2012 NFL Draft: Why the Dallas Cowboys Must Make Second-Round Pick Count

When you think of the excitement and anticipation that surrounds the NFL draft, the focus usually centers around the first round.

Can't miss prospects, perennial All-Americans and award winners, athletic freaks and the college starts that everyone recognizes seem to dominate the hype surrounding the draft. But what happens after the first round? The talk quickly turns to who fell into Round 2 and why.

When first-round talent falls into the next round, an opportunity presents itself to capitalize on but not every team recognizes it. The Dallas Cowboys have been one of those teams that has failed to consistently draft well in the second round. The recent selection of Sean Lee might be an indication of reversing some of those misfortunes and if Bruce Carter can be productive the odds look even better.

The pressure that comes with making the perfect or proper selection in the first round drastically affects not only the second round but every round. Sometimes that pressure is so great to deliver a home run with the first selections that teams often miss opportunities for second-round steals. This is where scouting, research and astute drafting come into play for any organization.

For the Dallas Cowboys, the results of their second-round selections from the Jimmy Johnson era to the present range from the ultimate heists to the vomit inducing. When Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys and joined forces with Jimmy Johnson some of those drafts produced second-round talent like Darren Woodson, Daryl Johnston, Darrin Smith and Kevin Williams. To Jerry Jones' credit he was able to discover Larry Allen who went on to have a stellar career.

When the Cowboys entered the new millennium, the second round produced Dwayne Goodrich, Tony Dixon, Quincy Carter, Jacob Rogers, Anthony Fasano and Martellus Bennett. Julius Jones and Kevin Burnett were second-round finds but their stints as Cowboys were short-lived. Another second-round pick, Andre Gurode, had a very successful run that ran from 2002 and ended last season.

Overall, the second-rounders have been a mixed bag with moderate results and too many misses. As I stated earlier, the selection of Sean Lee and the potential of Bruce Carter give reason for optimism but the Cowboys must approach the second round with as much, if not more, urgency as their first-round pick.

Why do the Cowboys need to make this second-round pick count ? It's simple. They need to accelerate their process in taking the next step. If the Cowboys want to regain the status they achieved in the 90's then they need more players like Sean Lee, Darren Woodson and Daryl Johnston.

Other teams, such as the New York Giants, have had little problem finding impact players in the second round and the Cowboys need to start finding them. Osi Umenyiora, Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas and Chris Snee were all second-round picks who have made big impacts.

Failing to maximize a second-round pick means blowing a chance at being able to sustain and solidify the roster. Those chances are only given to teams once a year and the results have not been acceptable.

History has shown us that some of the most successful football players were second-round picks. When you look at a list of former and current players, the amount of talent is staggering. Brett Favre, Michael Strahan, Thurman Thomas, Drew Brees, Vincent Jackson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Devin Hester, Ray Rice, Anquan Boldin, LeSean McCoy, Greg Jennings and Eric Weddle are just a sample of that talent pool.

The Cowboys need to start building a list of their own.

With the 14th pick in next week's draft, the Dallas Cowboys will draft an excellent player that will be part of this team for years to come. What the Cowboys do in the second round may not only carry bigger implications but it will present this team with an opportunity to find a bigger impact on their draft. If the Cowboys seize that opportunity it might just help them regain their championship formula.

That's why the Cowboys must make their second-round pick count.