Lets revisit our Draft grades
By SportsDayDFW.com Contact SportsDayDFW.com on Twitter: @SportsDayDFW
A sampling of grades for the Dallas Cowboys' complete 2016 draft from writers and analysts around the nation:
Day 1 draft grades: One analyst believes Cowboys made worst pick of the first round
Day 2, Rounds 2 and 3 grades: Picking Jaylon Smith 'unreal,' selection receives 'C' and lower marks
Your turn! Grade the Cowboys' picks and draft class
Jon Machota: C+
If Elliott becomes a perennial Pro Bowler, Jaylon Smith returns to his Notre Dame form and there's solid production from Maliek Collins and Charles Tapper, this is an outstanding class. Coming into this year's draft, many were looking for the Cowboys to upgrade their defense, especially pass rusher, in the early rounds. Instead, they added the draft's top running back and a player who may never return to an elite level. Collins and Tapper both have the ability to contribute immediately up front. But will they? With Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence out for the first four games, Rod Marinelli needs Collins and Tapper to help as soon as possible. And then you have quarterback Dak Prescott. Some experts believe he'll never be more than a quality backup. Jerry Jones and Co. seem to think he has a chance to be a future starter.
See Machota's full NFC East grades.
Ebenezer Samuel, New York Daily News: B+
Despite the hype around Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, it's hard to justify Dallas taking him fourth overall ahead of Florida State corner Jalen Ramsey, who filled a bigger defensive need and played a far more valuable position.
You let that go, though, because the Cowboys filled their defensive needs later, scoring defensive line help in DE Charles Tapper and DT Maliek Collins. And if Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith recovers from the torn left ACL and MCL that led him to fall into the second round, he'll be the steal of the draft. Add in seventh-round sleeper Rico Gathers, an ex-Baylor basketball player (and we know how those hoops stars often turn out in the NFL), and Jerry Jones had a solid haul that should keep the Cowboys in division contention.
Mel Kiper, ESPN: C
Top needs: DE, CB, WR, QB
I have mixed feelings on this draft class, with huge questions early and several great picks later. I love Ezekiel Elliott as a player -- he's one of the best running back prospects in recent years -- and he's certain to be highly productive behind a fantastic offensive line, but I think a number of running backs would be really good in Dallas, and that goes for a number of players drafted well into Day 3. Great player, poor value range. Jaylon Smith can be special if he gets healthy, and would have been one of the top three players on my final Big Board if so. But this is two straight years Dallas has taken a major risk in Round 2 (Randy Gregory last year). Hopefully it works out this time. I'll be rooting like heck for that kid.
Maliek Collins is needed help on the D-line, and Charles Tapper is a sleeper because he played out of his ideal position a lot at Oklahoma, and Dallas could get something from him. Dallas was interested in getting into range for Paxton Lynch, and also missed out on a chance to draft Connor Cook when the Raiders traded up. Dak Prescott is a solid guy to have on the bench, but I question the starting upside, and I had Brandon Allen ranked higher. One I really love: Darius Jackson is a great sleeper RB out of Eastern Michigan. Rico Gathers is a great coin-flip late. The Baylor basketball player hasn't played football in years but has tremendous size. "Go follow No. 82 around, kid." One question: Did they do enough at cornerback? I'd say no.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: C- (Prisco's worst grade given)
Best pick: I love third-round pick Maliek Collins, a defensive tackle from Nebraska. He is a penetrating tackle who will help the inside pass rush. He will end up being a steal.
Questionable move: Taking injured linebacker Jaylon Smith in the second round was a head shaker. He has nerve damage in his foot coming off a major knee injury. He probably won't play a down this year.
Third-day gem: Love the pick of quarterback Dak Prescott in the fourth round. They can develop him behind Tony Romo as a potential successor. Solid decision.
Analysis: I don't like taking backs high, so I ding the Cowboys for taking Ezekiel Elliott in the fourth spot, even if he's a good player. They also get two players -- Smith in the second and Prescott in the fourth -- who won't help right away. That's troubling. I did like some of their other picks, but not a great draft for me.
Nicholas Goss, NESN: C
The Cowboys took Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott when they already had veterans Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris on the roster. Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey would've been a better choice. Second-rounder Jaylon Smith of Notre Dame probably won't even play next season.
Chris Burke and Doug Farrar, Sports Illustrated: A-
First pick: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (No. 4)
Other notable picks: Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame (34); Maliek Collins, DT, Nebraska (67); Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State (135)
If Smith is able to return from the knee issues that now hamper his NFL future, this is a lead-pipe A+. He was the best player in this class, and the Cowboys took a manageable risk in spending their second-round pick on him. There's no question that Elliott will help the Dallas offense return to form. Fourth overall is a high pick for a back, but Elliott does it all and does it well. Collins is a bit of a project, but he's a good athlete who will vie for a rotational slot early on. Oklahoma defensive end Charles Tapper is a more developed player who will be an asset against the run, with pass rush as a bonus attribute. Prescott is a big, mobile quarterback who has shown a lot of mental development over time, and he's in the perfect situation to continue to grow--as long as Tony Romo stays healthy.
