Rick Gosselin’s Top 100 is out. It’s a composite board made from interviews with honest to goodness NFL personnel folks. It therefore gives us a good look at where teams have guys rated and who the Cowboys can be expected to consider with their picks. Let’s look at Dallas’ positions of interest.
1. At running back, Darren McFadden rates 2nd overall, Rashard Mendenhall 11th, Jonathan Stewart 17th, Felix Jones 21st, Jamaal Charles 36th and Chris Johnson 41st.
So, let’s confirm some stories and dispel a myth. First, it seems that Matt Mosley’s claim that Dallas would pick between Stewart and Jones if they were both at 22nd appears true. Stewart may just fall, given his toe surgery.
And now, let’s once and for all time drop the Felix Jones bashing. He’s a first round back and he’s my favorite to be selected at 22.
2. At cornerback, that mystery board begins to look even more valid. Leodis McKelvin rates 10th, Dominique Rogers-Cromartie 11th, Mike Jenkins 15th and Aqib Talib 22nd. Remember these are rankings, not predictions of where players will be taken. CBs tend to rise, so there’s a very good chance all four of these guys will leave the board just ahead of pick 22, as the top-rated CBs did last year.
There’s then a big drop-off to Brandon Flowers (38th) Antoine Cason (45th) Tracy Porter (50th) Justin King (52nd) Patrick Lee (65th) and Charles Godfrey (68th).
The Cowboys might toy with Talib at 22 if he’s around but if they pass on him for Jones, we can look for a trade down with a team looking for a QB because;
3. Chad Henne rates 25th and Brian Brohm rates 29th overall. Miami, Kansas City, Baltimore and Atlanta are all teams in the early 2nd who will likely pick a QB high this year. The Chiefs and Falcons have multiple picks due to other trades.
4. If Dallas stays at 28, my prediction that safety could be the selection gains merit because Kenny Phillips gets a 33rd composite grade and Tyrell Johnson gets the 35th.
5. I would love to see Atlanta as a trade partner cause if you could do the two-for-two swap I suggested, getting Dallas the 37th and 43rd picks you could see them select from the safeties and corners mentioned and perhaps get a shot at WRs like Brandon Kelly (34th) Limas Sweed (39th) Donnie Avery (43rd) and Jordy Nelson (48th).
Remember, these are composite ratings. All it takes is for one team to rate a player much higher and take him much higher. These numbers should give us the general area where a player will go.
Given the rankings I’m going to offer two three round deep scenarios:
One — no trades
22. Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
28. Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
61. Charles Godfrey, CB, Iowa
92. Red Bryant, NT, Texas A&M
No WR, but the secondary is filled. In this case Dallas will shop for a veteran wideout just before camp opens.
Two — Trade down in the Atlanta scenario
22. Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
37. Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
43. Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana
92. Red Bryant, NT, Texas A&M
Football. But first, some housekeeping news:
1. We’re planning some big changes very soon. And I mean big and very soon. More as I know it.
2. For the Austin crowd, and anybody from the surrounding areas who wants to watch the draft on Saturday: I’ll take suggestions in the thread and will call around, check around and announce here tomorrow where we will watch. For the uninitiated:
I’m watching in Austin. If you can make it you’re welcome to join me/us;
I’m in South Austin. I’ll go as far north as The Tavern on 12th and Lamar;
I need wi-fi to blog;
We need decent food since the draft lasts a while
If you have better suggestions, make them in the thread.
3. Football. And today we turn to the NFC East.
– In Philly, they’re thinking offensive tackle. Both OTs are in the last years of their contracts. LT William Thomas will be 34 this year, RT Jon Runyan will be 35 and we all know how Winston Justice looked last year. :( Or should I say
– Washington has not given up on getting a veteran receiver. There’s talk they’ll make a run at Detroit’s Roy Williams and may take another run at Chad Johnson. If they stand pat at 21 Phillip Merling and Malcolm Kelly are the names being kicked around.
– The big buzz in New York has the Giants possibly trading TE Jeremy Shockey to the Saints. According to kffl.com, which quotes Yahoo Sports, the teams have agreed on the 40th pick as fodder, but the Giants also want S Roman Harper, whom the Saints do not want to trade. Keep your eyes and ears turned for more on that.