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Draft Day Chatter
(On Draft Weekend ask the resident experts about the Dallas Cowboys 2008 Draft! Mickey Spagnola, Nick Eatman and Rob Phillips will answer your questions and give their insights on this year's prospects and the Cowboys needs.)
Submit Your Question Here!
Bob Walsh - Stewartsville, NJ: Do you think about the Cowboys picking up Tom Zbikowski if he falls to the 3rd or 4th round?
Eatman: I wouldn't draft a safety if you're not getting Kenny Phillips, who went to the Giants. Whoever you take, probably won't be any better than Pat Watkins or even Courtney Brown, and they are both just backups. I would probably just stand pat at safety if you're not getting a guy who can start.
Randy Malispina - Monterey, CA: What are the chances of the Cowboys trading the 22nd pick to the Lions for Williams?
Mickey: Not good...boy I'm brilliant!
Brian Campain - Los Angeles, CA: Who do you foresee in the 2nd and 3rd round for a WR? Sweed is still available...how do you see him fitting in along with T.O.?
Mickey: The Cowboys don't necessarily have to take a WR in the second round. And if they do, they had better find one capable of stretching the field - I say, follow your draft board not necessarily your need.
Mauricio Jimenez - Austin, TX: With Sweed, Kelly, and Jackson falling in the draft. Will the Boys take one of these guys if available with the 61st pick?
Phillips: Mauricio, wide receiver is a definite possibility considering they've already addressed their other two top needs, running back and cornerback. Sweed's size makes him an intriguing prospect for me.
Brian Thomas - Tarrytown, NY: Is there any chance the COWBOYS draft Kenny Phillips S out of Miami? and do you think that would be a good pick for the future?
Phillips: Brian, safety hasn't been considered one of the Cowboys' top three needs (RB, CB, WR) but it certainly could be one down the road because Ken Hamlin currently has a one-year franchise tag and Roy Williams has struggled. And again, the price tags for free-agent safeties are getting outrageous. If the Cowboys like Phillips, they could certainly justify the pick.
Victor Gardner - Wahiawa, HI: McKelvin is gone, but DRC and Jenkins have slid to the middle of the first, Should the Cowboys jump up in the next few picks to take either?
Eatman: I don't think so. You've got enough guys that you like right now, unless they're just in love with one specific guy, I would stand pat, knowing there is Rodgers-Cromartie, Jenkins and Talib, plus the two backs - Mendenhall and Felix Jones. If I'm Jerry Jones, I'm standing pat right now.
Chip Merrick - Houston, TX: Now that we have traded off Anthony Fasano, what is the cowboys need at tight end? Witten is obviously the starter but will we be looking for a blocking tight end or maybe a solid veteran as a backup? Does this also mean that we will be playing even less two TE sets?
Mickey: I'm told in the mid late rounds they will look for a TE, but that they are are very high on Tony Curtis and why they were willing to give up on Fasano.
Anthony Garcia - Espanola, NM: By Baltimore dropping to 26 do you think now pick 22 is for sale to a team wanting a qb that has to jump in front of Baltimore?
Phillips: Anthony, that's definitely a possibility, and the Cowboys own the No. 22 pick based on that same scenario last year. Remember Brady Quinn?
Tim Killeen - Hazlet, NJ: Would the Cowboys consider trading for Jeremy Shockey?
Mickey: NO.
Joe Brasmer - Sulligent, AL: Ok, now with McFadden off the clock, will Jones still trade up to get someone or trade down to pick up some second rounders?
Eatman: He's not going to trade up probably, unless it's for a few spots from the 22nd position. Trading down is still a possibility, but maybe more likely at No. 28.
Scott Fleming - Meridian, ID: Picking up the #100 pick from Miami, it looks to me like Jerry just might be preparing to make a move up after all. What do you think? And if so, how far and who?
