This year’s NFL draft is a very unusual one, to say the least. Just think about it, there are no quarterback prospects that everyone can agree on, the highest rated defensive end is not a great pass rusher, the top linebacker is an athletic freak who is coming off of knee surgery, and the best overall player might be a safety/corner hybrid.
Ironically, the Dallas Cowboys have one of the top picks in this confusing 2016 draft. It kind of feels like that should be the case though, right? Jerry Jones and the Cowboys are anything but conventional.
With so many unanswered questions and so much at stake, things could easily go very wrong for Dallas in this draft. Here are the 3 worst case scenarios:
3. JALEN RAMSEY IS GONE BEFORE #4
Although this is a very likely scenario, it is one that could be bad for Dallas. Not only is Jalen Ramsey potentially the best player in the draft, he would also fit amazingly well with Rod Marinelli and his defensive scheme. Pair him with last year’s draft choice, Byron Jones, and you could have the foundation for your secondary for years to come.
Also, Joey Bosa is not an elite pass rusher, Myles Jack is a non-pass rushing linebacker coming off a knee injury and Jared Goff wouldn’t start for at least two or three years. Those are the three guys that Dallas would likely be looking at if Ramsey is already off the board. The problem is that none of those three guys would normally be taken in the top four of your average NFL draft.
Usually when drafting this high, you are looking at players that have a very high ceiling and a pretty solid floor. If you have the number four pick in a draft, you are looking to get a franchise cornerstone. You want the type of player that will make an impact right away and for years to come. None of those three guys mentioned fit that mold. Thus, the best thing for Dallas to do would be trade back, but…
2. DALLAS TRADES BACK TOO FAR
Let’s say things pan out like this: Los Angeles drafts Jared Goff, Cleveland grabs Jalen Ramsey, and San Diego drafts Joey Bosa. Dallas then shops their 4th overall pick, with the best offer coming from Tampa Bay at number 9. This is where things could get very dicey for the Cowboys.
For starters, adding a young impact player to a veteran team that looks to contend is a gift that is EXTREMELY rare. Let’s look at the NBA for the best example. In the 1997-1998 NBA season, the San Antonio Spurs looked to contend for an NBA title. They had the best record in the Western Conference the year prior, and had very high hopes entering the season. However, injuries and misfortune sank them to the bottom of the league for that year, granting them a high pick in that year’s draft. They ended up using that high draft pick on a young forward named Tim Duncan.
Subsequently, they added him to their already very talented roster and won the NBA title (and many after that). This is a situation that Dallas finds itself in, if they can add the right impact player to this already talented roster, their chances of contending will increase greatly.
However, there are only a handful of players that are in that group, and trading back too far would be looking a gift horse in the mouth. Also, don’t forget that the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants pick 8th and 10th respectively.
1. A DIVISION RIVAL DRAFTS EZEKIEL ELLIOTT
Running back Ezekiel Elliott is one of the top talents in this year’s draft. He literally has no glaring weaknesses in his game coming out of college. The Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants both have picks in the top 10. It is conceivable that one of them could land “Zeke” here.
As a Cowboys fan, the absolute last thing you want is for them to get a franchise running back that torments you for years to come, especially when Dallas could have drafted him themselves. Think back to Randy Moss. There had been talks about the Cowboys taking Moss in that draft, and their offense could have obviously used his talents. However, they chose Greg Ellis instead (who ironically is very comparable to Joey Bosa in this year’s draft), allowing Randy Moss to land in Minnesota.
Moss ended up making it a personal goal to destroy Dallas every time he played them, which he did. If Dallas drafts Joey Bosa or Myles Jack over Ezekiel Elliott, or they trade back too far, this scenario could play out all over again 20 years later.
Needless to say, this draft is going to be extremely entertaining as it unfolds. It is almost impossible to predict how it is going to play out. Almost every single mock draft out there has differences in the top 7 or 8 picks. From a Dallas Cowboys perspective, there is a lot of pressure to deliver. If they do things right, it could catapult the franchise to the top of the mountain once again. If they do things wrong, it might hurt for the next 20 years.
Be sure to follow Blake on Twitter @blakegibbs for better scenarios for the Cowboys heading into the draft.
