Cowboys 2016 NFL Draft: Q&A with Dane Brugler
DallasCowboys.com and CBS Sports NFL Draft expert Dane Brugler stops by to give us his take on the upcoming Dallas Cowboys draft.
The Landry Hat would like to welcome special guest Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, NFLDraftScout, and co-host of The Draft Show on DallasCowboys.com. Dane is one of the most comprehensive scouting minds covering the NFL Draft, so be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @dpbrugler and interact with him and let him know your thoughts on the NFL Draft.
Be sure to pick up a copy of his fantastic draft guide displaying the NFL stars of tomorrow on Amazon here: NFL Draft Elite 60
And finally, for the in-depth fan, grab a PDF copy of his comprehensive scouting report/draft guide on over 400 prospects HERE
Without Further Ado; Dane Brugler, you’re now on the clock.
Q: A lot has been made about defensive end Joey Bosa from Ohio State. Some Dallas Cowboys fans love him, some hate him. My question for you is – defensive end, DeMarcus Lawrence was a 2nd round selection for the Dallas Cowboys who came on late in his rookie season after injury. He went on the pick up 8.0 sacks as a second year player while excelling against the run.
Many people believe that the Bosa ceiling is 6-8 sacks a year and a great run defender. With that being said, why is Joey Bosa worthy of the Dallas Cowboys 4th overall pick if they can find a comparable player, ex. DeMarcus Lawrence, in the 2nd round?
DB: DeMarcus Lawrence was a 1st round player in 2014 – at least that’s how he was graded by me and several others around the league so the Cowboys received excellent value in the early second. I don’t think teams should expect to draft talents like Lawrence on day two, especially pass rushers. Each draft class is so unique so fans can’t look at past picks who were taken fourth overall and expect to get that type of player (good or bad).
This draft shouldn’t be compared to last year or next year. In this draft, Joey Bosa is one of the top-five players in my opinion. I understand that Cowboys fans want “special” with the fourth overall pick, but I’m not sure this draft class has that. But with Bosa, I know what I’m getting. An impact pass rusher who has a strong understanding of hand technique, leverage and power at only 20 years old.
And somehow a narrative got started that he can’t bend or is an average athlete. Maybe because he ran a 4.8 40-yard dash, but who cares about a 40-yard dash for a defensive end? For edge rushers, the three most important drills are the short shuttle, 3-cone and 10-yard split, the tests that reveal short-area burst and quickness. And Bosa was terrific in those areas.
And one myth we need to dispel is about sacks. Grading defensive ends by sacks doesn’t make much sense. Von Miller had only 11.0 sacks last season, but he impacts the game much more than that stat suggests. And if Bosa averages “only” 8.0 sacks, that doesn’t say much – is he commanding double-teams? Is he causing offenses to chip and keep a back home to help block? I can’t predict how many sacks Bosa will have in the NFL, but I do know he will force offenses to gameplan against him.
Q: Lately, the Dallas Cowboys have been linked to quarterback Paxton Lynch out of Memphis. Jerry Jones was on-hand for a private workout with head coach Jason Garrett as well as offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. Outside of the obvious prototypical quarterback stature, 6’6″ 225lbs, give Cowboys fans a reason to get excited about the front office’s interest in this potential quarterback of the future.
DB: Physically, Lynch checks all the boxes. He is very young in quarterback years and needs time to develop, but there is a lot to like about his arm talent and field vision. Also factor in how his coaches and teammates talk extremely high of his football aptitude and passion and Lynch is an ideal candidate to groom. If he is still around in the late first round, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Cowboys trade back into the first round and get him (plus the fifth year option).
Q: Great point there Dane. I have a feeling the Dallas Cowboys are going to find themselves in a similar situation as last years draft, where they have some running backs that they like but they start coming off the board before a selection spot they are comfortable with. If the Cowboys wait until the 4th round, either pick, who is the perfect running back for this offensive backfield that is still on the board?
DB: In the fourth, backs like Dixon, Booker and Prosise are likely gone. The two backs I would be looking at: UCLA’s Paul Perkins and Arkansas’ Jonathan Williams. Perkins doesn’t offer much of a power element, but he can make you miss with vision, elusive feet and creativity that makes defenders look silly. Williams is kind of the forgotten prospect in this class after missing all of 2015 with a foot injury, but as long as he is healthy, he is one of the top backs in this class and will out-play his draft spot.
Q: The Cowboys have shown some early interest in the safety position in the upcoming draft with rumors circulating of pre-draft visits and private workouts. Also; barring any change, Barry Church will be a free agent after the upcoming season. Taking those two factors into consideration, how deep is this safety class and outside of the first pick where is a sweet spot to draft one?
DB: It’s not a very deep safety class, but there are a few options in each round. To find a starter, pick No. 34 is probably where the Cowboys need to grab that safety. West Virginia’s Karl Joseph, Ohio State’s Vonn Bell and Florida’s Keanu Neal are the most likely options there. On his highlight tape, Joseph is the next Earl Thomas, but when you factor in the negative plays, that is the concern. Bell is more of a “safe” prospect, played both man and zone at OSU and is a versatile option. Neal is a decleater and punishing hitter and shows the promising athleticism to continue and develop in coverage.
Q: I want to give you a chance to flex your scouting knowledge for the readers so they can see just how much work you really put in to scouting these players and putting together these draft guides. Give the Dallas fans one sleeper pick, who goes after round 4 that no one is talking about, that you would love to see the Cowboys grab and let us know how this player could make a difference on this team.
DB: NC Central CB Ryan Smith has been “my guy” for awhile. I gave him a 3rd round grade, but he’ll probably come off the board on day three. Former basketball player who is still developing but all the athletic traits are there. He can be a starter in this league. In terms of deep sleepers, I like Southern Illinois tight end Adam Fuehne, West Georgia offensive tackle Dominique Robertson and Manitoba defensive tackle David Onyemata.
Q: Finally Dane, you’re on the clock. Give The Landry Hat your prediction for that number 4 pick and let the readers know your thought process there.
We’d like to thank Dane Brugler for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions.
Be sure to support him and his work over at CBS Sports and at DallasCowboys.com.
Again, you can purchase Dane’s 2016 NFL Draft Guide HERE. If a must have for every NFL fan!
And be sure to also pick up a copy of his fantastic draft guide displaying the NFL stars of tomorrow on Amazon.com here: NFL Draft Elite 60
Thanks Dane!
Next: Will the Dallas Cowboys double-dip in the draft?
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