what happened after Troy left? What did we go through, 9 quarterbacks before Romo replaced Bledsoe?

The ONE time in his life Jerry fought off his glamor instinct and passed on Johnny Football, is exactly the wrong time for that to have happened. You kidding? We NEED a quarterback for the future and Johnny Frikkin Football was there for the taking.

 

[Midswat]

But Manzel is going to suck. There were other quaterbacks we could've taken in different spots later in the draft and passed on.

This teams ownership didn't learn a thing from the post-Aikman dark ages. It's unbelievable.

 

[cmd34(work)]

We NEED a quarterback for the future.

I'm usually first in line of this thinking but that contract Romo signed locked the team to him, good or bad, healthy or unhealthy, until at least 2017. Drafting a 1st round QB this past draft means he will most likely spend three of his four contract years (5th year is a huge team option) sitting the bench. Better to use that 1st round pick on someone who helps keep Romo upright. If Romo goes down this team is screwed anyway and Johnny Football wasn't going to change that.

Next year, or better yet in 2016, is the year to draft Romo's replacement. Besides, this O Line will be very good and still young enough to help transition that young QB.

 

[Doomsday]

But Manzel is going to suck. There were other quaterbacks we could've taken in different spots later in the draft and passed on.

This teams ownership didn't learn a thing from the post-Aikman dark ages. It's unbelievable.

Agreed on both points. But hell, I would alot rather see Manziel on the roster than the two backups we have.

 

[Doomsday]

I'm usually first in line of this thinking but that contract Romo signed locked the team to him, good or bad, healthy or unhealthy, until at least 2017. Drafting a 1st round QB this past draft means he will most likely spend three of his four contract years (5th year is a huge team option) sitting the bench. Better to use that 1st round pick on someone who helps keep Romo upright. If Romo goes down this team is screwed anyway and Johnny Football wasn't going to change that.

Next year, or better yet in 2016, is the year to draft Romo's replacement. Besides, this O Line will be very good and still young enough to help transition that young QB.

That contract has alot of outs in it. But yeah I do see your point, this is why I was shouting profanities all day when the new contract was announced. But see, when Romo goes down with his career ending injury (which I believe he will, this next season) what then? Weeden? LM frikkin AO. It's Aikman out, all over again with absolutely nothing in the bullpen.

 

[cmd34(work)]

That contract has alot of outs in it.

We can't afford to cut him until after the 2016 season and even then it will be a huge cap hit.

 

[cmd34(work)]

If Romo was to do something this year that pretty much wrapped his career, injury-wise, then we would have to draft our guy next year. Lots of QB talent available in the 2015 draft.

 

[Doomsday]

We can't afford to cut him until after the 2016 season and even then it will be a huge cap hit.

Right but, it doesn't mean you have to play him.

Jerry got taken to the cleaners for sure.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Yeah that's among the most idiotic and ignorant statements I've heard in recent memory.

For the last three years at least, I have been clamoring for Dallas to pick up a frikkin quarterback in the draft, as Romo's future replacement. To like, I dunno, avoid what happened after Troy left? What did we go through, 9 quarterbacks before Romo replaced Bledsoe?

But Dustin Vaughn...

I'm kind of with you on Manziel, though. The timing didn't end up being right, but too bad it wasn't. Even though he's a risk, it would've been exciting to see. And I think he's a rare guy who could handle the spotlight in Dallas. He's pretty much used to being hounded 24/7 already.

 

[Doomsday]

But Dustin Vaughn...

Scary thought right? Part of me hopes he flops so redball won't look like a genius, part of me knows he might very well be your next Payton Manning.

I'm kind of with you on Manziel, though. The timing didn't end up being right, but too bad it wasn't. Even though he's a risk, it would've been exciting to see. And I think he's a rare guy who could handle the spotlight in Dallas. He's pretty much used to being hounded 24/7 already.

He's tailor made for Jerry, right? Think of the millions in swag income. Must have really chapped his ass to pass on that and if he does well, ALL the MF'ers who talked him out of it are getting their walking papers and maybe a boot in their asses.

 

[Doomsday]

And it's VAUGHAN!

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Just another reason to root for him in Cleveland... :towel

 

[Doomsday]

Just another reason to root for him in Cleveland...

And Man, I really really hate Cleveland. Even the Edmund Fitzgerald sank rather than have to go there.

 

[junk]

Can we change his name to Ricky Vaughn? And call him Wild Thing? Then if we get a Jobu I'll be back on board for this season

 

[bvhawkeye]

Our front office finished 30th? Hmmm? Seems kind of high

 

[Midswat]

Who are the two teams beneath us? Cleveland and Oakland?