Cowboys look to pick up some insurance policies
By JAYNE CUSTRED
For The Chronicle
IRVING — Free agency was good to the Dallas Cowboys. All it took was a few hours of negotiations and about $100 million, give or take, and the Cowboys solved many of their problems for the 2007 season.
So the upcoming NFL draft should be about insurance. The Cowboys have 10 selections in the 2007 draft, set for April 28-29. The team's first pick is the 22nd overall, and the Cowboys have one pick in each of the next four rounds, two picks in the sixth and three selections in the seventh.
Prior to the free-agency period, the Cowboys needed help with their offensive line. But Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode barely missed a beat before signing a six-year deal worth $30 million.
The Cowboys then shored up right tackle by signing Marc Colombo to a two-year, $7 million deal.
And they got a big man — 366-pound offensive lineman Leonard Davis — in free agency as well, closing a seven-year, $49.6 million deal. In addition to his size, the big thing about Davis is he can play any position on the line except center.
Coach Wade Phillips probably would like to find depth at offensive tackle, so it's likely the Cowboys will end up with two or three offensive linemen among their 10 picks. But don't look for that in the first round.
The best tackle in the draft, Wisconsin's Joe Thomas, won't be around at No. 22.
Owner Jerry Jones has maintained that he and Phillips will "stick to their draft board" this year, following the advice of chief scout Jeff Ireland and taking the most talented player left in the pool when their time comes to pick.
Calling it the "purest scout-evaluation draft," Jones said he won't be inclined to pick a player just because the coaching staff thinks he is a good guy.
"The only times coaches and scouts don't see eye to eye is around draft time, because coaches start liking players," Ireland said. "You have to fight that. Those are the traps.
"People start believing we need a receiver, and a fifth-rounder becomes a third-rounder. You have to fight that with the scouts and coaches. That's why it's my job to look at every player and decide."
So even though Dallas has three proven wide receivers in Terry Glenn, Patrick Crayton (who signed a one-year, $1.3 million deal in free agency) and Terrell Owens, two of the three are in their 30s.
Adding a young receiver would bolster the club for the future, and this year's draft is rich in potential first-rounders at the position.
Georgia Tech standout Calvin Johnson will be long gone by the time the Cowboys' first pick rolls around, but there are a number of others who could help the team.
Tennessee wide receiver Robert Meachem might be available, as could LSU star Dwayne Bowe, who led his team with 65 catches for 990 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. And if he's available, the Cowboys would be interested in Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr.
Despite the success of running back tandem Julius Jones and Marion Barber, the Cowboys have the option of taking a running back in one of the middle rounds. Dallas native Tyson Thompson, who missed most of last season with a broken leg, should return as the third back, but that doesn't mean the Cowboys aren't looking. Arizona's Chris Henry (5-11, 230 pounds) was one of 24 prospects the Cowboys brought to Valley Ranch for a pre-draft interview. Nebraska's Brandon Jackson and Auburn's Kenny Irons are other running backs who might be available in the second or third round.
Don't expect to see any of the team's higher draft picks spent on a quarterback.
The Cowboys believe they have their quarterback in Tony Romo. After cutting Drew Bledsoe, they added veteran Brad Johnson to the roster to back up Romo. A late-round quarterback selection isn't out of the question.
Other needs include bolstering a shaky secondary with a young free safety to complement veteran Roy Williams or perhaps an additional corner. A pass rusher would be a plus.
The last few drafts for the Cowboys have been only moderate successes. This year, look for Jones to make the calls and for the nod to go to the sure bet, regardless of position.
For The Chronicle
IRVING — Free agency was good to the Dallas Cowboys. All it took was a few hours of negotiations and about $100 million, give or take, and the Cowboys solved many of their problems for the 2007 season.
So the upcoming NFL draft should be about insurance. The Cowboys have 10 selections in the 2007 draft, set for April 28-29. The team's first pick is the 22nd overall, and the Cowboys have one pick in each of the next four rounds, two picks in the sixth and three selections in the seventh.
Prior to the free-agency period, the Cowboys needed help with their offensive line. But Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode barely missed a beat before signing a six-year deal worth $30 million.
The Cowboys then shored up right tackle by signing Marc Colombo to a two-year, $7 million deal.
And they got a big man — 366-pound offensive lineman Leonard Davis — in free agency as well, closing a seven-year, $49.6 million deal. In addition to his size, the big thing about Davis is he can play any position on the line except center.
Coach Wade Phillips probably would like to find depth at offensive tackle, so it's likely the Cowboys will end up with two or three offensive linemen among their 10 picks. But don't look for that in the first round.
The best tackle in the draft, Wisconsin's Joe Thomas, won't be around at No. 22.
Owner Jerry Jones has maintained that he and Phillips will "stick to their draft board" this year, following the advice of chief scout Jeff Ireland and taking the most talented player left in the pool when their time comes to pick.
Calling it the "purest scout-evaluation draft," Jones said he won't be inclined to pick a player just because the coaching staff thinks he is a good guy.
"The only times coaches and scouts don't see eye to eye is around draft time, because coaches start liking players," Ireland said. "You have to fight that. Those are the traps.
"People start believing we need a receiver, and a fifth-rounder becomes a third-rounder. You have to fight that with the scouts and coaches. That's why it's my job to look at every player and decide."
So even though Dallas has three proven wide receivers in Terry Glenn, Patrick Crayton (who signed a one-year, $1.3 million deal in free agency) and Terrell Owens, two of the three are in their 30s.
Adding a young receiver would bolster the club for the future, and this year's draft is rich in potential first-rounders at the position.
Georgia Tech standout Calvin Johnson will be long gone by the time the Cowboys' first pick rolls around, but there are a number of others who could help the team.
Tennessee wide receiver Robert Meachem might be available, as could LSU star Dwayne Bowe, who led his team with 65 catches for 990 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. And if he's available, the Cowboys would be interested in Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr.
Despite the success of running back tandem Julius Jones and Marion Barber, the Cowboys have the option of taking a running back in one of the middle rounds. Dallas native Tyson Thompson, who missed most of last season with a broken leg, should return as the third back, but that doesn't mean the Cowboys aren't looking. Arizona's Chris Henry (5-11, 230 pounds) was one of 24 prospects the Cowboys brought to Valley Ranch for a pre-draft interview. Nebraska's Brandon Jackson and Auburn's Kenny Irons are other running backs who might be available in the second or third round.
Don't expect to see any of the team's higher draft picks spent on a quarterback.
The Cowboys believe they have their quarterback in Tony Romo. After cutting Drew Bledsoe, they added veteran Brad Johnson to the roster to back up Romo. A late-round quarterback selection isn't out of the question.
Other needs include bolstering a shaky secondary with a young free safety to complement veteran Roy Williams or perhaps an additional corner. A pass rusher would be a plus.
The last few drafts for the Cowboys have been only moderate successes. This year, look for Jones to make the calls and for the nod to go to the sure bet, regardless of position.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:43 PM
<< Home