ColonelJ
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My philosophy is that we look for improvements, and draft players where they improve by the largest margin over the current starters regardless of need. This is usually only available in rounds 1 and 2, but sometimes in 3 as well. So with that in mind:
1. WR Dez Bryant (This player improves us most over the current starter, Ted Ginn. An argument can be made that Earl Thomas improves us just as much if not more over Gibril, or McClain would be bigger improvement over Ayodele, Gresham over Fasano. I am not convinced as I believe that Ginn is the lowest in performing what is expected and Bryant outperforms him significantly in all categories.)
2. FS Nate Allen (Nate Allen is a ballhawk FS with great instincts. He is a great special teams tackler, so in open field he can be trusted. He improves greatly imo what was lacking in the backfield all season, which is good tackling and isntincts. My second choice here would be SS/FS Reshad Jones, or Anthony McCoy as an improvement over Fasano as a pass catching TE, or ILB Daryl Washington who is very rangy, does not get locked up to blockers much, tackles sideline to sideline, and has great athleticism. He would add something different to our pass coverage, but I am not convinced he is an every down ILB although he would improve some aspects of our ILBs.
Also, I am not seeing a MLB that is a great improvement over Crowder in this spot. An argument can be made for Weatherspoon if he's there. I want to see Soliai improve. He did some good things this year. for example he stripped the ball against the Saints in the backfield for JT touchdown. So I am not convinced Cam Thomas would be great improvement there either. I also don't see great improvements here over Taylor or Porter, and Wake)
3. OLB/ILB A.J. Edds (Here, it is hard to find clear improvements over existing starters. A.J. Edds, while lacking in some aspects of game, such as blitzing, has shown great range and football instincts in coverage. He has a nice size and speed that he maybe worth trying at ILB as well--Ayodele's spot. While some may question whether he is an every down LB, I believe he improves the pass coverage significantly at this spot. Other considerations may be TE Jimmy Graham as a pass catching TE. However, many believe that he is raw, and Fasano's year maybe a bit of a fluke. I'd like to give Fasano another shot. We also may take a shot here at RB Montario Hardesty or Ben Tate considering the injuries at RB position.)
4. RG John Jerry (Donald Thomas at RG has been inconsistent and at times downright weak. John Jerry, at his size, feet, and technique, offers an improvement over Thomas and a long term solutions to our Oline, especially considering the injuries at OL and the need to build the monster OL to protect Henne and contend long term.
Other considerations here would be RB LeGarrett Blount, or ILB Micah Johnson. While I like both very much, I am not so sure they are clear improvements over Crowder and Ronnie and Ricky for next year.)
With the last five picks, I believe we can take some ILBs such as Phillip Dillard, Lee Campbell etc, as well as RBs like Lonye Miller, Stafon Johnson, Andre Dixon etc, a DT like Jay Ross. We could even take a shot at QB like Levi Brown so that we can be open to trading Thigpen and Pat White at some point.
Feel free to disagree. I just went from the perspective of largest differential improvement and this is what I come up with.
Edit: FA targets - NT, ILB.
1. WR Dez Bryant (This player improves us most over the current starter, Ted Ginn. An argument can be made that Earl Thomas improves us just as much if not more over Gibril, or McClain would be bigger improvement over Ayodele, Gresham over Fasano. I am not convinced as I believe that Ginn is the lowest in performing what is expected and Bryant outperforms him significantly in all categories.)
2. FS Nate Allen (Nate Allen is a ballhawk FS with great instincts. He is a great special teams tackler, so in open field he can be trusted. He improves greatly imo what was lacking in the backfield all season, which is good tackling and isntincts. My second choice here would be SS/FS Reshad Jones, or Anthony McCoy as an improvement over Fasano as a pass catching TE, or ILB Daryl Washington who is very rangy, does not get locked up to blockers much, tackles sideline to sideline, and has great athleticism. He would add something different to our pass coverage, but I am not convinced he is an every down ILB although he would improve some aspects of our ILBs.
Also, I am not seeing a MLB that is a great improvement over Crowder in this spot. An argument can be made for Weatherspoon if he's there. I want to see Soliai improve. He did some good things this year. for example he stripped the ball against the Saints in the backfield for JT touchdown. So I am not convinced Cam Thomas would be great improvement there either. I also don't see great improvements here over Taylor or Porter, and Wake)
3. OLB/ILB A.J. Edds (Here, it is hard to find clear improvements over existing starters. A.J. Edds, while lacking in some aspects of game, such as blitzing, has shown great range and football instincts in coverage. He has a nice size and speed that he maybe worth trying at ILB as well--Ayodele's spot. While some may question whether he is an every down LB, I believe he improves the pass coverage significantly at this spot. Other considerations may be TE Jimmy Graham as a pass catching TE. However, many believe that he is raw, and Fasano's year maybe a bit of a fluke. I'd like to give Fasano another shot. We also may take a shot here at RB Montario Hardesty or Ben Tate considering the injuries at RB position.)
4. RG John Jerry (Donald Thomas at RG has been inconsistent and at times downright weak. John Jerry, at his size, feet, and technique, offers an improvement over Thomas and a long term solutions to our Oline, especially considering the injuries at OL and the need to build the monster OL to protect Henne and contend long term.
Other considerations here would be RB LeGarrett Blount, or ILB Micah Johnson. While I like both very much, I am not so sure they are clear improvements over Crowder and Ronnie and Ricky for next year.)
With the last five picks, I believe we can take some ILBs such as Phillip Dillard, Lee Campbell etc, as well as RBs like Lonye Miller, Stafon Johnson, Andre Dixon etc, a DT like Jay Ross. We could even take a shot at QB like Levi Brown so that we can be open to trading Thigpen and Pat White at some point.
Feel free to disagree. I just went from the perspective of largest differential improvement and this is what I come up with.
Edit: FA targets - NT, ILB.
