Cowboys 2013 NFL Re-Draft

I'm working on re-drafting the 2013 Draft for the Cowboys.  I did the same thing last year with the highly controversial trade for Morris Claiborne.  You can read that article here for those interested.

With this post I operate under two rules, if I choose a different player than the one the Cowboys picked, that player is then removed off the board or I can elect to keep the Cowboys selection.  This is because we cannot assume that player would be there in the next round, we can only go by what did happen.

Next is I will do two versions, one with the Cowboys trade down to 31 with the extra 3rd pick and the other without any trades at all.  No additional trades are made since they did not occur on draft day.

Rules set, lets go...

Re-Draft #1 with no trade down.

1st - Sharrif Floyd, DT from Florida - Will not pass up a 3-technique pass rushing tackle who never thought would fall out of top 10. No brainer

2nd - Larry Warford, OG from Kentucky - A phone booth physical interior guard who profiles as a mauling run blocking guard in a angle blocking scheme. Day 1 starter at RG allowing team to move Bernadeau to center thereby upgrading two positions with one pick.

3rd - Jordan Hill, DT from Penn State - He can step in to the one-technique nose tackle spot for Dallas, a spot they currently have zero guys capable of doing that job on the D-Line. He isn't as tall as would like and not as quick as you might want but watch the film of Hill and you would want him on your team. Exactly the type of person that falls through the cracks but gets better as a pro not having the ideal measurables to go higher in the draft.

4th - Phillip Thomas, FS from Fresno State - An absolute playmaker at the safety position and excellent in coverage.  He would be the ideal free safety teamed up with Barry Church as a step in starter.  The cowboys wanted 3 immediate starters from this draft and I count 3, maybe even 4 if both d-lineman squeeze into the lineup with Ratliff's off the field concerns. Thomas got 8 picks, took 3 for scores, 84 total tackles with 12 behind the line and forced 4 fumbles for good measure.

I keep the other 2 picks as is, felt that Dallas getting Joseph Randle in the 5th round was a tremendous steal!  The final pick of Thurmond is exactly what you want at that spot, depth at a position lacking it and an athletic special teams player.

This draft would accomplish goal of upgrading offensive line with Warford's addition as well as moving Bernadeau to center, yes I know still have a hole at RT but I cut Doug Free and sign either Eric Winston or Tyson Clabo to a one-year deal only.  In addition, I add talent and depth to my defensive line that is aging quickly and not under contract past this year. It is also a rich defensive tackle draft which is rare to see and always good to get your hand in.  Finally I score with a playmaker at safety, something haven't seen in years, Thomas' tackling isn't as good as I want but the playmaking skill is top notch.

Re-Draft #2 with the trade down.

1st Round - Travis Frederick, C from Wisconsin - This draft had only 16-18 first round talent prospects and picking in this spot made reaching for a guy a almost impossibility. The highest rated player on my board was safety John Cyprien, I would not pick a safety in first round unless can do 3 or 4 of the four traits needed of a safety. Cyprien could only do 2 although does it very well.  I need complete players if in the first round at that position.

2nd - Larry Warford, OG from Kentucky - A phone booth physical interior guard who profiles as a mauling run blocking guard in a angle blocking scheme. Day 1 starter at RG allowing team to move Bernadeau to center thereby upgrading two positions with one pick.

3rd - Keenan Allen, WR from Cal - Easily the highest rated player on the board, a late 1st round talent who performed poorly in workouts. I am not looking for someone to be a #1 receiver, I have that in Dez. What I need is someone who can line up on the outside and be just as physical with defenders and run excellent routes. I have several slot receiver types in Dallas, I need someone who will not get pressed at the line, run good routes and go get the ball. Yes, he did not run that fast but running the routes like he does, that is what gets the separation from corners. The worst thing a receiver can be is not get off the press, run bad routes and be slow out of your breaks.

3rd - Jordan Hill, DT from Penn State - He can step in to the one-technique nose tackle spot for Dallas, a spot they currently have zero guys capable of doing that job on the D-Line. He isn't as tall as would like and not as quick as you might want but watch the film of Hill and you would want him on your team. Exactly the type of person that falls through the cracks but gets better as a pro not having the ideal measurables to go higher in the draft.

4th - Phillip Thomas, FS from Fresno State - An absolute playmaker at the safety position and excellent in coverage.  He would be the ideal free safety teamed up with Barry Church as a step in starter.  The cowboys wanted 3 immediate starters from this draft and I count 3, maybe even 4 if both d-lineman squeeze into the lineup with Ratliff's off the field concerns. Thomas got 8 picks, took 3 for scores, 84 total tackles with 12 behind the line and forced 4 fumbles for good measure.

I keep the other 2 picks as is, felt that Dallas getting Joseph Randle in the 5th round was a tremendous steal!  The final pick of Thurmond is exactly what you want at that spot, depth at a position lacking it and an athletic special teams player.

So with the trade down, the bottom line is Dallas also traded down to get a less quality type of player. The arguement is well you can get extra players by trading down which is true but are you getting good players or just a guy?  If you can hit on the trade down and still get value then it works.  The problem is Dallas rarely gets the value on the backend of the deal.

With only 16-18 first round prospects, they had to reach for a offensive lineman but I come away from the draft upgrading the O-Line still needing to change the RT but have to start somewhere. Then address the defensive line by selecting Hill to give me the one-technique lineman. The steal is Allen from Cal in the 3rd round. I want Miles Austin off the roster as I'm done with his injuries, drops and inability to make consistent plays on the outside. This selection allows me cut Austin next year and slowly remove so many of these bad contracts and get out of cap hell.