Who Should the Dallas Cowboys Draft in 2019?

The window is closing with the upcoming expiring contracts of Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, and Byron Jones, all of whom will be paid top five money at their respective positions. If the Cowboys have leaned anything from the Demarcus Lawrence contract negotiations, it should be that the earlier you sign them, the more affordable and better. It’s Super Bowl or bust, as they may not have the same group come 2020. So today I’m going to break down the Dallas Cowboys biggest concerns that must be addressed in this weeks draft in order to reach the Super Bowl.

Starting off, the Cowboys have a desperate need at backup running back and have been linked to the name Damien Harris out of Alabama. The Cowboys brought him in as one of their thirty pre draft visits, and have been mocked to select him in the second round. After recently exercising star running back Ezekiel Elliott’s fifth year option, they will be looking for a guy with a similar skillset to help keep Elliott fresh come playoff time. Think about the situation the Saints had with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. However, I prefer they take Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill or Stanford running back Bryce Love in rounds three or four.

The next position with a need would be at the safety position. Jeff Heath is just a fill in with excellent special teams ability, so they need to find a true starting strong safety to pair with Xavier Woods. The name many fans dreamed of signing was Earl Thomas, but that was always a long shot with the money he wanted. If I’m in the draft room for the Cowboys I’d keep my out for safety Taylor Rapp out of Washington. If he is available, I’m picking him immediately and having no regrets. Sure he had a slower 40 time than you would hope, but you have to remember he is still recovering from a late season groin injury. Pair him along with Woods, and the Cowboys would be getting a first round talent in the late second.

This just might be the deepest draft for interior lineman in recent memory. With a slew of talent across the board, the Cowboys should be able to grab a guy in the late third or fourth round to rotate in with Maliek Collins and Antwaun Woods. Defensive end could also be an option in the second or third round, depending on whether or not Jaylon Ferguson falls into the late second. The Cowboys are always looking for more edge rushers, and with Taco Charlton involved in trade rumors, the NCAA all time leader in sacks would be a spectacular grab.

As for the later rounds, I could see the Cowboys adding more receiving options for Dak Prescott. Riley Ridley and Andy Isabella should both be available come the third round and possibly the fourth. Both are excellent route runners with decent speed to rotate in with slot receiver Randall Cobb, who they’ll likely just have for one year. If they plan on getting one of these two in the fourth, they will need to trade up.

It’s a new era for the Cowboys, I can’t remember the last time linebacker was not a desperate need. Yet, here they stand with arguably the most solid group in the NFL with Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith, and Sean Lee. I expect Dallas to take two defensive players within the first four rounds and see if they can grab a corner in the sixth or seventh. Mostly, expect Jerry and Stephen Jones to load up on offensive skill talent in this draft.

How the 2019 Texas Rangers Have Defied the Odds

It was not that long ago when I believed the Texas Rangers would once again, be the laughing stock of the MLB. Yet, here they stand in third place in the AL West with a 10-8 record. Yes, Elvis Andrus has had a spectacular season so far and Mike Minor has kept the pitching from looking completely awful. The real difference though just might be the new Rangers skipper, Chris Woodward.

There’s so much to be excited about with this young Rangers team. After a horrific opening game, Chris Woodward has lead his team to become one of the hottest in the MLB. An enjoyable feeling for Rangers fans after a rough couple of years with Jeff Bannister unable to meet expectations.

Woodward, the former LA Dodgers coach, arrived in Arlington with a couple of World Series appearances and no manager experience. Plenty of rumors surrounded the Rangers with one of them being that they were tanking in hopes of saving saving some money and grabbing a couple of big name free agents.

However, Woodward wasn’t going to let that happen on his watch. Taking over for an awful Rangers team that finished dead last in the division, and one that lost a Golden Glove Third Basemen, they’re proving the doubters wrong. The 42 year-old manager from California may now be one of the best offensive gurus in the MLB. Sound familiar anyone?

The answer to that is the young NFL head coach out in Los Angeles, Sean McVay. The young McVay took over an average Rams team that was not known for offense into one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. It seems as if Woodward has so far lived up to that exact comparison to this point for the Rangers.

