Wednesday, April 29, 1998

Grading the Cowboys Draft '98

By Gary Morris / Folsom, CA

The Cowboys had a "GREAT" draft...BUT...They could have had an "UNBELIEVABLE" draft.

The reason I feel they had a great draft is because I feel they got the equivalent of three (3) number one picks, talent wise!

They could have improved on this draft by addressing this question/situation:

Is there ever a time when a team should deal future draft picks for current needs or talent? Of course the answer is yes! But when and how do you determine what value you should give up in the future for a pick this year? Why do you suppose there was/is so much written about where Randy Moss would be picked?

First, let' s install MY "value" grading system for the last draft...

10 - Can't miss Impact Player, Could possibly become the best to ever play his position.

9.5 - Should be Impact Player, Could become one of the current top 5 at his position.

9 - Should become a Pro Bowler.

8.5 - Should be Immediate Starter. Could become a Pro Bowler.

8 - Should become a Starter with above average skills.

7 - Could become a starter with above average skills.

6 - Could become a starter with average skills.

5 - Will probably only become a backup with a small chance at starting.

4 - Special teams player only, only a 50/50 chance to make the team.

3 - Small Chance to even make the team.

Now I will apply my grading system to grade some of the top picks of the Draft and the Cowboys picks and with the grades I assign you will see why I feel they should have traded for an additional first round pick to insure that they got Moss.

Player ...............................Expected...............................Potential

.....................................Minimum Grade...................Maximum Grade

...............................=============.....................=============

Randy Moss...............................9.5 ...............................9.9

Andre Wadsworth .....................8.9 .............................9.2

Charles Woodson ......................8.9 ..............................9.5

Grant Winstrom.........................7.5 ...............................8.2

Greg Ellis...................................7.0 ...............................8.5

Flozell Adams............................7.0 ...............................8.0

Michael Myers ..........................6.8 ...............................8.0

Darren Hambrick ......................6.5 ...............................7.0

Oliver Ross...............................6.5 ...............................7.0

Izell Reese ...............................5.8 ...............................6.2

Tarik Smith ...............................3.5 ...............................4.5

Antonio Fleming.......................3.5...............................4.5

Rodrick Monroe ...................... 3.0 ...............................4.0

The reason for the importance of selecting Moss is clear from the above grading system. The only time you should give up future number one draft picks is when a player is thought to be one of the top prospects to play at his position and who has a very good chance to become one of the best to ever play at his position. (Or, in other words, a 9.5 or higher using my system).

The way they could have improved on this draft was to take a page out of Bobby Bethard's book on draft methods by trading the next two years number 1's for a number one this year and get everybody they got "PLUS RANDY MOSS". And then with him your two future number one's should be very late round picks anyway. And more important the window of opportunity for Troy and company is getting very small and they deserve having Jerry and Chan trading future picks to win now if they have a chance to get a 9.5 value player!

For more insight on the Draft, read my guest column from April of last year: Draft Need or Best Player?

http://www.texnews.com/cowboys/morr041797.html

Gary W. Morris

Sr. Software Engineer

ASC Inc.