Don't get caught in the draft

By Jennifer Floyd Engel
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

IRVING -- The Texans have draft problems that make Al Davis and his Raiders look well-managed.

So it seems somewhat gauche to question Owner Jones on any off-season decisions in light of recent developments in Houston. The Texans are the standard bearer of stupidity, passing up on Houston native and national championship-winning Longhorns QB Vince Young in the draft because they were committed to David Carr. Until they cut Carr on Friday, less than 11 months later.

They also passed on Reggie Bush for fear he had baggage, forgetting the NFL is like an airport. Everybody is carrying on something.

What Owner Jones has screwed up, on his worst day, pales in comparison. The Texans have made a strong push in the last year for "Worst NFL Franchise" status.

So whatever you think of Owner Jones hiring Wade Phillips (I liked it) or GM Jerry signing Leonard Davis to a big-money deal (Isn't he supposed to be lazy?), everybody has to be thinking "Better him than those Texans idiots pulling the trigger."

But there is a cautionary tale in what has transpired in Houston.

If the Cowboys can take one thing out of the Texans' mess, it is do not draft based on what you hope you have. Or, to be blunt, do not pass on a receiver in the first round because you have two 35-ish receivers (Terry Glenn and T.O.) who you love.

Older receivers get hurt.

Or fail to learn the playbook.

Or fake it.

Or watch their skills diminish because of old age.

And then do you gamble on Miles Austin and Sam Hurd becoming go-to receivers in this league?

Of course, it sounds like that is exactly what the Cowboys are prepared to do.

"I feel good about our receivers. I feel good about our young receivers and so I'd have to look twice about stacking 'em up there right now," GM Jerry said Friday.

Now, this is the time of year in the NFL where the adage "How do you know if they are lying? Their lips are moving" really applies. Let's hope GM Jerry is not really prepared to pass on Robert Meachem or Dwayne Bowe or even Ted Ginn Jr. because Hurd might be pretty good.

This is a good draft for receivers. And, if questions about Ginn Jr.'s sprained left foot cause him to fall to the Cowboys, he would be a great draft pick for them.

He is a Devin Hester-esque returner with blazing speed, and where he lands on draft day depends a lot on his private workout in April.

About the only way the Cowboys justify passing on one of these receivers is if they trade down for Longhorns offensive lineman Justin Blalock, whom they love, love, love.

What they cannot do is neglect offense in the first round again, right?

"I'd have to say that, if I had any leaning at all, I'd like to help our offense coming in, especially having gotten [safety] Ken [Hamlin] signed," GM Jerry said. "I'd probably be biased toward offense, but not enough to pass up a top defensive pressure player or a top defensive player just to try to go offense."

Go ahead, pass. For once.

Definitely pass on drafting a safety in the first round, and the fact A&M safety Melvin Bullitt is coming to Valley Ranch for a visit and may be a Day One talent available on Day Two suggests they may resist this urge.

Of course, the Cowboys will probably draft a defensive front seven guy. They always do. But I shouldn't complain. It could be worse. The Texans' brain trust could be making the decision.

And the last thing the Cowboys need is this year's Mario Williams.