No. 9 Pick in 2011 Reader Mock: Cowboys on the Clock

[Walter]

Voting for the No. 9 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Who will be the pick?

Results and some comments will be posted here.


http://walterfootball.com/draft2011reader.php


1. Panthers - Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
2. Broncos - Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
3. Bills - Cam Newton, QB, Bengals
4. Bengals - A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
5. Cardinals - Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
6. Browns - Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
7. 49ers - Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
8. Titans - Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn


Da'Quan Bowers
Anthony Castonzo
Mark Ingram
Cameron Jordan
Robert Quinn
Tyron Smith
Nate Solder
J.J. Watt

[JoeLegend]

I said OT Tyron Smith. Even though he is raw at OT he has tremendous upside and we know how Jerry Jones is about athletic players with tremendous upside. Draft him make him a RT and keep Free at LT until Smith is ready to play LT.

[whatdoyouwant711]

I really haven't even considered the idea of Dallas making a pick with Amukamara off the board. I've considered "What do they do if not draft Amukamara?" but never this. I think that if the draft were to go down this way, it would come down to Tyron Smith, JJ Watt, and Robert Quinn.

Smith fills Dallas' biggest need at right tackle and has the athleticism Jerry loves. Tony Romo's season ending injury was because of a fullback, but there's no question that the team needs to protect him better, and the rush offense didn't light the world on fire, either. The only issue is, Jerry has never drafted an offensive lineman in the first round. Draft history may not have any bearing, but why would Jones start now when this O-line class sucks?

Watt would immediately replace Igor Olshansky in the starting lineup and ease the likely loss of Marcus Spears to free agency. He also might be the BPA. Problem is, a D-line of Watt, Jay Ratliff, and Stephen Bowen is about as undersized as they come, and none of them really make any sense in the 2-gap scheme Rob Ryan is likely to run.

Quinn is a distinct possibility, as Anthony Spencer was pretty mediocre last year. That being said, Ryan is reportedly ecstatic to work with Spencer, and I'd say there's a fair chance Spencer plays much better in the final season of his contract next year. I also like the odds of Dallas overpaying Spencer next spring and watching his production fall to crap, but that's a complaint for another day.

Ultimately I went with Smith, but this is probably the most likely team to move up or down in the Top 10. If Patrick Peterson falls out of the Top 5, look for Dallas to try to trade up. If a top quarterback prospect, D-line prospect, or Julio Jones falls to them (I.e., someone the Redskins would want), look for Dallas to move down and ****block divisional rival Washington in the process.

[Blazedestin]

I'm going Cameron Jordan. He's a very talented 3-4 end prospect who separates himself from the pack not only by being tough, aggressive, and a talented pass rusher, but also because he's one of the few prospects in this draft with actual 3-4 experience. Additionally, he is so athletically gifted, there has been talk about moving him to 3-4 Outside Linebacker. Right Tackles aren't very hard to find in the NFL; the Cowboys will be able to find a guy like Ben Ijalana or Marcus Cannon in Round 2 who can do the job.

[vikingsteve26]

Voted Tyron Smith. Excellent talent, fills a need, good measurables.

[RazorStar]

I think if the board fell this way the Cowboys would take the best Offensive Tackle on their board. Unfortunately I don't know who the best tackle on their board is, so I just went with mine, and that's Anthony Castonzo. He has great body size, blocking skills, and a lot of potential for the future. Plug him in at Left or wait a year and start him on the Right Side, the Cowboys can't go wrong with this guy.

[aaah]

Come Draft day this will be a trade, and Jake Locker will be taken in this slot. Reports are Dallas is already fielding trade offers.

[stevenlourie]

I don't think this pick will be any of the 3 tackles. Jerry Jones has never used a first rounder on an offensive lineman, plus they seem confident about resigning Doug Free longterm. Free isn't an elite left tackle, but he gets the job done. I doubt they draft a tackle until the 3rd-5th round, where they can tap into a depth of right tackles, which is really what they need. Cornerback would make sense if one were available, but one isn't. Robert Quinn makes some sense, but no need has used a top 10 pick on a rush linebacker since Vernon Gholston and I think there's a reason for that. It's way to risky to use a top 10 pick on a guy and then change his position completely. That leaves Watt and Bowers. Bowers is the better player, but Watt fits the scheme better. People in the know are saying that Watt has a legitimate shot to go top 10 and I think he comes off the board here.

[Tom]

JJ Watt. While I thought Bowers was the higher prospect, people in the know here seem to be saying Watt fits the scheme better. And its not like Watt isn't a good value here. The Cowboys could really use some depth here, and probably won't be the first team to take an OT in a weak class.

I also want some of these DLs off the board. They're all going to keep falling because all of us will split those votes, and the one viable non-DL will win. When Peterson went to the Browns, I pictured Holmgren in his office: "Awesome, 3 great defensive lineman are still there! Perfect for my new 4-3! Now, Bowers or Fairley... Bowers? No, Fairley! Wait, maybe Quinn? ARGH! I can't decide! Screw it, I'm taking Peterson, its too hard to choose!"

[vikingsteve26]

I don't think this pick will be any of the 3 tackles. Jerry Jones has never used a first rounder on an offensive lineman, plus they seem confident about resigning Doug Free longterm. Free isn't an elite left tackle, but he gets the job done. I doubt they draft a tackle until the 3rd-5th round, where they can tap into a depth of right tackles, which is really what they need. Cornerback would make sense if one were available, but one isn't. Robert Quinn makes some sense, but no need has used a top 10 pick on a rush linebacker since Vernon Gholston and I think there's a reason for that. It's way to risky to use a top 10 pick on a guy and then change his position completely. That leaves Watt and Bowers. Bowers is the better player, but Watt fits the scheme better. People in the know are saying that Watt has a legitimate shot to go top 10 and I think he comes off the board here.