John Daniels missed out after the key free agents have been locked in after the extensions of Nolan Arenado and Mike Trout, but with the amount of rising young talent they have, it shouldn’t affect them too much. Now less than a year away from playing next door in a brand new indoor stadium, the Rangers have given fans hope that they will once again return to the World Series.

As long as Andrus keeps his hitting streak and excellent defensive play alive, the return of Ronald Guzman, and not trading Mike Minor, the Rangers will have a very bright future ahead. And who knows… maybe they will be the most relevant team in Texas.

The Sophomore Slump That Looms for Patrick Mahomes

Current NFL MVP, Patrick Mahomes, had one of the most historical debut seasons in the history of the NFL. After his short time on the bench studying Alex Smith and the Chiefs offense in 2017, Mahomes stepped up big in 2018 throwing for 5,097 yards and tossed 50 touchdowns. That was good enough to carry the Chiefs to the AFC championship and narrowly losing to the New England Patriots in overtime.

However, one giant shadow looms over the Chiefs and Mahomes… the sophomore slump. Its most recent victim, Dak Prescott. The aforementioned Prescott had one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history after leading the Dallas Cowboys to a 13-3 record and threw just 4 interceptions in the 2016 season. That next year Prescott’s production dipped from 3,667 passing yards to 3,324 yards, and threw 13 interceptions.

Many blame Prescott’s slump on the loss of Ezekiel Elliott for six games in 2017, which is what makes the Mahomes situation so intriguing. The Chiefs started out 2018 with the former 2017 rushing champion, Kareem Hunt, who then got cut in November by the Chiefs due to off the field incidents. That was no problem for Mr. Mahomes as he continued his dominance with Damien Williams carrying the rock.

Fast forward to the 2019 offseason, and his deep threat wide receiver, Tyreek Hill, has been accused of child abuse. Which isn’t the first time Hill has gotten himself into a bad situation. When he was at Oklahoma State he was charged with domestic violence and fell significantly in the draft until the Chiefs selected him in the fifth round in 2016. Hill now is being investigated by both the police and NFL, and if he is charged and suspended, the future of Kansas City could begin to fade.

It’s up to Patrick Mahomes to once again post elite quarterback numbers in order to get the Chiefs where they were in 2018. Losing Hill would mean more double teams on Travis Kelce, and more attention to the run game. If he lets the double teams and the film all teams have on him get into his head, a Prescott-esque season awaits.

However, Patrick Mahomes could be the next Brady or Rodgers, where it doesn’t matter who is on the field, he will find a way to win. The future of Kansas City is in his and Andy Reid’s hands.

What’s in Store for DeMarcus Lawrence and the Cowboys?

After posting a double digit sack total in back to back seasons, the Cowboys still can’t strike a deal with DeMarcus Lawrence. Recent reports suggest that DeMarcus Lawrence wants the Von Miller deal, but adjusting for inflation, that’s good for a 22% increase, according to an article by K.D. Drummond of the Cowboys Wire.

Sure, the man is going to get paid one way or the other, but the best choice for both sides is to stick together. It wasn’t too long ago that the Cowboys let go of DeMarcus Ware because they were worried about his age slowing him down, and they reaped the consequences up until 2017.

Tank looked like an oft-injured player who couldn’t stay on the field, which is what the hiccup has been in contract negotiations. The 2015 season is one that many Cowboys fans wish to forget, but that’s when everyone got their first glimpse at how special Lawrence is rushing the passer after accruing 8 sacks. However, that next season he was put on injured reserve due to a back injury.

Long story short, Dallas has placed the franchise tag on Lawrence for the second time, and Tank (Lawrence) is showing no signs of showing up to The Star. That is, unless he is getting more than $55 million guaranteed and a multi-year deal. To put the cherry on top, he is holding off surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder.

Unfortunately for Lawrence, the Cowboys just traded for Robert Quinn and had to pay pennies for him. Quinn hasn’t been quite the same player since his 10.5 sack season in 2014 with the Rams, but he still remains an upper tier pass rusher. By the Cowboys making this move, it gives them the upper hand in the contract negotiations with Tank Lawrence.