Mark Maske, The Washington Post: B-
This is truly a mixed bag of a draft class and difficult to assess. Using the No. 4 overall pick on Ezekiel Elliott gives the Cowboys a potentially special RB who could be a centerpiece of their offense. But productive runners can be gotten far later in a draft and the Cowboys had to pass up Jalen Ramsey to get Elliott. Jaylon Smith was taken 34th overall. Was that too expensive a pick for a player who might not play at all as a rookie but could be a future standout? The pass rush wasn't addressed until the fourth round with DE Charles Tapper and the secondary wasn't particularly bolstered. Dallas might have gotten its eventual successor to Tony Romo at QB by using a fourth-round choice on Dak Prescott and took Baylor basketball player Rico Gathers as a prospective TE in the sixth round.
Danny Webster, Bleacher Report: A-
Ezekiel Elliott and Jaylon Smith are great picks, but they're major stretches. Dallas made up for it by taking the second-tier quarterback with the highest upside -- Dak Prescott.
Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus: B-
Day 1: The nation's top-graded overall running back in 2015, Elliott can run in any system, catch the ball out of the backfield, and he's excellent in pass protection.
Day 2: Dallas rolls the dice with Smith, whose knee injury will likely keep him out for all of 2016. When healthy, he's an explosive playmaker, capable of running with receivers, tight ends and running backs out of the backfield. The No. 25 player on the PFF draft board is worth the risk at this point. Collins posted the No. 11 overall grade among interior defensive lineman in the class, using his quick burst to disrupt plays in the backfield.
Day 3: Tapper brings great athleticism on the interior and he can play all along the defensive front. Prescott is one of the best running quarterbacks in the draft, though he's not a natural passer. Frazier posted the sixth-best run stop percentage in the class and 14th-best tackling efficiency.
Lindsay H. Jones, USA Today Sports: D
Jerry Jones will love this draft class. Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott will be exciting and sell lots of jerseys, and drafting Notre Dame LB Jaylon Smith early in the second round was one of the best feel-good moments of the weekend given the uncertainty surrounding the star defender after his significant knee injury. But how much closer are the Cowboys to winning now? Dallas finally addressed its glaring need for a pass rusher early in the fourth round with Oklahoma's Charles Tapper, but that might be too little, too late.
By SportsDayDFW.com Contact SportsDayDFW.com on Twitter: @SportsDayDFW
A sampling of grades for the Dallas Cowboys' complete 2016 draft from writers and analysts around the nation:
Day 1 draft grades: One analyst believes Cowboys made worst pick of the first round
Day 2, Rounds 2 and 3 grades: Picking Jaylon Smith 'unreal,' selection receives 'C' and lower marks
Your turn! Grade the Cowboys' picks and draft class
Jon Machota: C+
If Elliott becomes a perennial Pro Bowler, Jaylon Smith returns to his Notre Dame form and there's solid production from Maliek Collins and Charles Tapper, this is an outstanding class. Coming into this year's draft, many were looking for the Cowboys to upgrade their defense, especially pass rusher, in the early rounds. Instead, they added the draft's top running back and a player who may never return to an elite level. Collins and Tapper both have the ability to contribute immediately up front. But will they? With Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence out for the first four games, Rod Marinelli needs Collins and Tapper to help as soon as possible. And then you have quarterback Dak Prescott. Some experts believe he'll never be more than a quality backup. Jerry Jones and Co. seem to think he has a chance to be a future starter.
See Machota's full NFC East grades.
Ebenezer Samuel, New York Daily News: B+
Despite the hype around Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, it's hard to justify Dallas taking him fourth overall ahead of Florida State corner Jalen Ramsey, who filled a bigger defensive need and played a far more valuable position.
You let that go, though, because the Cowboys filled their defensive needs later, scoring defensive line help in DE Charles Tapper and DT Maliek Collins. And if Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith recovers from the torn left ACL and MCL that led him to fall into the second round, he'll be the steal of the draft. Add in seventh-round sleeper Rico Gathers, an ex-Baylor basketball player (and we know how those hoops stars often turn out in the NFL), and Jerry Jones had a solid haul that should keep the Cowboys in division contention.
Mel Kiper, ESPN: C
Top needs: DE, CB, WR, QB
I have mixed feelings on this draft class, with huge questions early and several great picks later. I love Ezekiel Elliott as a player -- he's one of the best running back prospects in recent years -- and he's certain to be highly productive behind a fantastic offensive line, but I think a number of running backs would be really good in Dallas, and that goes for a number of players drafted well into Day 3. Great player, poor value range. Jaylon Smith can be special if he gets healthy, and would have been one of the top three players on my final Big Board if so. But this is two straight years Dallas has taken a major risk in Round 2 (Randy Gregory last year). Hopefully it works out this time. I'll be rooting like heck for that kid.