Tyron Smith would be playing right tackle. You could say don't draft a right tackle at 9... but if he's elite talent, why not?

[stevenlourie]

Tyron Smith would be playing right tackle. You could say don't draft a right tackle at 9... but if he's elite talent, why not?

this is basically the point I was making. no need to take a right tackle at 9. there's a good depth of right tackles in the mid rounds.

[stevenlourie]

Come Draft day this will be a trade, and Jake Locker will be taken in this slot. Reports are Dallas is already fielding trade offers.

why would a team trade all the way up to 9 for locker. if teams trade into the first for locker, it'll be in the 20s. if this pick is traded, it most likely would be to st. louis, who wants to leapfrog washington for julio jones. dallas can move down to 14 and still get a good 3-4 end with cameron jordan and/or jj watt still available at 14.

[mycarman]

Jerry Jones obviously is going Ryan Mallett. He's one of those 'elite' players that Jerry loves from Arkansas

[viking1014]

Went with Mark Ingram... no idea who they would pick if the board fell this way, most likely a trade. But the chance to draft the second coming of the debacler might get old Jerry all nostalgic

[mdb17]

I voted Watt. He fills a need for the Cowboys providing they keep Ratliff at NT. I don't like the idea of them taking Tyron Smith this early to play RT. First, he will not be top of the BB in terms of talent and secondly, RT is not a highly valued position. However, I think it is likely that the Cowboys trade this pick if Amukamara is off the board.

[SteVo]

I think the Cowboys will ultimately be trading down a few spots and selecting Tyron Smith, so I voted for him. Dallas could get another five-technique like Cameron Jordan or J.J. Watt, but my feeling is that they'll address the offensive line and replace the aging and declining Marc Colombo at right tackle.

[vikingfan173]

I dont see a good scenario here for the cowboys. They basically have the choice of drafting a 3-4 DE(watt), a 3-4 OLB(Quinn) or a RT(Tyron Smith). The RT is a huge reach because of positional value, which is a lot of bull, it should be best player no matter the position(with the exception of ST players). It's hard enough to hit players w/o getting rid of options based on their positional value. Having said that Tyron Smith is the best player available and its possible that Doug Free, Dallas LT, might leave furthur opening another hole among the OL and Tony Romo needs all the help he can get.

[Classic Silver and Black]

This discussion is pure academy. If the actual draft really falls this way, Dallas will either trade up for one of the elite CBs or down to stockpile picks to spend in D backs, O backs and O linemen.
Nr 9 is a position in which trades already happen, even without a rookie cap, but in the remote case that Jerry Jones is unable to trade out of this spot, the only position he would consider here is DE.
Of all the DEs available, the one that better fits their new Rob Ryan lead 3-4 is Cameron Jordan, so I went for him. But again I sincerely doubt this pick will ever happen.

[Manu Ginobli's Bald Spot]

Of the players left, Cameron Jordan. He's a highly disruptive 5-technique that would make Dallas's front seven one of the deadliest in the league. Even just looking at the D-line, Jordan makes it one of the best in the league. The only concern is Jordan's possible "dirty" stigmatism, but I doubt Jerry jones or Jason Garrett cares if Jordan plays at a high level.

[Eagles247]

I picked Da'Quan Bowers for the Cowboys at No. 9 primarily because I think Bowers will bust at the next level and I don't want the Cowboys to get better. =P

[SkolShane]

I voted Mark Ingram, simply for the fact that Jerry Jones takes players on entertainment value and marketablity... Any other owner would take JJ Watt but Jones wants to make a splash by taking a offensive star, just like Dez Bryant or Felix Jones, trading for Roy Williams, etc.

[trisoman]

Based purely on draft history I believe they're gonna go Defensive Lineman on this one. I voted Watt because erm I'm hoping my Texans get Cameron Jordan :s

[KyleCleric]

Tyron Smith: Jones indicated that he liked him.

[McNulty]

The Cowboys typically go for big, beefy O-Lineman, but Jerry Jones likes Smith and perhaps the USC Tackle's leaner, more athletic build will mean he won't Tyron passing plays late in the game

[pheltzbahr]

The Cowboys typically go for big, beefy O-Lineman, but Jerry Jones likes Smith and perhaps the USC Tackle's leaner, more athletic build will mean he won't Tyron passing plays late in the game

Yech.

[McNulty]

Yech.

Don't judge me.

[Ckane138]

The Cowboys typically go for big, beefy O-Lineman, but Jerry Jones likes Smith and perhaps the USC Tackle's leaner, more athletic build will mean he won't Tyron passing plays late in the game

I find it Tyron-ic that's the best you can come up with.

[McNulty]

I find it Tyron-ic that's the best you can come up with.

Sheesh, sorry. Guess I'm just not the wordSmith you guys are.

[Centurion]

With Prince gone, the Cowboys take J.J. Watt.

[whatdoyouwant711]

So I just saw that you guys gave Dallas Taylor Mays (backup on 6-10 team with a **** secondary) over Devin McCourty and Maurkice Pouncey (2010-11 Pro Bowlers at positions Dallas desperately needs)...

Yeah, screw you guys.

[Daniel Brown]

WDYW loves Smith so I'll go with him.