Playing ‘Reach or Value Pick?’ for Cowboys’ 2022 NFL Draft haul

The 2022 NFL Draft has finally come and gone for the Dallas Cowboys, and it was once again another roller coaster ride for fans who were trying to figure out what the Cowboys were trying to do. For the past few months, the front office has been saying that they wanted to make this team tougher and more aggressive. Looking at some of the players they added, they certainly followed that model.

Along with that mentality, they added players that are young and highly athletic. Sometimes, it seemed the front office even chose players for their physical traits rather than their experience, which is a thing Dallas has been doing for a while. These ideas have certainly worked in the past given that the Cowboys have had most of their draft picks, especially first-rounders, become Pro Bowlers right away.

Instead of giving out more grades, we wanted to take a look and see if any of the Cowboys’ picks made sense. We will play a game of reach or value with each of the nine additions.

Deciding whether the nine Cowboys 2022 NFL Draft additions were reaches or values

Tyler Smith, Left Guard – Tulsa (24th Pick)

Height: 6’4″  Weight: 324lbs

Career Stats: 25 career games, 23 career starts (Left tackle)

Team Impact: Starting left guard with the potential to become left tackle of the future.

We’ve been saying all offseason that the Cowboys needed to beef up their offensive line in order to help both quarterback Dak Prescott and running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard in the running game. Smith can do that by immediately coming in and starting as the team’s left guard. If you like how mean and physical La’el Collins was for Dallas, then you’re going to love Smith. He’s a mauler at the point of attack, and once he gets proper hand placement and gets his hand on defenders, he’s going to move and slam them.

If you take a look at Smith compared to other offensive tackles drafted ahead of him, there is one that he compares pretty closely. That draftee is the new Seattle Seahawk Charles Cross, who was taken ninth overall. This is according to their measurables and testing from MockDraftable.com. Athletically, Smith is a 97% match to Cross. Overall as an offensive tackle, he compares to Cross at a little over 80%. That’s not bad for a future offensive tackle that is still going to get better and is just now turning 21.

Draft Pick Assessment: Value Pick

This pick was all about the value based on his traits and the fact that teams did view Smith as a first-round talent. Whether you want to believe that the Titans wanted to take him or not, you have to see that Smith’s value for where they drafted him is pretty good when all he really needs to work on is his technique.

Sam Williams, Edge – Ole Miss (56th Pick)

Height: 6’4″  Weight: 261lbs

Career Stats: 35 games, 134 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 2 passes defended, 1 interception

Team Impact: Situational pass rusher that will compete early for a starting position.

We know that the Cowboys have been on the Williams hype train since the combine. Once we found out that defensive coordinator Dan Quinn went down to his Pro Day to work him out personally, we should have known he was going to them early. However, was it a bit too early? If you ask media and draft analysts, they will say it was too early. But, Dallas insists that this is where they ranked him on their board. So, which one is more accurate?

Williams, according to mockdraftable.com, athletically compares 99% with Cowboys fan favorite Jermaine Johnson who the Cowboys chose not to take. As a defensive end, Williams compares favorably to Kayvon Thibodeaux at 84% and he was taken fifth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. Not a bad comparison if you ask me.

Draft Pick Assessment: Little bit of a reach

All that people are going to think about with this pick is that the Cowboys could have had Johnson in the first round instead of Williams who was seen as a third-round pick. These two will be compared to each other by Cowboys fans for the foreseeable future. I can see why the team took Williams as they weren’t sure if he’d be around in the third round, but only time will tell with this pick.

Jalen Tolbert, Wide Receiver – Southern Alabama (88th Pick)

Height: 6’1″  Weight: 194lbs

Career Stats: 47 games, 178 receptions, 3,140 receiving yards, 17.6 yards per catch, 22 touchdowns

Team Impact: Can immediately come in and be the third receiver for this team.

This Cowboys team was in need of another receiver that has the ability to stretch the field and they found one. Tolbert is a tough receiver with nice ball tracking skills and nice route running skills already. Plus, he can play all three spots at receiver coming into the league, which is something you don’t usually find in a receiver coming out of college. The Cowboys needed to get themselves a Dak-friendly receiver in the third round after it looked like there was a possibility that they would be wiped out after deciding to take Williams in the second over a receiver.

