Cowboys may just fill in blanks
By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
IRVING -- In the days leading up to the NFL Draft, only one thing is certain.
Nobody is going to be completely forthright about their intentions.
So when Cowboys owner Jerry Jones volunteered information about his plans to hopefully move up in today's draft to get a "wow" player, it should be taken with a grain of salt.
Heading into this draft, the Cowboys don't necessarily need anything.
They filled all their major needs during free agency. Questions about the offensive line were addressed with the re-signings of center Andre Gurode and right tackle Marc Colombo and the signing of free-agent guard Leonard Davis for a team-record $16 million bonus.
The Cowboys think they solidified the free safety spot with the signing of veteran Ken Hamlin.
As a result, the Cowboys might be a better team on paper than they were at the end of the 2006 season.
But the goal for the Cowboys is not just improving on last season -- a 9-7 record and a wild-card playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
With 10 picks, including the 22nd selection in the first round, the question is can the Cowboys find the final pieces to make them "Super" again?
They've gone through five coaches and have won only one playoff game since their Super Bowl title in 1996.
Jones believes the Cowboys can break that drought in 2007 because of what they did in free agency and what they hope to do in the draft.
"We believe we have a chance to make a run," Jones said. "If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't have signed Leonard Davis. With the players we have before the draft, I feel like we could line up and play next week. As we go into this draft, we do not have to have a player, in my mind, to be competitive or to have our roster put together. But we need to do the right job on the draft or we will pay the price."
But because having success and making a run this year "is critical," Jones is open to trading up in the draft to possibly select a "wow" player.
Topping Jones' wish list is Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson, who is considered by many to be best player in the draft. He would be first offensive player drafted by the Cowboys since 1997 and could solve any questions about the future at receiver beyond aging starters Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens.
To get Johnson, the Cowboys would have to move into the top five, possibly as high as No. 2. Trading up high in the first round is very difficult to do if the Cowboys aren't willing to sacrifice picks from next year's draft or trade their entire 2007 picks -- two things Jones said he is not going to do.
"We really have to have something good happen," Jones said. "Hopefully somebody falls. I think there are a couple of teams that would like to move down and can't get down right now. You just want to steal something."
Next up on the Cowboys' wish list of steals would be Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, who is rated among the top five players in the draft, but could fall out of the top 10 because of team needs and questions about the shoulder he injured as a senior.
The Cowboys made a point to get contact numbers from Peterson on Friday so they could get in touch with him if they needed to on draft day. And Jones said the team has no concerns about his collarbone.
Jones breaks the first round of the draft into three categories: nine elite prospects, a second tier from 10-20, and then the rest.
The Cowboys could put together a package and trade up, stand pat and take the best player available at 22, or trade down. Jones acknowledged that he has two offers to trade out of the first round for a first-round pick in next year's draft.
Most draft experts have the Cowboys targeting a receiver at No. 22 -- possibly LSU's Dwayne Bowe, Ohio State's Ted Ginn, Southern Cal's Dwayne Jarrett or Tennessee's Robert Meacham.
The problem is that Jones wants a starter in the first round and there are no openings in the starting lineup with Owens and Glenn on the team, at least not with the players likely available at 22. The Cowboys brought only two receivers to their headquarters for visits -- Jarrett and Ohio State's Anthony Gonzalez. Both are considered late first-round or second-round talents.
Based on their needs and the players who might be available, the Cowboys are likely targeting a cornerback, safety or defensive end with the 22nd pick. Florida's Reggie Nelson, Texas' Michael Griffin and Miami's Brandon Merriweather visited the Cowboys.
Signing Hamlin would not preclude them from taking a safety because Hamlin signed only a one-year deal. A safety can play in the nickel or dime defense and also have an impact on special teams. Nelson, Griffin and Merriweather all fit that criteria, especially Griffin.
Texas cornerback Aaron Ross and Arkansas cornerback Chris Houston are possibilities.
dallascowboys.com
In the know
Multiple choice
The Cowboys have a lot of flexibility in the draft. They have the 22nd pick in the first round. Some of their options:
If they move up ...
WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech, right
RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
RB Marshawn Lynch, California
CB Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh
CB Leon Hall, Michigan
If they stand pat ...
S Michael Griffin, Texas
S Brandon aMerriweather, Miami, Florida
CB Chris Houston, Arkansas
If they trade down ...
OT Joe Staley, Central Michigan
WR Dwayne Jarrett, USC
DE Anthony Spencer, Purdue,
CB Aaron Ross, Texas
Cowboys' positions of interest
Wide receiver: Starters Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn will be 33 next season
Offensive linemen: Depth needed at guard and tackle for next season and the future.
Defensive tackle: There is no one the Cowboys can count on behind starter Jason Ferguson
Quarterback: A prospect who can be developed will be targeted
Cornerback: Anthony Henry could move to safety and nickel corner Aaron Glenn will be 35
Free safety: Free agent Ken Hamlin was signed for only one year
Tight end: A blocker is needed, as well as depth behind Jason Witten and Anthony Fasano
Defensive end/linebacker: Teams can never have too many pass rushers
No. 22
A look at the 22nd overall pick in the past five NFL Drafts:
2006: Manny Lawson, linebacker, San Francisco
2005: Mark Clayton, wide receiver, Baltimore
2004: J.P. Losman, quarterback, Buffalo
2003: Rex Grossman, quarterback, Chicago
2002: Bryan Thomas, defensive end, NY Jets
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
IRVING -- In the days leading up to the NFL Draft, only one thing is certain.
