Dallas Cowboys 2016 draft class can solidify its greatness this year

The Dallas Cowboys 2016 draft has already produced some great performances. Can 2018 be the year that proves how important they really are?

The Dallas Cowboys 2016 draft class has the potential to be remembered as one of the greatest in franchise history. With glimpses of the class’s potential over the last two seasons, 2018 should prove to be the most telling so far.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott has already proven his value. As the leagues leading rusher as a rookie, he showed the team he is a Hall of Fame caliber player. With his absence in 2017, he showed us just how important he is to the offense. When a team gets a top-five pick, it is imperative the selection is a perennial All-Pro caliber player. It’s safe to say Elliott is already that.

Linebacker Jaylon Smith has been a staple of offseason headlines in his first two seasons in Dallas. 2018 marks the first time in his tenure where there is an overwhelming sense of excitement for his immediate impact.

Smith practices without a brace and hopes to play that way. It seems as though he will be able to regain some of that form he displayed in college. If so, the linebacker corps would be amongst the strongest units on the team.

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Third-round defensive tackle Maliek Collins showed more promise his rookie season than he did last year. But a move from the three-technique to the one as well as playing under 100% for most of the season stifled what seemed to be a possible breakout campaign.

With lineman David Irving‘s days in Dallas numbered, Collins would have the snaps needed to be effective at his natural position. If healthy, expect Collins to play a valuable role on the defensive line.

Quarterback Dak Prescott has the most to prove in 2018. I believe he will be able to show he is the definitive franchise quarterback of the Cowboys. If so, the team will have avoided the biggest pitfall a franchise can avoid; not having a quarterback.

Very few teams are fortunate enough to endure the abrupt end of a franchise quarterbacks career only to transition smoothly into another. Prescott in the fourth may go down as one of the biggest steals in team history, and his play along with the offensive line and Elliott will keep the team in contention for years.

Cornerback Anthony Brown and safety Kavon Frazier were brought in as projects in the secondary with hopes of becoming contributors in any capacity down the line. Brown had an immediate impact his rookie season and impressed with his ability to play inside and outside.

While he may not be best suited as a starting outside corner, he has elite traits and can perform well in the slot. He is a solid starter who can become an important fixture in the secondary.

Frazier is an outstanding special teams player already with the chance to become a more important player on defense. Towards the end of 2017, Frazier was stealing snaps from then-safety Byron Jones and making his presence felt. If Frazier can keep up his physicality and special teams play, while being more consistent in pass coverage, he will have surpassed all expectations of him.

The last player worth mentioning in this class is sixth-round flyer Rico Gathers. The tight end has special physical attributes and looks the part of an All-Pro. Gathers has shown his pass-catching potential in the preseason and at 6-feet-7 and 285 pounds is a mismatch for anyone.

But with the team’s emphasis on the run, Gathers must improve his run blocking in order to have considerable playing time. The odds are against his success, but 2018 seems to be his make it or break it year. If he realizes his potential even partially, the pick used on him will be a success.

Seven of the nine picks in the 2016 draft have either become pillars of the team or are set up to solidify their roles as contributors in 2018.

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In summary, the team’s 2016 draft hauled in a potential Hall of Famer (Elliott), two Pro Bowl-caliber players (Smith & Prescott), two solid starters (Collins & Brown), a special teams ace with a physical defensive presence (Frazier), and a guy who could be in any of the categories above with a productive 2018 season (Gathers).

This class has already shown its worth in potential, but 2018 will be the year that potential is realized.

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