The chances of the Cowboys rescinding the franchise tag on Tank seems to grow larger by the minute. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t stay with the team. The best option at the moment money wise is to let him test the market, and leave their final offer on the table for him to take. Teams will be hesitant to pay him an elite quarterback contract as a defensive end paired with him yet to have surgery to repair his torn labrum.

It’s just best that both sides come to an agreement as soon as possible. The Cowboys need to make a generous offer to Tank that gives him over $55 million guaranteed for a three or four year contract, and let him make his choice.

If he doesn’t want the offer, let him test the market where he will likely come right back into the Cowboys’ arms.

Best Landing Spots for Top 2019 NFL Free Agents

In just a few days, the NFL will be sent into even more of a frenzy when free agency begins. We have already seen the Pittsburgh Steelers trade Antonio Brown, and the Jacksonville Jaguars clear house for (Nick Foles).

In the list below I will be picking five of the top free agents and where they will fit best. Stay with me here, it may get a little crazy.

Earl Thomas, Safety

Best Fit: Dallas Cowboys

This is a dream scenario for both sides. It’a been just over a year since Earl Thomas ran into the Cowboys locker room telling Jason Garrett to come get him. Pair the best free safety in the NFL with his former defensive coordinator, Kris Richard, and that’s a championship piece to an exciting Cowboys team. The only question is, where are they going to get the money?

Trey Flowers, DE

Best Fit: Detroit Lions

With the Patriots acquiring Michael Bennett, it almost certainly means his time in Foxborough is over. Look for Flowers to join his former Defensive Coordinator, Matt Patricia in Detroit. At just 25 years old, Flowers is the force Detroit has been looking for on the edge.

Le’Veon Bell, RB

Best Fit: New York Jets

This also could be the Baltimore Ravens, but they don’t pay running backs. The Jets make sense here because they have the cap space needed to pay Le’Veon Bell the massive contract similar to Todd Gurley’s $60 million. Also, this will give their young QB a patient runner who also would be their best pass catcher.

Adrian Amos, Safety

Best Fit: Houston Texans

With the likely departure of Tyrann Mathieu, Amos would step into his place and pair alongside Justin Reid. Amos has been a more consistent and ballhawking safety throughout his career than the Honey Badger has been.

Golden Tate, WR

Best Fit: Carolina Panthers

Although D.J. Moore had a great rookie season, he could use a number one wide receiver to give him more one on one looks. Pair Golden Tate’s route running ability with D.J. Moore, and Christian McCaffrey, would give the rest of the NFC South a massive headache for years to come.

The safety pool will be one to watch with a slew of elite players being available at the position. It’s going to get interesting.

Who knows if these are even close to being right, but that’s what makes free agency so much fun.

The Running Back Dallas Never Knew They Needed

This may sound crazy, but it’s time to draft a change of pace back to spell star running back Ezekiel Elliott. It’s only a matter of time before his durability begins to wear down due to the workload being handed to him, just ask DeMarco Murray.

The NFL’s two-time leading rusher has capped off yet another stellar season where he accumulated over 2,000 total yards and 9 touchdowns. Clearly recapturing his 2016 form and not missing any games due to injury, has proved that he can handle all the touches. However, knowing what Jason Garrett tends to do with an elite runner, Jerry Jones needs to draft a change of pace guy, and quick.

The name that comes to my mind lit up college football back in 2017 and was a Heisman Trophy candidate. The Cowboys need a guy with reliable hands and can make the same type of impact Alvin Kamara has had with the Saints. Bryce Love is that guy.

That’s right, not only is he lightning fast, he also has reliable hands and is a threat to take it to the house anytime he gets his hands on the ball. The Stanford Cardinal didn’t miss a beat after Love stepped up and replaced Christian McCaffrey in 2017. Love rushed for 2,118 yards that season passing the single season record that was set by his predecessor.

