Dak to Browns, for Myles Garrett?
- Matthew Mcdonnell
- Mar 8, 2017
- 3 min read
The Cowboy faithful was in full force last season as Dallas dominated in the regular season. Most people agreed they were probably the best team in the NFC last season, possibly the NFL. The scary part about their success to the rest of the NFL is that the Cowboys did it with a very young roster, particularly their running back and quarterback combo of Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott. The Cowboys proved how quickly a great draft can change a franchise. This year the Cowboys will have another plan of attack to attempt to finally bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Dallas.
2016 Team Stats and Rankings
Total Offense: 5th (6,027)
Points Scored Per Game: 5th (26.3)
Total Yards Allowed: 14th (5,503)
Points Given up Per Game: 5th (19.1)
Passing Yards Given Up: 26th (4,167)
The Cowboys were able to keep points off the board effectively during the season and did a good job of limiting total yards. This is mainly due to a dominating effort in the run game. However, the passing game left much to be desired. This weakness was put on center stage when the Cowboys inexplicitly let Packers TE Jared Cook slip behind the defense in the waning seconds of the game, setting up a Mason Crosby field goal and ultimately ending what could have been a special season for the Cowboys.
High Needs
Defensive Line: More than just a defensive lineman the Cowboys need a pass rusher. Many of their holes in the secondary were the result of a poor pass rush. It is extremely difficult for defensive backs to cover when the quarterback has all day to throw. Getting pressure on the quarterback is vital, especially in today’s NFL. This has to be addressed in the 2017 draft. Sure-fire first round draft pick, Myles Garrett, has already began campaigning to be in Dallas in his video to Jerry Jones asking him to trade up the number one overall selection to select him. Does this move make sense? Kind of. Is it worth it for Dallas? I have my doubts. Is it a sexy move? Absolutely!
Myles Garrett has been a star on the field football his entire life. He was a highly touted high school player and is now a coveted NFL prospect. He is widely considered the best pass rusher in the draft, which is the Cowboys top need. Jerry Jones loves to make a splash and the Browns have more holes than your dad’s old socks, so it is not beyond the realm of possibility as it would make sense for both parties. However, actually getting the deal done is another story. Sure, the Browns need a quarterback, but the aging Tony Romo is not going to get it done for him. They are thinking long term, not short term, as they are nowhere near ready to compete. That means Dallas would have to mortgage their entire future, and I’m not sure that would even be enough.
Picking 28th in the draft and trying to move up to number one is going to take a considerable amount of picks. It would likely cost Dallas their entire draft this year and the front half of their draft next year….possibly even more. That seems unlikely to happen for both sides.
That being said, there is another crazy way this could happen. Buckle up.
There were be plenty of nay-sayers
out there for this one. But if Dallas wants Garrett and really feels he is going to be a J.J. Watt type of player, they would likely have to trade Dak Prescott to the Browns.
Now, as crazy as that sounds, remember a few things.
1) Dallas spent a 4th round pick on Prescott last year.
2) Prescott was a rookie last season.
3) Rookie quarterbacks can be great one year and fade out. (Vince Young, Mark Sanchez) If the Cowboys floated Prescott, the Browns would have to listen. It is entirely possible that the Browns would move their 1st and 12th overall selections for Prescott, or possibly Prescott and a round 2 or the 28th overall pick.
Either way, that would give Dallas the overhaul they need on defense and they would turn their 4th round selection from a year ago to the first overall pick and then some. That, in the business world is called a great return on investment.
Is that likely? Probably not. Is it possible? Eh…Kinda. Should they do it? Truth be told, I’m not sold on Garrett so for me that is no. What are your thoughts? Is he worth the number one overall selection? If you were the Browns, what would it take for you to give up that spot? If you were the Cowboys, would you meet the asking price?
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