Phillips: Scott, that's a scenario Jerry Jones admitted he couldn't "totally dismiss" earlier in the week, but he's always been hesitant regarding those top-10 draft contracts. It's such a drain on the salary cap. The Dolphins' fourth-rounder does give them some flexibility, particularly because it's the top pick in the round; almost like having a high third. Definitely could be used in a package to trade up, but I just don't see a huge leap into the top 10. Then again, if McFadden starts to slide....
Mike Saunders - Midlothian, VA: Do you think that the Cowboys should be moving up for more impact players considering that the top 35-40 spots on the roster are filled with solid if not spectacular players?
Mickey: Only if there is a reasonable opportunity. I wouldn't overpay just because you think your roster is solid. You can't sell out. This draft is not about just 2008. You got to look down the road.
Dan Palmer - Bath, England: Do you think the trade for Miami's 4th round pick means there is now less pressure to trade down with the 28th to pick up extra 2nd and 3rds? - Or is the value in this draft so heavily focused in the 2nd and 3rd rounds that if they get the right offer they'll still go for it?
Eatman: Not exactly. I just think the fourth-round pick is more an exchange for the one they lost in the Pacman trade. Really, this comes down to a three-way trade and the Cowboys get Pacman, a higher fourth-round pick and lose Akin Ayodele and Anthony Fasano.
Derek Hayes - Oneonta, NY: Will the cowboys be reaching if they take a cornerback with one of their 1st round picks i.e. Cason from Arizona and if they don't address this need if the 1st round will there be anything left by the end of round 2?
Eatman: A guy like Cason might be a reach at No. 28. Before they reach for a cornerback in the late second round, the Cowboys will at least try to move down a few spots and try to pick up another draft pick somewhere. The good thing about Pacman Jones is that take some of the pressure off of getting a cornerback. You still need to get one, but it doesn't HAVE to be a first-round pick now. Not sure what will be left over in the second round, but this is a deep draft for corners.
Marty Dicken - Bells, TX: I know Akin Ayodele was probably holding up the progress of our young linebackers, but in order for Jerry to trade him, we must have saved some cap space. How much will we save from the trade?
Phillips: Marty, by our calculations, Ayodele's cap charge for 2008 would have been $3.5 million with a $3 million escalation. Fasano's was roughly $800,000 with a $720,000 escalation. So looks like the Cowboys will save roughly $580,000 on the cap by making this deal.
Mike Gray - Apopka, FL: Seems like the Cowboys have ammo to go and do anything they want with 5 picks in the top 100. DO you think they will package any of those picks to get a top WR from another team?
Eatman: I wouldn't say anything they want. There are several teams with that many picks, if not more, among the top 100. I think if those three teams - Cincinnati, Arizona and Detroit - are willing to part with those veteran receivers, then the Cowboys will be interested, just like the Eagles and Redskins will be as well. But from the sound of things, those veteran receivers are staying put. Maybe something will change when the Cowboys get on the clock.
Darrell Devaux - Chester, WV: You think Dallas should draft a CB or Safety with the 2nd pick if they draft a RB with first and who you think the best pick is for them to get with pick #28?
Phillips: Darrell, I think you take a corner over a safety based on need. I agree with the thinking that free-agent safeties are becoming so expensive these days (see Gibril Wilson), but the Cowboys need to cover themselves at corner even assuming the Pacman Jones trade becomes official. Going with your strategy (stay put and take a RB first), there's a chance South Florida's Mike Jenkins or Virginia Tech's Brandon Flowers will be there at 28.
Jimmie Allison - Bueno Park, CA: What are the chances that the Cowboys could pick up another Emmitt Smith accidentally in the draft?
Mickey: You mean find another NFL all-time leading rusher and future Hall of Fame running back? That's a tall order, wouldn't you say? I think they could draft a running back, certainly, but not sure we should start hoping he performs to that level. Sounds like everyone is falling out of love with Marion Barber. Thought he was the guy in most people's minds, and now I'm hearing they need another Emmitt Smith.
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