Cowboys board gets leaked and so?

So the Cowboys board got released, it doesn't matter as much with the draft over with.  It would be devastating had the results been released prior to the draft on the other hand.

What it does do is allow us to follow who the Cowboys could or argue should of had had they really stuck to their own stated philosophy of having a pure draft.  Simply focus on the offensive/defensive lines and get the best player available at those positions.

Using their own board as a starting board.  I will do 2 versions of this, one with the trade made with the Vikings and the other without any trade at all.  If I choose to take a different player than the one Dallas selected then that player is removed completely as impossible to accurately know when they would have gone had Dallas not taken them.

Version I (No Trade)

1st pick - Sharrif Floyd

Second Round pick - Margus Hunt, DE, SMU
 * I would of chosen Sylvester Williams from UNC whom the Cowboys had 4 slots lower than Hunt. I had a fourth round grade on Hunt.

Third Round pick - Jordan Hill, DT from Penn State
* Since I already picked 2 defensive tackles in the draft, I would select the next highest lineman which is UCLA's Datone Jones whom they had 4 slots later.

Fourth Round Pick - Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn
* This makes 4 defensive lineman drafted.  The highest available offensive lineman would of been Earl Watford, a guard from James Madison.

Fifth Round pick - Brandon Jenkins, DE
* I pass on Jenkins since already selected 4 defensive lineman, the next highest offensive lineman is tackle Ricky Wagner from Wisconsin.

Sixth Round pick - Mike Buchanon, DE from Illinois
* I pass on Buchanon since already picked 4 d lineman therefore the highest rated o-lineman is Reid Fragel, an offensive tackle.
Version II (with trade)

1st pick - Travis Frederick

Second Round pick - Margus Hunt, DE, SMU
 * I would of chosen Sylvester Williams from UNC whom the Cowboys had 4 slots lower than Hunt. I had a fourth round grade on Hunt.

Third Round pick - Jordan Hill, DT from Penn State
* Since I already picked 2 defensive tackles in the draft, I would select the next highest lineman which is UCLA's Datone Jones whom they had 4 slots later.

 (Second) Third Round pick - Everett Dawkins, DT from Florida State
* Since I already picked 2 defensive tackles in the draft. The next highest offensive lineman is USC Khaled Holmes, also a center. The next highest rated defensive end is Damontre Moore from Texas A&M. The cowboys had a late 3rd round grade on Moore but a early 4th round grade on Holmes.

Fourth Round Pick - Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn
* This makes 4 defensive lineman drafted.  The highest available offensive lineman would of been Earl Watford, a guard from James Madison.

Fifth Round pick - Brandon Jenkins, DE
* I pass on Jenkins since already selected 4 defensive lineman, the next highest offensive lineman is tackle Ricky Wagner from Wisconsin.

Sixth Round pick - Mike Buchanon, DE from Illinois
* I pass on Buchanon since already picked 4 d lineman therefore the highest rated o-lineman is Reid Fragel, an offensive tackle.

 What does this mean? 

First of all, it confirms one thing we already knew.  The cowboys were complete idiots for trading off 18 with Floyd available.

Second, it confirms something we knew prior to the draft, it was rich in defensive lineman. Every pick except for the trade down in the first round had a defensive lineman as the highest rated lineman available. But thanks to our insane general manager, we took advantage of this defensive lineman rich draft by selecting zero!  Our defensive line is a strength according to Jerry because DeMarcus Ware is there (wrong side of 30 coming of another injury riddled year), Jason Hatcher (wrong side of 30 in last year of contract), Jay Ratliff (wrong side of 30, declining production and DUI pending) and Anthony Spencer (29 and in last year of contract).

Third, the Cowboys did not like the depth of offensive lineman in this draft. They did a good job of not reaching for any offensive lineman, Frederick was the highest rated lineman regardless of offensive/defensive after the trade down to 31. Wish we thought like the most successful teams do in the league, Baltimore took 5 lineman & the 49ers who picked 4 in the draft.

It confirms this organization run by Jerry Jones simply just does not get it. It's important to keep these type of things in mind during the offseason when we drink the Cowboys koolaid and think this team will actually be a serious contender.

The shame is we will look back at this core in the near future and think they were talented enough to be contenders but the failure of the organization not knowing how to manage the cap or build a team kept them from coming close to getting a 6th Superbowl in Dallas.