Nobody is going to be completely forthright about their intentions.
So when Cowboys owner Jerry Jones volunteered information about his plans to hopefully move up in today's draft to get a "wow" player, it should be taken with a grain of salt.
Heading into this draft, the Cowboys don't necessarily need anything.
They filled all their major needs during free agency. Questions about the offensive line were addressed with the re-signings of center Andre Gurode and right tackle Marc Colombo and the signing of free-agent guard Leonard Davis for a team-record $16 million bonus.
The Cowboys think they solidified the free safety spot with the signing of veteran Ken Hamlin.
As a result, the Cowboys might be a better team on paper than they were at the end of the 2006 season.
But the goal for the Cowboys is not just improving on last season -- a 9-7 record and a wild-card playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
With 10 picks, including the 22nd selection in the first round, the question is can the Cowboys find the final pieces to make them "Super" again?
They've gone through five coaches and have won only one playoff game since their Super Bowl title in 1996.
Jones believes the Cowboys can break that drought in 2007 because of what they did in free agency and what they hope to do in the draft.
"We believe we have a chance to make a run," Jones said. "If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't have signed Leonard Davis. With the players we have before the draft, I feel like we could line up and play next week. As we go into this draft, we do not have to have a player, in my mind, to be competitive or to have our roster put together. But we need to do the right job on the draft or we will pay the price."
But because having success and making a run this year "is critical," Jones is open to trading up in the draft to possibly select a "wow" player.
Topping Jones' wish list is Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson, who is considered by many to be best player in the draft. He would be first offensive player drafted by the Cowboys since 1997 and could solve any questions about the future at receiver beyond aging starters Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens.
To get Johnson, the Cowboys would have to move into the top five, possibly as high as No. 2. Trading up high in the first round is very difficult to do if the Cowboys aren't willing to sacrifice picks from next year's draft or trade their entire 2007 picks -- two things Jones said he is not going to do.
"We really have to have something good happen," Jones said. "Hopefully somebody falls. I think there are a couple of teams that would like to move down and can't get down right now. You just want to steal something."
Next up on the Cowboys' wish list of steals would be Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, who is rated among the top five players in the draft, but could fall out of the top 10 because of team needs and questions about the shoulder he injured as a senior.
The Cowboys made a point to get contact numbers from Peterson on Friday so they could get in touch with him if they needed to on draft day. And Jones said the team has no concerns about his collarbone.
Jones breaks the first round of the draft into three categories: nine elite prospects, a second tier from 10-20, and then the rest.
The Cowboys could put together a package and trade up, stand pat and take the best player available at 22, or trade down. Jones acknowledged that he has two offers to trade out of the first round for a first-round pick in next year's draft.
Most draft experts have the Cowboys targeting a receiver at No. 22 -- possibly LSU's Dwayne Bowe, Ohio State's Ted Ginn, Southern Cal's Dwayne Jarrett or Tennessee's Robert Meacham.
The problem is that Jones wants a starter in the first round and there are no openings in the starting lineup with Owens and Glenn on the team, at least not with the players likely available at 22. The Cowboys brought only two receivers to their headquarters for visits -- Jarrett and Ohio State's Anthony Gonzalez. Both are considered late first-round or second-round talents.
Based on their needs and the players who might be available, the Cowboys are likely targeting a cornerback, safety or defensive end with the 22nd pick. Florida's Reggie Nelson, Texas' Michael Griffin and Miami's Brandon Merriweather visited the Cowboys.
Signing Hamlin would not preclude them from taking a safety because Hamlin signed only a one-year deal. A safety can play in the nickel or dime defense and also have an impact on special teams. Nelson, Griffin and Merriweather all fit that criteria, especially Griffin.
Texas cornerback Aaron Ross and Arkansas cornerback Chris Houston are possibilities.
dallascowboys.com
In the know
Multiple choice
The Cowboys have a lot of flexibility in the draft. They have the 22nd pick in the first round. Some of their options:
If they move up ...
WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech, right
RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
RB Marshawn Lynch, California
CB Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh
CB Leon Hall, Michigan
If they stand pat ...
S Michael Griffin, Texas
S Brandon aMerriweather, Miami, Florida
CB Chris Houston, Arkansas
If they trade down ...
OT Joe Staley, Central Michigan
WR Dwayne Jarrett, USC
DE Anthony Spencer, Purdue,
CB Aaron Ross, Texas
Cowboys' positions of interest
Wide receiver: Starters Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn will be 33 next season
Offensive linemen: Depth needed at guard and tackle for next season and the future.
Defensive tackle: There is no one the Cowboys can count on behind starter Jason Ferguson
Quarterback: A prospect who can be developed will be targeted
Cornerback: Anthony Henry could move to safety and nickel corner Aaron Glenn will be 35
Free safety: Free agent Ken Hamlin was signed for only one year
Tight end: A blocker is needed, as well as depth behind Jason Witten and Anthony Fasano
Defensive end/linebacker: Teams can never have too many pass rushers
No. 22
A look at the 22nd overall pick in the past five NFL Drafts:
2006: Manny Lawson, linebacker, San Francisco
2005: Mark Clayton, wide receiver, Baltimore
2004: J.P. Losman, quarterback, Buffalo
2003: Rex Grossman, quarterback, Chicago
2002: Bryan Thomas, defensive end, NY Jets
posted by The Gryphon at 7:53 AM
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