The NFL Draft completed its first three rounds Thursday and Friday nights at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
The story of the first round Thursday was how far down the board star Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel fell down the draft board. All the main teams that could use a QB in the first half of the first round -- Houston, Oakland, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Minnesota, and Tennessee -- all passed on the gunslinger. Manziel still sat in the "Green Room" when the Cowboys came on the clock with the 16th pick. Buzz was building about Johnny Football headed to Big D. No way Jerry Jones could pass on such starpower, right? Apparently, he can. Jones made the smarter decision, most would say, selecting more of a known
commodity, offensive tackle Zack Martin out of Notre Dame to shore up an offensive line than improved from 2012 to last season. I was happy with the pick though I think I would have preferred Dallas go defense with its first pick, as that was the weak part of the team last season and just about the weakest in the NFL. Even though Cleveland did not take Manziel with its first first-round pick (it took cornerback Justin Gilbert out of Oklahoma State), it did end up taking Manziel with its second first-round pick at NO. 22 when it traded with Philadelphia for the pick.
The Cowboys really wanted to get a defensive guy they wanted in the second round of the draft Friday and traded up to make sure they got him. They gave the Redskins their third-round pick to move into the
Redskins' slot high in the second round. With the 34th overall pick of the draft and second of the second round, Dallas selected Demarcus Lawrence, a defensive end out of Boise State, though he could also play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defensive alignment (Dallas has a 4-3 alignment). You have to appreciate the rhyme and reason of the Cowboys letting a pass rusher go in the offseason -- DeMarcus Ware -- and picking up another Demarcus (though with a little "m") in the draft. Head coach Jason Garrett said that Lawrence was their third-rated pass rusher in the draft after Jadeveon Clowney (defensive end first overall to the Texans out of South Carolina) and Anthony Barr (linebacker ninth overall to the Vikings out of UCLA). I am glad that the Cowboys went defense with the selection and I hope that most of their remaining draft picks are on that side of the ball. Dallas could really use an interior defensive lineman or two and a safety. Saturday, the final day of the draft, Dallas has one pick each in the fourth and fifth rounds, zero in the sixth round, and six in the seventh round. As far as offense goes, I think Dallas could use another receiver. It is unknown if the Cowboys will look to draft a QB and groom him behind Tony Romo. I actually liked Manziel and think he COULD be a heckuva player. A risk, yes, but a great player. As a Cowboys fan, I would want him, but I knew that Dallas had to go in a different direction with the first-round pick.
Virginia offensive lineman Morgan Moses, despite being a possible late first-round pick, did not go off the board until the third round, with the 66th overall pick to the Redskins. Moses grew up in Richmond and the Redskins' training camp is going to be in Richmond again this season so that is a really cool thing for Virginia
fans, and especially for Virginia and Redskin fans. I wish I wouldn't have to root against him twice a year, but I do now. Virginia's other draft hopefuls are defensive tackle Brent Urban and offensive lineman Luke Bowanko.
The story of the first round Thursday was how far down the board star Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel fell down the draft board. All the main teams that could use a QB in the first half of the first round -- Houston, Oakland, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Minnesota, and Tennessee -- all passed on the gunslinger. Manziel still sat in the "Green Room" when the Cowboys came on the clock with the 16th pick. Buzz was building about Johnny Football headed to Big D. No way Jerry Jones could pass on such starpower, right? Apparently, he can. Jones made the smarter decision, most would say, selecting more of a known
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| Offensive lineman Zack Martin |
The Cowboys really wanted to get a defensive guy they wanted in the second round of the draft Friday and traded up to make sure they got him. They gave the Redskins their third-round pick to move into the
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| Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence |
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| UVa offensive lineman Morgan Moses will be a Redskin. |
Virginia offensive lineman Morgan Moses, despite being a possible late first-round pick, did not go off the board until the third round, with the 66th overall pick to the Redskins. Moses grew up in Richmond and the Redskins' training camp is going to be in Richmond again this season so that is a really cool thing for Virginia
fans, and especially for Virginia and Redskin fans. I wish I wouldn't have to root against him twice a year, but I do now. Virginia's other draft hopefuls are defensive tackle Brent Urban and offensive lineman Luke Bowanko.
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