QUICK OUT: Coveting A Corner
By Todd Toombs
5th Round – Josh Thomas, DB – did not make final cut; signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2011.
2010 (2 picks)
4th Round – Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, DB – made team but cut later; signed to practice squad and later moved to receiver; cut for Shaun Chapas in 2011 and signed with Jacksonville.
6th Round – Jamar Wall, CB – did not make final cut; spent time in 2010 with the Texans and Eagles but is currently a free agent.
2009 (3 picks)
5th Round – DeAngelo Smith, DB – cut 2009, spent time with Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland that year; has not played since then.
5th Round – Mike Hamlin, DB – cut in 2010, signed with Jacksonville and was last seen as a Redskin but not on current roster.
7th Round – Mike Mickens, CB – college teammate of DeAngelo Smith at Cincinnati – cut in 2009, signed with Tampa Bay in 2009 but out of league after that.
1st Round – Mike Jenkins, CB – starter (when healthy).
5th Round – Orlando Scandrick, CB – slot corner, future starter?
2007 (2 picks)
7th Round – Courtney Brown, CB – role player, cut after 2008 season.
7th Round – Alan Ball, CB – backup, free agent in 2012
2006 (1 pick)
5th Round – Pat Watkins, FS – played 4 seasons with the Cowboys starting 9 games in 2006 but mostly a back up since that season. Signed with San Diego in 2010 but currently a free agent.
2005 (1 pick)
6th Round – Justin Beriault, DB – did not make final cut, out of the NFL.
2004 (2 picks)
4th Round – Bruce Thornton, CB – cut in 2004, played in 12 games for the 49ers in 2005 but nothing beyond that.
7th Round – Nate Jones, CB – played in 51 games (1 start) in 4 seasons with the Cowboys; played with Miami, Denver, and is currently on the Patriots roster.
7th Round – Jacques Reeves, CB – started 13 games in 2007 before signing with the Texans in 2008 and 2009, free agent.
1st Round – Terence Newman, CB – starter but somewhat ironic that the Cowboys took Newman with the 5th overall pick and left Nnamdi Asomugha on the board, eventually taken by the Raiders with the 31st overall pick. Asomugha was reportedly prepared to sign this past off season with the Cowboys as Newman’s replacement before deciding to go to the Eagles instead.
6th Round – B.J. Tucker, CB – cut by the Cowboys and Steelers in 2003; played 10 games for the 49ers in ’05-’06. Out of the league.
2002 (3 picks)
1st Round – Roy Williams, FS – 8th overall pick in 2002; played 7 seasons for the Cowboys but became a liability in coverage. Spent 2 seasons with the Bengals after the Cowboys.
3rd Round – Derek Ross, CB – spent 2 seasons with the Cowboys before signing with the Falcons in 2003 and the Vikings in 2004; now out of the league.
5th Round – Pete Hunter, CB – played in 30 games in 3 seasons for the Cowboys (5 starts); signed with Cleveland and then Seattle in 2006.
Not an impressive track record – out of 20 picks at the position, 3 starters, a few role players, and a LOT of complete misses. Only 4 of those players were on the roster at the end of the 2011 season. I can’t easily tell how that compares to other team’s results but it sure feels like with that many picks dedicated to the secondary – three in the 2009 draft alone, for example – we should have gotten more.
The Cowboys did a very good job this season coming up with in-season free agents – Laurent Robinson and Tony Fiammetta to name two. Let’s hope that between that part of the scouting department and Jason Garrett, they are heavily involved in the draft in April and can find the significant talent we need in the secondary. Assuming Jerry Jones doesn’t do something wild (like package players and picks to trade up and get RGIII before the Redskins), we should get a solid player with the 14th pick. We’re certainly due at this position.
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