Cowboys 2016 Draft: A chance to build something special

The Dallas Cowboys rough 2015 season could turn into an early draft pick to add to an already talented young core.

Nobody is going to pretend that this disastrous season for the Dallas Cowboys is a blessing in disguise. The ideal result of this season, just like any other, was to compete for a Super Bowl. But a couple of broken clavicles (well, one clavicle broken twice) has landed the Cowboys in a position to snag an impact player early in the first round of April’s NFL Draft; and it may help brighten the future for the team.

Before we look ahead to the 2016 draft, lets look back to this past offseason. The front office finessed the cap and managed to snag three first round caliber players, without trading any future picks to do so.\

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First round pick, cornerback Byron Jones is ranked as the third-best first round rookie by Pro Football Focus. The fact that he’s becoming a Swiss-Army knife for a defense that’s hurting in the secondary is only increasing his value.

Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory slipped to the second round due to maturity concerns, he’s been hobbled by injury, but the future looks bright for the young pass rusher.

Finally, guard La’el Collins has exceeded expectations after falling out of the draft entirely. Collins is an very physical presence as a run blocker, and seems like he will come along nicely as a pass blocker.

That talent will only grow around a talented core of linebacker Sean Lee, defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford, and of course wide receiver Dez Bryant. While quarterback Tony Romo may be aging, the team around him has the potential to kick the window of opportunity wide open and keep it open for years to come.

Looking ahead, this draft has a lot of question marks. Many fans have gotten a glimpse of life after Romo and are clamoring to find the quarterback of the future in this draft. However, the Cowboys are in a position to add the best available player and add it to a rapidly developing core.

Snagging a defensive end like Mississippi’s Robert Nkemdiche or Ohio State’s Joey Bosa would be an instant upgrade to a line that already has a couple of talented pieces in Crawford and Gregory. Adding cornerbacks like Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey or Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves III could pair with Jones and help turn the secondary into a no fly zone.

On the offensive side of the ball, grabbing Ohio State half back Ezekiel Elliott to run behind the Cowboys All-Pro offensive line would bolster the running game. Or if everything falls correctly, drafting quarterbacks like California’s Jared Goff or Memphis’s Paxton Lynch would not only provide insurance in case Romo goes down again, but also give the team a future under center.

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No matter which way the Cowboys decide to look in the upcoming draft, they have a solid foundation built and will only add to it with a likely top ten pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. This season is far from a blessing, but the pick that results from it very well may be.

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