Michael Irvin excited that Cowboys drafted for ‘more attitude than talent’

There have certainly been mixed reviews about the Dallas Cowboys‘ 2022 offseason. Some question the team’s draft choices and believe they lost too much talent and didn’t add enough to replace it. Others feel the team got rid of who they needed to and are in a good position to do well this year.

Right now, it’s all a guess whether the Cowboys can beat their 12-5 record and make it farther into the playoffs in 2022. One person who seems to have a lot more faith than others is Cowboys legend Michael Irvin.

On a recent episode of NFL Total Access, the Hall of Famer said he feels great about what the Cowboys front office did this offseason. Why? Because the Joneses finally listened to his request to draft based on attitude rather than talent.

On the surface, that seems like an odd request, right? Draft guys who have a good attitude rather than the top talent? Irvin went on to explain his thoughts.

Michael Irvin is excited that the Cowboys drafted more for attitude rather than talent in 2022

Irvin is telling the truth that this is something he’s been preaching for a while. Back in April, he said that willpower is more important than skill. The Cowboys were losing games because they lacked the will to win. He felt that was more important than any talent. Now, he’s glad the front office is finally listening.

"“I believe Stephen and those guys finally kind of listened to the things I’ve been saying over the years. Maybe by force and not by choice because they had the draft picks as low as they had.But let me tell you something. I think they went for more of an attitude than just talent. I’ve shared with Stephen Jones a lot over the years. ‘Listen. Don’t just go after the most talented guys. Go after the right kind of guys.’ The guys that hate losing. The guys with that mentality that no matter what I’m going to leave it on the field.Even if they are a little less talented, that’s what they got in Tyler Smith and those kinds of guys. The Jalen Tolbert’s. Now, it’s just a matter of seeing it all come together. I cannot wait to see it. But I believe, you get that Tyler Smith, you put him on that line, the right attitude bringing on that offensive line. I saw what Erik Williams did for the Dallas Cowboys. You added one dude with an attitude not just a talent… that’s what I’m thinking. That’s what I’m hoping. And that’s what I’ve seen in Tyler Smith.”"

The three-time Super Bowl champion has a point. Many have said that the culture in the Cowboys organization is part of the reason they can’t seem to have postseason success. Even former Dallas players who have gone to other teams have said that they appreciated being somewhere where football was the priority.

If the team can continue to add more players like Micah Parsons with an unstoppable will to win, that may just be more important than raw talent. Erik Williams, a member of the “Great Wall of Dallas” was a third-round pick. Yet, he was an integral part of the Cowboys dynasty in the 1990s.

From what we have seen in camp so far, Smith, Tolbert, and Williams all have that same drive. The entire 2022 draft class seems eager to win and prove themselves. Only time will tell if that can’t lose attitude is enough to win games.