DMN Blog: Football Outsiders forecasts great draft haul for Cowboys
by Tim MacMahon
Football Outsiders has a two-round mock draft up, and I betcha you folks would be fired up if the first couple rounds went down as they see.
The projected Cowboys picks:
1-22-22 Dallas Cowboys from Cleveland Browns -- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State
With a roster stocked with quality players at nearly every position, Dallas can let the draft come to them. San Diego was in much the same position two years ago when they took a flier on Antonio Cromartie and that pick paid off in spades, as Cromartie is the most dominant young corner in the league. Rodgers-Cromartie doesn't have the Florida State pedigree, but he has the same combination of size, speed and athleticism. He was a man among boys at the Senior Bowl, and he followed that up with a stellar combine that cemented him as a first-round prospect and arguably the best cornerback in the draft. Rodgers-Cromartie won't be ready to start right away, but with Terrence Newman and Anthony Henry on board, the Cowboys don't need him to. This is a bit of a boom-or-bust pick, but it's one Dallas can afford to make with another first rounder in their pocket.
1-28-28 Dallas Cowboys -- Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
While Terrell Owens is still performing at a high level, he's no spring chicken anymore, and Dallas would do well by adding a potential No. 1 receiver to groom behind him. Thomas, at 6-2 and 225, compares favorably to Dwayne Bowe, who went right around this spot last year and turned in the top performance of any a rookie receiver. The risk is that Thomas only played one season of Division I-A ball and that he is an unpolished route runner, but he displayed terrific hands at Michigan State, as well as a rare ability to pick up yardage after the catch. Thomas is also an excellent return man, and he'll immediately upgrade Dallas' special teams. DeSean Jackson was also a consideration in this spot, but ultimately size won out.
2-30-61 Dallas Cowboys -- Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina
4.24 in the 40-yard dash at the Combine. Will he play that fast? Probably not, but he deserves credit for coming to the draft process prepared. As a player, he complements Marion Barber as a guy who can return kicks, catch the ball out of the backfield (he was a wide receiver off-and-on in college), and serve as a scatback. If he could become a better blocker, he'd be a real terror.
Football Outsiders has a two-round mock draft up, and I betcha you folks would be fired up if the first couple rounds went down as they see.
The projected Cowboys picks:
1-22-22 Dallas Cowboys from Cleveland Browns -- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State
With a roster stocked with quality players at nearly every position, Dallas can let the draft come to them. San Diego was in much the same position two years ago when they took a flier on Antonio Cromartie and that pick paid off in spades, as Cromartie is the most dominant young corner in the league. Rodgers-Cromartie doesn't have the Florida State pedigree, but he has the same combination of size, speed and athleticism. He was a man among boys at the Senior Bowl, and he followed that up with a stellar combine that cemented him as a first-round prospect and arguably the best cornerback in the draft. Rodgers-Cromartie won't be ready to start right away, but with Terrence Newman and Anthony Henry on board, the Cowboys don't need him to. This is a bit of a boom-or-bust pick, but it's one Dallas can afford to make with another first rounder in their pocket.
1-28-28 Dallas Cowboys -- Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
While Terrell Owens is still performing at a high level, he's no spring chicken anymore, and Dallas would do well by adding a potential No. 1 receiver to groom behind him. Thomas, at 6-2 and 225, compares favorably to Dwayne Bowe, who went right around this spot last year and turned in the top performance of any a rookie receiver. The risk is that Thomas only played one season of Division I-A ball and that he is an unpolished route runner, but he displayed terrific hands at Michigan State, as well as a rare ability to pick up yardage after the catch. Thomas is also an excellent return man, and he'll immediately upgrade Dallas' special teams. DeSean Jackson was also a consideration in this spot, but ultimately size won out.
2-30-61 Dallas Cowboys -- Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina
4.24 in the 40-yard dash at the Combine. Will he play that fast? Probably not, but he deserves credit for coming to the draft process prepared. As a player, he complements Marion Barber as a guy who can return kicks, catch the ball out of the backfield (he was a wide receiver off-and-on in college), and serve as a scatback. If he could become a better blocker, he'd be a real terror.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:29 PM
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