Is this the Dallas Cowboys fatal draft flaw?

Despite the Dallas Cowboys coming off one of their best draft’s in franchise history, their continued gambles in this round could be a fatal flaw.

Linebacker Sean Lee in 2010. Linebacker Bruce Carter in 2011. No one in 2012. Tight end Gavin Escobar in 2013. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence in 2014. Defensive end Randy Gregory in 2015. And linebacker Jaylon Smith in 2016.

What do all these players have in common? They were all prospects taken in the second round by the Dallas Cowboys in their respective NFL Drafts. And all of them constitute a gamble taken by the team, but more specifically, by owner and general manager Jerry Jones. And it could be the fatal flaw in what has become an outstanding draft philosophy as of late.

Coming off of one of their most immediately productive draft classes in history, this may seem like an odd time to become critical of the Cowboys draft strategy. But looking back the past seven years at the Cowboys second round gambles, only one risk has seeming paid off.

Sean Lee was elected to his second Pro Bowl last year, but his rise to prominence came after several injury-laden season in Dallas. The former Penn State linebacker fell to the Cowboys in the second round back in 2010 due to injury concerns. The same thing happened to Carter in 2011, who simply proved to be too inconsistent of a player.

The Cowboys gambled on LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne in 2012, trading their second round selection away in order to move up in the first round to selected him. It’s been revealed since that Dallas intended to draft Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner with that lost second round selection. Wagner is coming off his third-straight Pro Bowl selection and helped the Seattle Seahawks win a Super Bowl in 2013.

The Cowboys selection of San Diego State tight end Gavin Escobar in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft was confusing, mainly due to the fact Dallas already had future Hall of Famer Jason Witten in his prime cemented at the position. Escobar, as many other tight ends had before him, wilted under Witten’s massive shadow in Dallas.

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In 2014, the Cowboys traded up in the second round to draft Boise State DeMarcus Lawrence. After suffering a foot injury that robbed him of most of his rookie season, Lawrence would lead Dallas in sacks his second year.

But a four-game suspension due to violating the league’s substance abuse policy hurt the young pass rusher last season. Lawrence recorded just 11 total tackles and 1.0 sack in nine games last season. His dwindling production and reoccurring back issues all point to a possible draft bust in the making.

A failed drug test during the NFL Scouting Combine is the reason Nebraska pass rusher Randy Gregory fell to the Cowboys in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. More failed drug tests and subsequent league suspensions combined with injuries are the reason Gregory has played just 14 total games for Dallas in the last two years. Now suspended for the entire upcoming season (and possibly longer), the 24-year old’s future in the NFL is in real question.

That takes us to last year’s draft. Again, one of the best classes for the Cowboys in recent memory. Bolstering starters in running back Ezekiel Elliott, defensive tackle Maliek Collins, and cornerback Anthony Brown. Plus potential future contributors in safety Kavon Frazier, defensive end Charles Tapper and tight end Rico Gathers. And, of course, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year quarterback Dak Prescott.

Missing from the above list is the Cowboys second round selection: Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith. Touted as a possible top-five selection at one time, Smith suffered a devastating knee injury that sent him tumbling down draft boards.

Dallas shocked the sporting world when they used their incredibly high second round selection (34th overall) on the talented player whom was deemed a major medical risk. In fact, some believed Smith may never play football again.

After spending all of last season on the sidelines, it was revealed recently that the nerve damage caused by Smith’s injury has not regenerated as quickly as the team had hoped. And that the 21-year old linebacker will attempt to play anyway, but with a foot drop brace.

Regardless if Smith is able to make an impact on the field this season or not, the Cowboys history of taking risks in the second round is disturbing, And it could be the biggest flaw in their recently very successful draft strategy.

And one Cowboys insider believes their gambles in the second round are costing them 10-year plus starters.

"“If you want to gamble, gamble in the fifth round,” responded Bob Sturm of the Dallas Morning News during a recent episode of the Ballzy podcast. “In the second round you’ve got to get, in many cases, a decade starter. I think the smart teams do very, very well in the second and third rounds. The Cowboys, obviously, like we said. We’re not here to beat ’em up because their roster looks better than its looked in many, many years, but they are still paying for some past sins.”"

Next: Ranking every top-10 pick in Dallas Cowboys’ history

Based on their track record the past seven years, the Dallas Cowboys clearly need to stop taking risks in the second round of the NFL Draft. Just in the same way the Cowboys have become ultra-conservative when it comes to free agency, the draft should be treated in a similar manner. It’s likely the final remnant of Jerry Jones’ influence that must be purged from the team’s draft strategy.

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