Before you beat me to it, yes Love had an injury plagued 2018, and certainly put a dent in his 2019 draft stock after tearing his ACL in his final game. He just has too much upside to pass up. A perfect example of drafting a player for their upside is Jaylon Smith, and his impact on the Cowboys defense. If I’m in the Cowboys front office, I would be doing my homework on this guy.

He not only is a phenomenal football player, but he’s an even better guy to have around. The Cowboys have thrived with hitting on their mid-round draft picks, and that’s exactly why they need to take Love if he falls to the fourth round. The potential is too good to pass up and it opens things up for Zeke and the rest of the Cowboys offense.

I just have a hunch that whoever ends up with Bryce Love, is getting an excellent value for a franchise type running back. The Dallas Cowboys have been looking for a guy like Kamara for as long as I can remember, and Bryce Love is the perfect fit. There’s nothing better than having two elite running backs on the field at the same time, just ask Sean Peyton.

Who is the Real Cancer in Pittsburgh?

Another offseason equals another drama filled six months for the Pittsburgh Steelers. With a roster filled with talent, what is the reasoning behind the Steelers missing out on the playoffs?

Antonio Brown has been making headlines all season long, and now he wants to be traded away from Pittsburgh. This all started midseason when Brown responded to a tweet that sparked the thought of him being traded. Things just didn’t seem quite right for Brown who had a minor dip in his receiving yardage, yet posted a career high 15 touchdowns.

However his teammate, JuJu Smith-Schuster, had a spectacular season accruing 1,426 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. He can thank his teammate Antonio Brown for garnering double teams all season long. Brown was a team player and did not complain during the season hardly at all, but you know who did? Ben Roethlisberger.

Think about it. The guy criticized several teammates and hardly ever blamed himself for any of the Steelers’ losses. There’s now been two of the three elite Killer B’s that have requested a trade from the team. The one constant through the entire debacle is Big Ben.

Mike Tomlin seems as if he’s lost all control of his team, and it’s only a matter of time before Ben forces him out too. It’s simply time to move on from Ben Roethlisberger for the Steelers.

They have a high quality quarterback waiting for his time to shine in Mason Rudolph. Pittsburgh, if you want your team to progress in a positive manner, it’s time to let go of Roethlisberger.

There’s a solid group of young talent for the Steelers that includes, James Washington, Juju Smith-Schuster, James Connor, Jaylen Samuels, and the aforementioned Mason Rudolph.

If Art Rooney plans on winning another championship and not let his team implode, it’s time to move on from number seven.

Why Kyler Murray Is Worth a First Round Pick

With the NFL Combine right around the corner, let’s talk about the hottest name in college football. His name, Kyler Murray. The former number nine overall pick by the Oakland A’s in last years MLB Draft, who has decided to forego his MLB career before it even started.

Sure, he could’ve made the more safe decision to play baseball, but it came down to what he loved to do most which was football. Who can blame him? He was the most electric player in college football last season.

Filling in for Baker Mayfield was a task in itself, but it was no problem for Murray. Kyler had arguably an even better season than Mayfield after posting statistics of 4,361 passing yards, 42 passing touchdowns, and only 7 interceptions in 2018. Also, he rushed for over 1,000 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns himself. So why is there any discussions about him not being able to play quarterback at the NFL level?

He may have a small frame being just 5’10” and weighing 195 pounds, but he proved he could handle quarterback duties with his ability to sense pressure in the pocket.

For those who say that he will get passes deflected because he is short, just stop and look at last season’s NFL stats. Joe Flacco who is 6’6″ led the league in batted down passes. Not to mention, Murray played behind some of the biggest offensive lineman in college football at Oklahoma and ranked number one in the nation with a 138.6 passer rating when inside the pocket.

He is by far and away the most athletic quarterback in the draft with the most potential, but NFL scouts just can’t seem to understand that size doesn’t matter. What matters is whether or not they can play ball, and Kyler Murray can ball.

The Arizona Cardinals hold the number one overall pick in this years NFL Draft. With a new head coach in Kliff Kingsbury, the rumors have spread like wildfire on the Cardinals seriously considering taking Murray with the first pick. Josh Rosen has underwhelmed, and Kingsbury would be able to have a former Big 12 quarterback at the helm.