Trimming the fat off this Cowboy team

I get sick looking at these numbers of under performing players making too much money and interesting to see how many were on the list of questionable moves when they were brought in.

Doug Free - $5.3 million

Perhaps the Cowboys most disappointing offensive lineman especially in regard to compensation is Doug Free. He can't hold up in pass protection and just really struggles vs counter moves from even average NFL pass rushers. His run blocking has been better and more so when he pulls and can get out in space. Bottom line, he should not be starting on this team and I need to find out what I have in Jeremy Parnell during this year before I add offensive tackle to need list in the offseason. But I highly doubt Parnell will see the field without an injury because this organization does not have faith in playing young players on the offensive line.

Dez Bryant - $3.6 million

Outside of the offensive line, no other player is holding back the offensive line more than Dez, simple as that. Romo has little to no confidence in Bryant, the more simplified the offense gets the more of a contribution this knucklehead can make. He is the poster boy for lack of accountability, preparation and football IQ that is flooding throughout the entire roster. His route running, attitude and character have not improved to the level expected in his NFL career and I would be trying desperately to trade him in the offseason, seriously Jacksonville asking for Laurent Robinson straight up. But this organization will continue to throw Dez out there and he will frustrate you to the point you want to bench him, then during the same game make a play that makes you think "if only he was consistent, oh what a player."

Orlando Scandrick - $2.9 million

Dallas paid Scandrick to go along with Mike Jenkins to form a solid tandem of corners to last them next 5-6 years, plan didn't work. Unfortunately for Scandrick, he's still the same player he was as a rookie, a solid cover corner but who is not a consistent tackler, comfortable pressing at the line nor able to make a play on the ball when in position. He's a solid nickel corner but he's paid like a top starting corner.

Marcus Spears & Kenyon Coleman - $2.7 and $2.3 million totalling $5 million

The strongside defensive end position has been a sore spot for Dallas for years and they keep thinking former first round pick Marcus Spears is going to show up. He's a 2 down run stuffing end who gives you nothing as a pass rusher and even when Spears is in position to stuff the run, rarely does he finish the play. His impact would be solid if he finished plays he is in position to make. Yet because Dallas had no depth, they resigned Spears to an extension that he did not earn. Coleman has been an adequate player for Dallas mostly because they put him in position that he is most comfortable in, 2-down run stuffer and just bull rush in pass rush situations. Unlike Spears, Coleman plays his role well stuffing the run and just simply not allowing anywhere for ballcarriers to go. These players are situational average players but paid like full-time solid starters, wasted money. This team should insert Sean Lissemore into the starting lineup once he returns from injury and move on from these guys in the offseason. Develop and play your younger players.

Dan Connor - $2.1 million

Unfortunately for Connor, he never had the inside track to the inside linebacker job as second year pro Bruce Carter took the job and ran with it. I argued when Dallas signed Connor that he did not fit the scheme as he was not the thumper inside backer needed to stand up to guards in the hole, stack and shed blockers to make plays in the running game. Connor was a huge liability in man coverage at Carolina and hoped he could step up in Sean Lee's absence as the weakside inside backer job better suited his skills. Then he got hurt and now just seems the season will be lost for him. He is signed through next season and would provide good depth behind Lee but again, he is not well suited for the thumper backer job in Dallas.

Felix Jones - $1.8 million

If it wasn't for Dez, Felix would be the most frustrating offensive player on this team. Fact is, he still is. First of all, he let a 3rd round pick take his job last year in DeMarco Murray and then showed up out of shape to training camp this year failing the opening conditioning test. Factor in several times he's run without confidence, showing poor vision and a lack of burst we saw as a rookie. He is as good as gone in the offseason and with Murray's lack of ability to stay healthy, runningback will again be on the list of needs in the offseason.

Mackenzy Bernadeau - $1.8 million Dallas signed Bernadeau knowing he was not a finished nor a day one plug in and go starter after being a backup during his time in Carolina. They were hoping to find a player on the rise and give him an opportunity to play. Unfortunately they have gotten a above average run blocker and a below average pass blocker. His play has improved since nearly being benched in favor of Derrick Dockery but fact is, the quality of play for Bernadeau is not on the level of the contract given.