[tps_title]Safety Kavon Frazier[/tps_title]
Of all of the 2016 Cowboys draft picks that made it to the 53 man roster (we miss you already, Darius Jackson), Kavon Frazier had by far the quietest season. A sixth round pick out of Central Michigan, the hard-hitting safety saw playing time in just three regular season games.
To get back into draft philosophy for a second, every team associates a blanket description for the type of player that expect to get based on the round they’ll be selecting them in. Typically after the third round, you stop looking for instant starters or players that will compete to start as rookies, instead basing picks off of long-term traits and collegiate production.
The traits are there for Frazier to influence what this team will do in the secondary in this draft. While the bigger position of need for the back-end defensively will likely be cornerback (as Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne are both free agents), veteran Barry Church is also set to hit the open market.
2015 first round pick Byron Jones is a long-term starter at free safety, as he should be, but the spot next to him certainly has some questions – with more names than answers currently on the depth chart.
Whether or not Church is re-signed, we have not seen enough of the greatest human and football player alive Jeff Heath as a starting safety, and the same is obviously true of Frazier. The Cowboys’ coaches will write evaluations for every player at every position to use in evaluation for 2017, and how they feel about Kavon Frazier – with limited game reps to work with – will go a long way in determining their need to target a safety in different spots during the draft.
I think you nailed it with those variables and who will impact the draft. I think it’s fair to say that Chaz Green has been a disappointment. When you are not available it is disappointing and while he has shown some flashes at tackle it now looks like a position of need. I know there was talk of moving Collins to tackle but losing Leary will most certainly require us to take a tackle. Cooper is a bit of a wild card also as he may gel well with this line and be the guy he was originally drafted to be. And we still have Looney and Cleary. A guy of interest to me in the draft that often shows up in my mocks is Pat Elflein at C from Ohio State. I know he has played guard but wonder if he can play tackle. He is a great team leader and fits that RKG that Garrett likes. Good overview Sean.
Thanks as always for your loyal readership and responses, Randy. Really appreciated. Firm believer that a player’s best trait is availability, since you here it from good scouts all the time, and that is what it really comes down to on Chaz Green. I’ll have to take a look at Elfein. Thanks! Enjoy the Super Bowl.