Will the Cardinals trade Rosen and take Murray number one? Cardinals fans and Kingsbury can only hope. Kingsbury was the spark for the Cardinals, but pair him with Kyler Murray and you got yourself a blazing fire. With an elite running back in David Johnson, and the never-aging Larry Fitzgerald, the Cardinals offense would be dangerous.

For whoever drafts Kyler Murray, they will be getting a leader as a franchise quarterback who will light up the league. With his combination of arm strength and running ability, he’s going to give opposing defensive coordinators nightmares for many years to come.

The G.O.A.T. Wins His Sixth Ring

Here we are once again. Tom Brady, AKA The G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time) has has won an NFL record six Super Bowls after defeating the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 on Sunday.

It wasn’t a battle of the offenses as many fans had hoped for, rather it was the Patriots defense who won the game. Most notable among the defense was 2018 All Pro Cornerback Stephon Gilmore who picked off the Rams’ Jared Goff late in the second quarter to set up a field goal drive.

Perhaps the fans of either teams expected a similar turnout of their games in their respective conference championships. For Brady, it was just another day in the office, picking apart the Rams piece by piece. He wasn’t alone as he had quite the group of co-workers to help him along the way.

The stars who seemed to steal the show on offense was wide receiver Julian Edelman and running back Sony Michel who combined for 235 total yards and one touchdown. Edelman ended up being the one to walk away hoisting not only the Lombardi Trophy, but the MVP trophy as well.

Brady seems to be well on track to play into his mid to upper forties, after throwing for 4,355 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 2018. What more can the guy do for everyone to recognize his greatness?

It’s only a matter of time before age catches up to Tom Brady, so lets bask in the glory he gives us with each Super Bowl appearance. We are experiencing greatness, so lets enjoy it while it lasts, because it may never happen again.

Start the clock everyone, only 214 days left until the 2019 season kicks off!

The Saints Playoff Woes

It seems like eons ago since we last saw Drew Brees hoist the Lombardi Trophy. This was supposed to be the year for the Saints to come marching in to Atlanta and win that trophy one more time.

The Saints were coming off a season where rookie phenom Alvin Kamara was a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Don’t forget that other guy, Mark Ingram, he’s pretty good too. Drew Brees had found his guy in Michael Thomas, who set the NFL record for most receptions by a player in their first three seasons. AND, they had a shutdown rookie cornerback who frustrated the leagues best wide receivers.

Well we all know how the post-season turned out for that bunch in 2018, so next season had to be different right? Wrong. The Saints seemed to had put the Minnesota Miracle in their rear view mirror as they appeared to be full steam ahead, after winning by a comfortable margin against the defending champs, the Philadelphia Eagles. On came the Rams, and what a game it was.

Come late in the fourth quarter with the game on the line, third-and-ten deep in Rams territory, the Saints had the perfect play dialed up. Drew Brees launched a pass to TommyLee Lewis who was de-cleated by defensive back Nickell Roby-Coleman. This was way before Lewis even had a chance to catch the ball. No flag was thrown for an obvious pass interference.

What could be worse you may ask? The NFL saying they would review their pass interference policy following the social media backlash from Saints fans. Some have already considered an extra flag that can be thrown by the head coach. Sure, that would make sense, but would that had won the game for the Saints? I can answer that one for you, yes it would have. Does this sound familiar to anyone? (Hint: Dez caught it.)

Yet the Saints bad luck would come back to haunt them once again and ruin a season where they were considered by many to be the best team in the NFL. Some say time is the best medicine, but for Saints fans (and Cowboys fans) they know they had been robbed for a shot to hoist the Lombardi Trophy once again.

Should there be a change in the pass interference rule? Sure. Would the Saints had won that game against the Rams if the right call was made? Probably so. Unfortunately, this leads to the end of yet another promising season for the Big Easy.

However, they are nearing the end of having an all time great at the quarterback position, and a young team that can win a Super Bowl while on rookie contracts. NOLA fans are becoming impatient with the franchise’s playoff self-destruction by the minute. But maybe, just maybe, the third time will be the charm for the Saints.