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Dallas Cowboys fans should be excited for the draft

By Tyrone Starr

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: A view of the stage prior to the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: A view of the stage prior to the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Since the Dallas Cowboys are rarely major players in free agency, here are a few reasons as to why fans should be excited about the NFL Draft.

Now that the 2017 season is completely over, it’s officially time to look towards 2018.  For most NFL teams, that means free agency and the scouting combine.

For the Dallas Cowboys, it’s mostly just the combine.

Being a Dallas Cowboys fan means you commit to a few things that just are what they are:

  1. Expectations will almost always exceed productivity.
  2. You’re always relevant even if you’re not dominant.
  3. Free agency is for everyone else, not you.

Whether or not it’s a good thing is debatable.  If your team participates in free agency smartly, it can take you all the way to the Super Bowl.  Look no further than this year’s Philadelphia Eagles for that example.  If done wrong, however, it can really hurt your franchise as the 2011 and 2012 Eagles can attest to.

As for the Dallas Cowboys, the draft has been very good to this team.  Over the past five years, specifically, the Cowboys have been able to procure talent at several different positions.

The biggest reason for this has been the voice of Will McClay.

McClay, the Cowboys’ vice president of pro personnel has been a major player in the Dallas “war room.”  Since 2013, McClay’s voice has been just as prominent as owner Jerry Jones, Executive Vice President Stephen Jones or head coach Jason Garrett.

McClay, along with son Stephen are the big reasons why Travis Frederick and Zack Martin are on this team.  They are also huge reasons why Johnny Manziel is not.

If those moves do not move you to excitement, just look at the players brought in since 2013.

Frederick, Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence, Anthony Hitchens, Byron Jones, Ezekiel Elliott, Jaylon Smith, Maliek Collins, Dak Prescott, Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis and Xavier Woods have all been quality starters on teams that have won 46 games in five years.

Twelve starters with five seasons or less of experience is a good way to build a foundation.  It also helps when you have the ammunition to do so.

The number of picks the Cowboys have and the location of those picks is yet another reason to get fired up about the draft.  Dallas will have four picks in the top 120 as well as a projected four compensatory picks.

With the ability to trade those compensatory picks, it’s very possible Dallas gets a fifth pick in the top 120.  Given the track record of recent drafts, that is something to look forward to.

On top of all these reasons, the actual draft is physically happening IN Dallas.  As we have seen in past years, the NFL does a great job along with the host city to make this a major happening.

Next: The top 10 Dallas Cowboys to never win a Super Bowl

For all of these reasons, the next 67 days should fly by if you’re a fan of the Dallas Cowboys.  Before you know it, Thursday, April 26 will be here.  I know this team’s front office will be ready, will you?

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