Why The Cowboys Shouldn’t Draft a Guard in the First Round

With the 19th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys are in what some call an “awkward spot” to choose a player. As a team with both offensive and defensive needs, it’ll all depend on how the board falls and who’s still available once they’re on the clock.

They can go ahead and find this team’s next number one wide receiver, look for a young linebacker for the future, draft a defensive tackle to upgrade the front seven or they can use their first-round pick to continue to build on their already elite offensive line.

Recently, my colleague Brian Martin wrote about how upgrading the left guard position should be the Cowboys’ top priority in this Draft. A large amount of fans, writers and analysts feel the same way. Even still, I truly believe that Dallas may be better off addressing a different position in the first round this time around.

However, it’d be foolish not to admit that once Draft Day arrives, if Dallas ends up taking someone to instantly solidify that great offensive line to keep Dak Prescott clean and make holes for Ezekiel Elliott, the pick would simply make sense.

It’s hard to imagine how things will turn out, but it’s very likely that once the Cowboys’ turn comes, the best player available will be a guard. There will be a lot of talent there. Isaiah Wynn and Will Hernandez will probably still be on the board, for instance.

Also, the front office has done a very good job at drafting offensive linemen. In the past recent years, Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin have been one of the main reasons for this team’s offensive success.

There are many reasons to believe that OG is the way to go, but I can’t help wondering…

Dallas Cowboys OL Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, Travis Frederick

Drafting a guard at 19 is the safe pick… but is it the right one?

This is an important question. We all know that taking a guard is the safe pick, and that if that’s the direction they choose to go, they won’t miss and whoever they draft will contribute from Day 1 to this team’s success.

Unfortunately, anyone who looks at the Cowboys’ situation objectively knows that there are some other needs they have to attend to take another step.

They have at least three linemen playing at an elite level. Not to mention La’el Collins, who has the potential to become an elite player as well. Like it or not, we need to include the salary cap into the picture.

According to Over The Cap, Left Tackle Tyron Smith averages $12.2M per year and Center Travis Frederick $9.4M. Enter Zack Martin who is about to get paid the big bucks soon. He’s still playing under his rookie contract after Dallas picked up his fifth-year option.

However, a contract extension is expected to arrive this offseason. If we’re being honest with ourselves, he will ask for a big amount of money, because he deserves it. Browns’ Kevin Zeitler, the highest paid RG right now, earns $12M a year. Martin’s numbers will probably be even higher.

If the Cowboys draft a guard, it’ll be in order to ensure that this offensive line will work at a high level.

But if you already have Smith, Martin and Frederick, shouldn’t it already be working at a high level? Do you really need four first-round picks (La’el Collins would’ve been a first-round pick if it wasn’t for a situation which had nothing to do with him) in your offensive line to be successful?

A guard at 19 makes sense. It’s safe. But I’d rather see this team diversify. They did a great job at finding Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis to rebuild the secondary last year. Maybe they can find a DT or a LB who can help this defense go from “solid” to great.

Or maybe, if they’re ready to make this a Dak-friendly offense, go get him a fresh wide receiver. Someone who can create separation and get this offense going.

You can bring back Jonathan Cooper, who did a nice job last season or bring in another free agent. They should definitely look for a guard in April, but not in the first round. Unless it’s Quenton Nelson, who is arguable the best or second-best player available this year, I hope they go in a different direction.