Maliek Collins is needed help on the D-line, and Charles Tapper is a sleeper because he played out of his ideal position a lot at Oklahoma, and Dallas could get something from him. Dallas was interested in getting into range for Paxton Lynch, and also missed out on a chance to draft Connor Cook when the Raiders traded up. Dak Prescott is a solid guy to have on the bench, but I question the starting upside, and I had Brandon Allen ranked higher. One I really love: Darius Jackson is a great sleeper RB out of Eastern Michigan. Rico Gathers is a great coin-flip late. The Baylor basketball player hasn't played football in years but has tremendous size. "Go follow No. 82 around, kid." One question: Did they do enough at cornerback? I'd say no.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: C- (Prisco's worst grade given)
Best pick: I love third-round pick Maliek Collins, a defensive tackle from Nebraska. He is a penetrating tackle who will help the inside pass rush. He will end up being a steal.
Questionable move: Taking injured linebacker Jaylon Smith in the second round was a head shaker. He has nerve damage in his foot coming off a major knee injury. He probably won't play a down this year.
Third-day gem: Love the pick of quarterback Dak Prescott in the fourth round. They can develop him behind Tony Romo as a potential successor. Solid decision.
Analysis: I don't like taking backs high, so I ding the Cowboys for taking Ezekiel Elliott in the fourth spot, even if he's a good player. They also get two players -- Smith in the second and Prescott in the fourth -- who won't help right away. That's troubling. I did like some of their other picks, but not a great draft for me.
Nicholas Goss, NESN: C
The Cowboys took Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott when they already had veterans Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris on the roster. Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey would've been a better choice. Second-rounder Jaylon Smith of Notre Dame probably won't even play next season.
Chris Burke and Doug Farrar, Sports Illustrated: A-
First pick: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (No. 4)
Other notable picks: Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame (34); Maliek Collins, DT, Nebraska (67); Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State (135)
If Smith is able to return from the knee issues that now hamper his NFL future, this is a lead-pipe A+. He was the best player in this class, and the Cowboys took a manageable risk in spending their second-round pick on him. There's no question that Elliott will help the Dallas offense return to form. Fourth overall is a high pick for a back, but Elliott does it all and does it well. Collins is a bit of a project, but he's a good athlete who will vie for a rotational slot early on. Oklahoma defensive end Charles Tapper is a more developed player who will be an asset against the run, with pass rush as a bonus attribute. Prescott is a big, mobile quarterback who has shown a lot of mental development over time, and he's in the perfect situation to continue to grow--as long as Tony Romo stays healthy.
Mark Maske, The Washington Post: B-
This is truly a mixed bag of a draft class and difficult to assess. Using the No. 4 overall pick on Ezekiel Elliott gives the Cowboys a potentially special RB who could be a centerpiece of their offense. But productive runners can be gotten far later in a draft and the Cowboys had to pass up Jalen Ramsey to get Elliott. Jaylon Smith was taken 34th overall. Was that too expensive a pick for a player who might not play at all as a rookie but could be a future standout? The pass rush wasn't addressed until the fourth round with DE Charles Tapper and the secondary wasn't particularly bolstered. Dallas might have gotten its eventual successor to Tony Romo at QB by using a fourth-round choice on Dak Prescott and took Baylor basketball player Rico Gathers as a prospective TE in the sixth round.
Danny Webster, Bleacher Report: A-
Ezekiel Elliott and Jaylon Smith are great picks, but they're major stretches. Dallas made up for it by taking the second-tier quarterback with the highest upside -- Dak Prescott.
Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus: B-
Day 1: The nation's top-graded overall running back in 2015, Elliott can run in any system, catch the ball out of the backfield, and he's excellent in pass protection.
Day 2: Dallas rolls the dice with Smith, whose knee injury will likely keep him out for all of 2016. When healthy, he's an explosive playmaker, capable of running with receivers, tight ends and running backs out of the backfield. The No. 25 player on the PFF draft board is worth the risk at this point. Collins posted the No. 11 overall grade among interior defensive lineman in the class, using his quick burst to disrupt plays in the backfield.
Day 3: Tapper brings great athleticism on the interior and he can play all along the defensive front. Prescott is one of the best running quarterbacks in the draft, though he's not a natural passer. Frazier posted the sixth-best run stop percentage in the class and 14th-best tackling efficiency.
Lindsay H. Jones, USA Today Sports: D
Jerry Jones will love this draft class. Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott will be exciting and sell lots of jerseys, and drafting Notre Dame LB Jaylon Smith early in the second round was one of the best feel-good moments of the weekend given the uncertainty surrounding the star defender after his significant knee injury. But how much closer are the Cowboys to winning now? Dallas finally addressed its glaring need for a pass rusher early in the fourth round with Oklahoma's Charles Tapper, but that might be too little, too late.
. Maybe he needs to sit due to the part he played in high blood pressure among cowboy fans 