The Dallas Cowboys 2010 Draft – Who Else was Available?
In a continuing series reviewing the Dallas Cowboys most recent drafts and who else was available, today the 2010 draft will be evaluated. The team has shown the ability to find good talent in Rounds 1 & 2. However, the team has struggled mightily to find success with any type of consistency to find players in rounds 3-7. With the amount of resources that is provided to NFL teams scouting departments and time spent preparing for the draft that is very disappointing and has caused the team to spend money in free agency to try to fill the team’s deficiencies instead of using free agency to fill the last few holes of a championship caliber roster.
Dec 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett celebrates a third quarter touchdown with receiver Dez Bryant (88) against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Here is a summary of the Dallas Cowboys 2010 draft, and players that were available when the Cowboys were selecting:
1st Round – Dez Bryant (24th selection overall)
The Cowboys packaged the 27th overall and 90th overall to receive the 24th overall to select Bryant. Jones had long wanted a dynamic playmaking receiver to put into the Cowboys offense. Bryant and Romo looked to have definitely found their chemistry (especially the second half of the 2012 season) and look to be dynamic duo for the foreseeable future. Notable players selected after #24 include the following: Devin McCourty – CB (27), Roger Saffold – OT (33), Rob Gronkowski – TE (42) , Zane Beadles – OT (45), Daryl Washington – LB (47)
2nd Round – – Sean Lee (55th selection overall)
The Cowboys packaged their own 59th overall and 125th overall to Philadelphia to move up four spots and ensure they were able to snag Lee. Lee has emerged in a short time to become the leader and best player on the Cowboy defense. In his three seasons he has recorded the following numbers: Notable players selected after #55 include the following: Terrence Cody – DT (57), Ben Tate – RB (58), Pat Angerer – LB (63), Jared Veldheer – OT (69), Ed Dickson – TE (70), Morgan Burnett – S (71), Brandon LaFell – WR (78), Emmanuel Sanders – WR (82), Corey Peters – DT (83), Eric Decker – WR (87)
3rd Round – -Traded (90th overall)
This selection was packed with the Cowboys original 27th overall to move up to 24th overall and have the opportunity to select Dez Bryant as the Baltimore Ravens were looking to pick Bryant with the 25th overall selection. Notable players selected after #90 include the following: Navorro Bowman – LB (91), Tony Moeaki – TE (93), Jimmy Graham – TE (95), Mike Williams – WR (101), Alterraun Verner – CB (104), Jacoby Ford – WR (108), Aaron Hernandez – TE (113), Dennis Pitta – TE (114), Geno Atkins – DT (120)
4th Round – – Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (126th selection overall)
“AOA” was selected due his athletic ability and potential as a developmental player in the defensive secondary and on special teams. Once Ansah did not survive the Cowboys final roster cut down for the 2011 season, AOA has bounced around from the Cowboys to the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Oakland Raiders in the 2011 & 2012 seasons while hoping to find a position and a permanent place in the league. He has spent the majority of his time on these teams practice squads. Notable players selected after #126 include the following: Kam Chancellor – S (133), John Skelton – QB (155)
5th Round – -Traded (158th selection overall)
This selection had been traded to the Denver Broncos for guard Montrae Holland on 8/28/2008. Notable players selected after #158 include the following: Riley Cooper – WR (159), Reshad Jones – S (163), Greg Hardy – DE (175)
6th Round – – Sam Young (179nd selection overall)
Young was on the Cowboys 53 man roster for his rookie season in 2010. After a subpar showing during the 2011 training camp, Young was released from the team in early September. Young was claimed the next day by the Buffalo Bills and has been a member of that team for the 2011 & 2012 seasons. Notable players selected after #179 include the following: Antonio Brown – WR (195)
6th Round – – Jamar Wall (196th selection overall)
Wall was cut from the Cowboys during the final roster cut down in early September of his rookie season. Wall was subsequently picked up by the Houston Texans and spent the next three weeks with them before being released in late September. Wall was then added to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad until activated to the 53 in late December. Wall was not part of an NFL roster in 2011 and spent the 2012 season playing for the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL. Notable players selected after #196 include the following: Ted Larsen – OC/OG (205), Marc Mariani – WR/Return Specialist (222)
7th Round – – Sean Lissemore (234nd selection overall)
Lissemore has been a good selection by the Cowboys and has played as a rotation player at both the defensive end and tackle positions for the team. Lissemore signed a “team friendly” contract extension in September 2012 and is locked up with the team through the 2016 season. Notable players selected after #234 include the following: Chris Ivory – RB (Undrafted), LeGarrette Blount – RB (Undrafted)
Again the team did well in round 1 & 2, but the results after were poor. The third round was stocked with talent (multiple pro bowlers) that the team could not choose from by surrendering this pick to move up to ensure the selection of Bryant. The safety the Cowboys have been looking for was indeed in Round 4, but it was Kam Chancellor and not AOA. The Cowboys with their lack of depth and position in regards to the salary cap should be using a strategy of trading down and trying to acquire more second, third, and fourth round picks to get the talent level sufficient on this team.
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