You can lose a draft before you make a pick. The Cowboys did it at the trade table, overpaying to chase players the board did not price nearly as high. A weekend that fought the value and lost, hence the D.
Everything downstream of Shedeur Sanders depends on Shedeur Sanders, and the building knows it. Neal has a lot of ground to make up just to look fairly priced. With cornerback, linebacker and other spots unsolved, spending premium capital on safety is the choice that costs them.
They will regret leaving cornerback for another day if the season turns on it. Landing Nwankpa that late papers over a lot of smaller sins.
The verdict is not kind, and fairly so; this class has a hill to climb.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.7
· Pick 7
· Shedeur Sanders
· QB
· rank 14
They paid sticker price for Shedeur Sanders in the 7th pick, and that is fine. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
R1.24
· Pick 24
· Ollie Gordon II
· RB
· rank 26
In slot 24 they get a lead back with juice. A real need, handled.
R1.26
· Pick 26
· Princely Umanmielen
· DE-EDGE
· rank 23
In No. 26 they get a disruptor off the edge at fair value. More want than need.
R2.7
· Pick 39
· Tez Johnson
· WR
· rank 60
This one needs a full-page explanation: Tez Johnson in pick 39, miles early. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
R2.9
· Pick 41
· Tate Ratledge
· OG
· rank 57
Tate Ratledge in the Round 2 slot is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
R2.24
· Pick 56
· Xavier Nwankpa
· S
· rank 39
Xavier Nwankpa slid further than he should have, and Round 2, Pick 24 is lovely value for the safety. A minor need, but a need all the same.
R2.26
· Pick 58
· Tre Harris
· WR
· rank 69
A conviction pick on Tre Harris at the 58th overall pick that the board grades a round light. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
R3.7
· Pick 71
· Devin Neal
· RB
· rank 97
They reached into another round for Devin Neal, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
R3.24
· Pick 88
· Nazir Stackhouse
· DT
· rank 94
Nazir Stackhouse in pick 88 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
R3.26
· Pick 90
· J.C. Davis
· OT
· rank 109
They reached a country mile for J.C. Davis at Round 3, Pick 26, and the board is aghast. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
R4.26
· Pick 122
· Nick Emmanwori
· S
· rank 123
They zigged when the board said zag, taking Nick Emmanwori at safety with cornerback, linebacker and other spots open.
