Will McClay has been the architect for a Dallas Cowboys roster that has gotten younger and much more talented under Head Coach Jason Garrett – now one of the best in the league thanks in large part to Dallas' 2016 draft class.
In the interview above, McClay recently talked about the two best and most important players to come play for America's Team in the 2016 NFL Draft in Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.
“Our goal was to find an All-Pro. The goal is to find a great one so you don't have to pick up that high again.” – Will McClay
McClay had this to say about Ezekiel Elliott, who was the ultimate immediate impact player the Dallas Cowboys could have selected with the fourth overall pick. The Cowboys' vision for Elliott running behind the best offensive line in football certainly became a reality in 2016, and the future for their workhorse running back could not be brighter.
“You have to have him (Dak Prescott) in your building to really understand how special that man is.” – Will McClay
Much more improbably, the Cowboys found a new franchise quarterback to play with Elliott in the fourth round of the 2016 Draft, and the entirety of the Dallas Cowboys' organization couldn't be more excited about the potential for a great run of success under Prescott.
With this young core in place, the 2017 NFL Draft will give the Cowboys a real chance to cement their status as one of the best teams in the league moving forward, and while early in the process of evaluating these prospects, McClay had this to say about the Cowboys' approach:
“There's a clear plan to try to improve the team overall.” – Will McClay
This simple quote should have Cowboys Nation excited, because it reflects the “best player available” approach the Cowboys have used in recent drafts to consistently hit on their first round picks.
So whether Dallas finally addresses the pass rush, bulks up their secondary, or adds to their juggernaut offense with the 28th overall pick, the Cowboys should (and do) have total faith in Will McClay to make the right decisions on their long march towards Super Bowl LII.
Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Anthony Brown, Maliek Collins, and Jaylon Smith were just the beginning. Take notice, NFL.
