It’s not such big news these days. In the past a player or two might hold out into camp. Not in the new CBA era, which is refreshing. Guys who haven’t proven anything in the league shouldn’t be battling over money. One of the major positives of the new system is the ability to get young draftees signed up quickly. Now it’s up to the 2013 class to help push this team onto another level.
One of the more interesting things to emerge this week is an apparent leak of the Cowboys 2013 draft board. If you allow camera’s into a draft room, there’s always a chance you’ll see the board. And that’s what’s happened here.
Personally, I don’t see what the fuss is. Who cares if we know the Cowboys had a fourth round grade on E.J. Manuel? Will the world stop turning if it proves to be a mistake? Will it make any difference what so ever to Manuel’s chances of succeeding in Buffalo? Of course not.
I’m not sure why there’s a wall of secrecy post-draft. Teams might argue they don’t want to get shown up. Well, that can happen anyway. The only way to avoid embarrassment completely is to not take part in the draft at all. Sit it out. The fact is you’re just as likely to be praised or criticised for the decisions you make publicly (who you draft, who you pass on). So what’s the big deal?
It irked me a little bit that nobody asked Pete Carroll or John Schneider about San Francisco trading right in front of them to draft Vance McDonald. I guess those in a position to ask assumed they would get short shrift. But it’s a legitimate line of questioning and I want to know whether the Seahawks were considering taking McDonald before that trade. Were they usurped by a divisional rival? I also wanted to know if Seattle was thinking running back in 2010 before both Houston and Cleveland moved above them to grab Ben Tate and Montario Hardesty respectively. These are not unfair questions.
Essentially, the Seahawks didn’t do anything wrong in sitting tight. It’s not like they can be criticised. They have no control over who moves above them. Yet we’re none the wiser on what exactly happened there. Perhaps a member of the San Francisco media could’ve asked why the 49ers felt obliged to move above Seattle? Perhaps someone did ask and I just missed it? However, I think teams could be more open post-draft. Let’s learn more about the process. Why not?
The Cowboys board leaking is interesting because we see they only had 134 players listed. It’s always fun to hear people refer to ‘their” top-300 boards (you know who you are). Teams narrow these things down to the Nth degree. There’s no need to look at every player and create an all-inclusive ranking system. It’s an inaccurate science. One player who fits for team A won’t be a match for team B. It’s way better to pick out certain players who fit scheme and physical characteristics. I think Seahawks fans have a decent grasp on what to look out for after four drafts with this front office.
Jordan Hill is the only player Seattle drafted that is listed on Dallas’ board and he was given a third round grade. There’s some reassurance if you needed it. You shouldn’t need it, because this team drafted Russell Wilson. Amongst others.
Just to go back to Manuel and Dallas’ fourth round grade, it shows how weird the quarterback rankings where this year. Buffalo seemingly was always taking a quarterback. They could’ve easily put Manuel, Matt Barkley, Ryan Nassib or Geno Smith at the top of their board. And whoever they passed on was going to sink like a stone. First round or fourth. What a difference. I’d guess a fair amount of teams had Manuel ranked in the fourth. Yet he goes 16th overall.
Dallas had Barkley, Nassib and Smith graded in round two. I’m amazed nobody took Barkley on day two, even just for value. A lack of quarterback need this year hurt him big time. Philly got a steal. Don’t be surprised if he ends up starting for the Eagles, maybe even in 2013. Likewise for Nassib, there was a surprising unwillingness from teams to pull the trigger — especially from those sporting ageing or mediocre starters.
The Cowboys gave Eric Reid a second round grade — the Niners traded up to get him in the late teens. They also had #11 overall pick D.J. Fluker in round two and Atlanta’s #1 pick Desmond Trufant in round three (along with Tank Carradine, Kyle Long and Datone Jones). Christine Michael was not on the board. Neither were any of Seattle’s other picks apart from Hill.