As we continue to compare these Cowboy’s draft picks, according to Mockdraftable.com, Tolbert athletically compares 99% with 10th overall pick Garrett Wilson who went to the New York Jets. Wilson was often seen by many as the best receiver in this draft class. If you’re looking for a current receiver to compare to, it’s Reggie Wayne. Tolbert compares 88.5% to Wayne.

Draft Pick Assessment: High-Value Pick

The fact that Dallas was able to find a receiver with Tolbert’s skill set in the third round is amazing. Tolbert will need to work on some route running to clean things up a bit, but overall, this could be one of the steals in this draft.

Jake Ferguson, Tight End – Wisconsin (129th Pick)

Height: 6’5″  Weight: 250lbs

Career Stats: 47 games, 145 receptions, 1,618 receiving yards, 11.2 yards per catch, 13 touchdowns

Team Impact: Running game blocking tight end and possible number two tight end to end the season.

Dallas wanted to find themselves another tight end to come in and make plays in the passing game. They also needed a guy who could add blocking skills in the running game, which is something they are lacking on this roster. Ferguson gives them that blocking ability that can help establish this running game that has struggled with Dalton Schultz on the field. Ferguson wasn’t really utilized in the Wisconsin passing game, so we may be surprised at what he can do.

Ferguson athletically compares 96.6% to the Cowboys’ current starting tight end Dalton Schultz, proving that this team continues to draft the players with specific measurables at certain positions. As an overall tight end, based on skillset, Ferguson compares favorably 86.2% to New England Patriot tight end Hunter Henry. Until we see how the Badger can help in the passing game, this pick was a bit of a reach for me with receiving weapon Isaiah Likely still on the board.

Draft Pick Assessment: Bit of Reach

Comparing Ferguson to Likely is a simple comparison. Ferguson can help along the offensive line but is an unknown when it comes to potential in the passing game. Likely is an offensive mismatch with his route running and speed in the passing game, but is a liability in the running game based on his size and lack of time in-line blocking. Cowboys chose blocking over receiving. I would have gone the other way and think others would have too.

Matt Waletzko, Offensive Tackle – North Dakota (155th Pick)

Height: 6’7″  Weight: 315lbs

Career Stats: 32 games played, 29 games started at left tackle

Team Impact: Can battle for the swing tackle position with last year’s pick Josh Ball

When we last saw America’s Team play they were getting bullied up front by the San Fransisco 49ers. The Cowboys decided early on that they wanted to get meaner along both of their offensive and defensive lines. With the Waletzko pick, the Cowboys added another mauler to their offensive line whose upside had many people thinking he would go in the third or fourth round and Dallas was able to get him in the fifth round. You can’t predict how he will work out but that’s a pretty solid value when a team is able to find a physical,  high-upside tackle in the fifth round.

Waletzko is going to take some time to develop and work on his technique, but you can’t teach size, attitude, and strength. According to Mockdraftable.com, Waletzko compares 87% athletically to Trevor Penning who was a Cowboys’ first-round target. When it comes to play on the field as an offensive tackle, Waletzko compares 74% to Isaiah Prince.

Draft Pick Assessment: Value Pick

People aren’t going to like this pick because they don’t know who the player is. They also just saw this team take a left tackle in the first round. The reason this is a value pick is that the league had him higher on boards and the Cowboys got him in the fifth round, you can’t beat that.

DaRon Bland, Cornerback – Fresno State (167th Pick)

Height: 6’0″  Weight: 197lbs

Career Stats: 32 games played, 29 games started at left tackle

Team Impact: Special team player that has traits to develop over time.

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Cowboys’ 2021 second-round pick Kelvin Joseph and his off-the-field issues, so this pick was something we all should have seen coming. The issue for people with this pick was the fact that Dallas waited until the second pick in the fifth round to address the position and it’s another player people don’t know. The league knows about Bland, though, and his size and speed made him an attractive prospect to stash on a roster and develop. It’s a good pick for the Cowboys but one they may have been able to take later in the round.

