[tps_title]Wide Receiver Andy Jones[/tps_title]
If you’re thinking, “Sean, I’ve made it far enough through your slide show, and I see where you’re coming from about drafting the best fits for 2017 – but what does practice squad WR Andy Jones have to do with getting this team to Super Bowl LII??”, allow me to explain.
The WR position in this draft class is full of talent from top to bottom. In my recent three round mock draft for this team, I even explained that I looked at the board at the position as early as the first round before finding value to add a pass catcher in the third.
I’ve also scouted later-round prospects like Zay Jones and Fred Ross at wide receiver, and it has become that much clearer that the Cowboys could take a WR at any point in this draft and come away with a talented play maker.
What type of play maker will they be in the market for though? Terrance Williams and Brice Butler are both upcoming free agents, and I think the two most likely scenarios are that either Butler is re-signed or both play elsewhere in 2017.
Dez Bryant and Cole Beasley are locked into their roles in this offense, and Brice Butler would feasibly have a bigger role in 2017 without Williams on the team. That leaves Andy Jones as this team’s last current option to evaluate the depth they already have at WR.
Andy Jones was this summer’s “pet cat” for many in Cowboys Nation, making the most of his training camp opportunities and quickly becoming a favorite target of Tony Romo. The real-game speed during the preseason seemed to really get to Jones though, who didn’t do nearly enough to earn a spot on the team – instead being kept on the practice squad.
Will McClay and the Cowboys scouts will now have to decide where on their stack of receivers they feel the cutoff to Andy Jones exists. That is, unless they are truly targeting a WR in the first or second round, which receivers in this draft are Andy Jones better than – thus potentially saving the Cowboys a mid-round pick, or forcing them to prioritize a pick at WR.
Again, draft philosophy. Its fun, and it lets us talk about Andy Jones again. A winning situation for all.
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.