Team-by-Team Draft Recap: Dallas Cowboys

Jeff Haverlack

street

This article is part of our ongoing series where we provide team-by-team analysis and veteran divisional winners and losers from the NFL Draft. You can read the entire series here.

Relatively well stocked on the offensive side of the ball, there was little mystery as to what the Cowboys would be doing during the draft.  Finishing 30th against the pass and 27th against the rush, they have to get better defensively if they expect to compete in an improving NFC East. And with only a single selection spent on offense, defensive help is just what they got.

The Cowboys’ offense is little changed from recent years.  Gone now is Miles Austin (CLE), replaced by second year player Terrance Williams who, as a rookie, managed 44 receptions for 736 yards and five touchdowns. Williams, who has good size (6’2″/200 lbs.) has already been anointed as the WR2, at least to start the season.  With Jason Witten and Dez Bryant attracting most all of the defensive attention, Williams should find plenty of space to post an increase in last year’s production.  He has battled consistency with his hands, but more snaps should provide him more of an opportunity to stay in games and get into a rhythm.

[am4show  have=’p2;p3;p4;p5;p6;’  guest_error=’sub_message’  user_error=’sub_message’ ]

In the backfield, DeMarco Murray again can’t finish a season without spending time on the trainer’s table, although he did play in a career high 14 games in 2013.  To his credit, he also finished with 217 totes, 1,121 yards and nine touchdowns.  Until Murray can prove himself through a full season without falling to injury, he’s no better than a RB2.  Behind him exists a hot mess of a depth chart with multiple players vying for touches. Murray is the back to own here.  Take your pick for the RB2.

At tight end, Jason Witten still looks the part and is a top eight option, but is now 32 years of age.  Behind him, the Cowboys are excited about the athletic Gavin Escobar, who is entering his second year.  Escobar should be owned in all leagues.

At quarterback, the battle rages on regarding Tony Romo and his ability to win the big game.  Regardless of which side of the argument you are on, Romo remains a notable fantasy performer and can be had much later than the ‘bigger’ names.  In 2013, he amassed totals of 3,828 and 31 touchdowns to only ten interceptions.  He may not be a performer in the post season, but as fantasy championships are decided during the season, don’t let this dissuade you from the selection when a quarterback is needed.

Let’s highlight the single offensive player selected by the Cowboys during the NFL Draft.

Devin Street, WR (Round 5, #146)

It’s not an exciting selection, nor is it a selection that projects to any level of fantasy impact in the near future, but Street is a player to watch nonetheless.

Street stands nearly 6’3″, but at a thin 189 lbs.  He possesses good-enough speed and has reliable hands.  He’s not elite or even superb in any one area of his game but has a tangible display of skill in multiple areas, enough so to provide upside at the position.  Working best in Street’s favor is the uncertainty of the depth chart above him; the Cowboys are flush with names that will likely exist only as camp bodies.  With a good camp, it’s not out of the realm of possibility Street could ascend to the WR4.

Being realistic however, Street has a long row to hoe here.  As a fifth round selection, the learning curve will be steep and he simply doesn’t possess elite qualities that suggest a rise to the top.  It will need to be done with hard work, study and sheer determination.  He’s a very late round rookie selection at best.

Summary

The Cowboys should remain a noteworthy team in fantasy again in 2014 on the arm of Tony Romo, the legs of DeMarco Murray and the capable hands of Dez Bryant, Jason Witten and Terrance Williams.  They may not have had an offensively laden draft, but there’s no shortage of offensive talent on the roster.  Devin Street will not likely grace many fantasy rosters in all but the deepest of leagues, but a weak depth chart at the position means that he’s a player to keep on your radar.  Stay tuned to DLF for our training camp coverage toward determining when, or if, Street should be added before the season begins.

Follow me on Twitter:  @DLF_Jeff

[/am4show]

jeff haverlack