There wasn’t anything on Bland at Mockdraftable.com but when you take a look at his measurables, Bland compares favorably to Buffalo Bills cornerback Taron Johnson. It’s going to take some time for Bland to help out on the defensive side of the football but he can come in and make an impact in special teams coverage.

Draft Pick Assessment: Bit of a Reach

The fifth round is mainly about finding traits in players you believe you can hone over time that can make contributions later on in their careers. This is a prime example of a trait pick by Dallas, but again, this is one they may have been able to do later on in the round not to risk losing the next two players they took.

Damone Clark, Linebacker – LSU (176th Pick)

Height: 6’2″  Weight: 239lbs

Career Stats: 50 games played, 249 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 5 passes defended, 1 interception

Team Impact: Redshirt rookie year with the possibility to be an impact player in 2023

This was a smart pick for Dallas as they were able to get one of the more talented linebackers in this draft in the fifth round due to his neck surgery after the NFL Combine. That contributed to his free fall in the draft with teams afraid to take a chance on Clark and his neck. That didn’t stop Jerry Jones who secured another possible Micah Parsons-type player if he comes back from his neck injury. Clark may just be one of the biggest steals of the draft.

The risk-reward situation with Clark is one that we’ve seen this Cowboys team take before and this could be their best yet. According to Mockdraftable.com, Clark is just as athletic as first-round pick Devin Lloyd at 98.3%. His play on the field compares favorably to Lloyd as well at 92%., great value for the Cowboys with this one.

Draft Pick Assessment: High-Value Pick

There’s nothing better than seeing your team steal a player on Day 3 who has the potential to become a Pro-Bowler upon his return from surgery. This looks like one of those times where the Cowboys’ risk-taking on injured players should work out in their favor, especially when he’s paired with Parsons and Jabril Cox.

John Ridgeway, Defensive Tackle – Arkansas (178th Pick)

Height: 6’5″  Weight: 321lbs

Career Stats: 42 games played, 141 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 4 passes defended, 1 interception

Team Impact: Rotational defensive tackle that can become an every-down defender.

When you hear the director of the Senior Bowl say that he hasn’t seen a real old-school defensive tackle in quite some time until he saw Ridgeway this past year, call me intrigued. Dallas found themselves someone who wants to bully offensive linemen and is a force in the running game. Ridgeway was a player seen by many scouts as a person who should have gone in the fourth round. The Cowboys were lucky to get him with their final pick in the fifth round in my opinion.

Dallas wanted to find themselves a defensive tackle with a mean streak and that’s exactly what Ridgeway is going to add to this defensive front. Athletically, Ridgeway compares 80% to fourth-round defensive tackle, Angelo Blackson. He also compares favorably overall as a defensive tackle to DaQuan Jones at 87%.

Draft Pick Assessment: Value Pick

Ridgeway’s mean streak and play strength will give him the ability to immediately insert himself into the rotation and help this team defend the run. If he can do that then this pick is going to be another steal for this team. The value is there and Ridgeway’s attitude leads me to believe they got a good one here.

Devin Harper, Linebacker – Oklahoma State (193rd Pick)

Height: 6’0″  Weight: 234lbs

Career Stats: 59 games played, 216 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 6 passes defended, 2 interceptions

Team Impact: Special teams contributor and a project as a nickel defender

The last pick for every team tends to be someone they feel is their highest priority free agent and want to make sure they are able to get that player in their locker room. Harper was that player for the Cowboys who elected not to get back into the seventh round to add another player or two. Harper is one of those defenders you see on film who just has a relentless motor and will not give up on plays. Taking him with their last pick shows they may have a plan for him that will put him closer to the line of scrimmage.

Adding another linebacker to the room when you have two coming-off injuries isn’t a bad idea, especially one that has shown he’s not going to give up on a play no matter where he is on the field. Just looking at his size and play on the field he reminds me of D’Qwell Jackson, who played with the Browns and Colts. He’s an athletic and high-IQ player on the field as well.

Draft Pick Assessment: Reach

If I’m looking for a project player, I may have gone with another player at a premier position like cornerback, quarterback, or edge rusher. Linebackers can be found in any round and in free agency that can contribute on special teams, but finding a player at a premier position with traits should have been the move here.