NFL Draft 2011: Ranking the Dallas Cowboys' Draft Needs
The Dallas Cowboys have eight total picks in the upcoming 2011 draft and enough holes in their roster to make Swiss cheese jealous.
Jerry Jones and the Cowboys staff will enter the draft war room with probably the most important draft in the franchise’s recent history. With the emergence of players like Tony Romo and Miles Austin in recent seasons, the Cowboys opened a window of opportunity to win the 'Boys' sixth championship.
But now, with an older roster, that window is closing.
That is, unless they have a successful draft at the end of the month. If they’re able to hit on at least six of their eight draft picks, they can prop that window open like an old book that’s rarely read anymore.
When looking over the current Cowboys roster, age and inexperience comes up across the board. Whether you’re talking about the age of the offensive line or inexperience of players in key positions like Alan Ball—the Cowboys need help that the draft can answer.
During the lockout, there’s no telling when teams will be able to sign free agents, and that only amplifies the importance of the draft.
With that being said, there are eight picks and eight needs that the Cowboys need to address.
8. Running Back
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Current starter: Felix Jones or Marion Barber
Also on the roster: Tashard Choice
More and more, we hear how it’s impossible for the Cowboys to justify Marion Barber’s large contract.
He’s never been the obvious starting running back or homerun threat that his contract indicates.
Instead, he’s an often injured bruiser who has yet to break 1,000 yards in a season. On top of that, his touchdown totals continue to drop.
If the Cowboys do decide to let the dreadlocked running back go, his replacement can be found in the draft filled with third-tier running backs.
This isn’t a heavy running back class at the top, but as you get into the later rounds you may find someone that can be an insurance policy if Jones or Choice are on the trainer’s table.
7. Inside Linebacker
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Current Starters: Keith Brooking and Bradie James
Also on the roster: Sean Lee and Kenwin Cummings
Bradie James is an example of how you can draft a middle-round player that can become the stable of your defense. James was picked in the third round of the 2003 Draft.
Keith Brookings was a great free agent pickup in 2009 but will turn 36 in the fall.
Sean Lee has shown flashes of solid play at times, but the jury is still out on whether he can be a starter in years to come.
Cowboys need to prepare for the future and add depth now so that they have different options once Brookings hangs up his cleats or if James needs a play off.
This is a position where Dallas can afford to use a late-round pick to take a look at a possible role-player for the defense.
6. Outside Linebacker
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Current starters: DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer
Also on the roster: Victor Butler and Brandon Williams
The Cowboys find themselves extremely lucky with DeMarcus Ware. He plays almost every snap on defense and hasn’t missed a game yet.
But because of the lack of depth behind him, all Cowboy fans hold their breath anytime he’s hurt for a play.
Anthony Spencer has shown that he can be a solid player on the other side of the ball, but this position doesn’t have anyone that can effectively step up in case of an injury.
The Cowboys don’t need an every-down linebacker to help out—a situational one will do. But when you put all your eggs in the DeMarcus Ware basket, you better pray that he never gets hurt.
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5. Cornerback
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Current Starters: Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins
Also on the roster: Orlando Scandrick and Bryan McCann
When quarterbacks threw at Mike Jenkins last season, they had a quarterback rating of 122. Compare that to the rating of 54 that he gave to quarterbacks in 2009.
In other words, to say Jenkins is inconsistent is an understatement.
On the other side of the field, Terence Newman has battled injuries the past two years as well as shown a drop in speed.
With Orlando Scandrick also on the roster, the Cowboys can afford to drop this need on the priority just a tad as they can potentially win with the current set of corners. The question is, which cornerbacks show up in 2011? Will it be the 2009 Pro Bowl starters in Newman and Jenkins or their much-worse counterparts that played last season?
Nonetheless, the Cowboys need to add depth to that position for when Newman hangs it up (he turns 33 in September).
4. Offensive Guard
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Current Starters: Kyle Kosier and Leonard Davis
Also on the roster: Montrae Holland
With Kyle Kosier heading to free agency and Leonard Davis being 33 by the time the season starts, it goes without saying that there are some question marks on the Cowboys’ interior line.
Kosier is also turning 33 at the end of this year, so even if he’s re-signed, it doesn’t help the offensive line get any younger.
Florida’s Mike Pouncey has clearly stated that he believes he’ll be in Dallas, but that would probably only happen if Dallas trades down in the first round. Pouncey has mid-to-late first-round grade on him.
Dallas has successfully drafted in the fourth round in recent years and may aim to fill this need there as well.
They prefer to draft someone who can step up right away if Kosier doesn’t return next season. At the very least, they’d like to draft someone who’ll be ready by 2012.
3. Safety
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Current Starter: Alan Ball
Also on the roster: Danny McCray, Barry Church and Andrew Sendejo
A position that may be addressed in free agency, the safety position is one that the Cowboys haven’t gotten right since Darren Woodson commanded the secondary.
There’s a chance the Cowboys bring back Gerald Sensabaugh, but the real weakness may come at the free safety spot in Alan Ball.
Ball was the biggest change the Cowboys made in the 2010 offseason when they cut Ken Hamlin and anointed Ball the starter.
It’s not a coincidence that the ‘Boys’ secondary was a disaster last season.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper has stated that the draft class for safeties is mediocre at best, which means some teams may end up reaching for safeties like UCLA’s Rahim Moore and Florida’s Ahmad Black.
A wild card in this may be Aaron Williams from Texas, who can play either safety or cornerback. He’s projected as a late first-round pick, and could easily drop to the second round.
One thing is for sure—Ball is not the answer.
2. Defensive End
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Current Starters: Igor Olshansky
Also on the roster: Stephen Bowen, Jason Hatcher and Clifton Geathers
Marcus Spears was one of the unsung stars of the defensive line. Within Wade Phillips’ system, Spears was asked to take on double teams and fill gaps to allow guys like DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer to attack the quarterback.
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan may have a different idea of his defensive end.
The one thing the Cowboys don’t have is a pass rushing defensive end. That’s where players like J.J. Watt from Wisconsin come in. According to mock drafts, he’s another player that has landed in Dallas.
In a quarterback league like the NFL, you win by protecting your quarterback and getting to the other quarterback. The Cowboys have needs at both.
1. Offensive Tackle
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Current Starters: Doug Free and Marc Colombo
Also on the roster: Alex Barron, Jermey Parnell and Sam Young
Sam Young had a good year in 2010, only allowing five sacks, which was less than his predecessor Flozell Adams.
Marc Colombo, on the other hand, will turn 33 this year and continued to fight nagging injuries. Colombo allowed seven total sacks, the most of any Dallas linemen last season.
Tyron Smith from USC has been a popular pick in mock drafts across the nation.
If you want to keep Tony Romo upright, the right tackle position should be cleaned up. Colombo isn’t getting any younger, and his performance isn’t getting better. The Cowboys need to upgrade that position as soon as possible.
Just for once, I’d like a game to go by where I don’t see a Cowboy signal caller running for his life in the pocket.
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