Dallas Cowboys 2014 NFL Draft Grades

Posted By Chris Ransom

Dallas Cowboys: Zack Martin, RG, Notre Dame

Dallas Cowboys Day 1 Draft Grade: (A-) Zack Martin should be starting at right tackle instead of Doug Free. Still this pick was pretty epic. The reason Dallas gets an A- grade is because Martin is playing right guard. Dallas brought in Jaguars’ right guard Uche Nwaneri in free agency. If Jerry Jones had any common sense he would start Martin at right tackle and Nwaneri at right guard while getting rid of Doug Free by cutting him. You should be glad Jerry Jones took Martin over Manziel. That is the one thing to be objective about on draft day.

Dallas needs to run the football. You got guys like DeMarco Murray, Lance Dunbar, Joseph Randle, and former 2011 second-round pick Ryan Williams who failed in Arizona due to injuries. They have two left guards with 16 games started, Travis Frederick at center, plus Martin and Nwaneri at right guard. Having outstanding depth at guard along with one of the leagues top centers makes the Cowboys’ a good run blocking team. Offensive tackles Tyron Smith and Doug Free are better at run blocking than pass blocking as well.

Romo better keep his word about getting the running game more involved because he will fluster under pressure if this offensive line misses an assignment in pass protection. This offensive line has enough depth to be solid if Romo goes down and Brandon Weeden has to step in for a few games. Norv Turner coached Weeden in Cleveland, and Turner also coached Jason Garrett when he was the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator. Weeden has a good understanding of this offense, still it feels like the Cowboys’ could have done better than Weeden. Weeden can be a solid short-term backup in Dallas. As long as Tyron Smith doesn’t get injured, the Cowboys’ offensive line has the depth to help Romo or Weeden by run-blocking to open up the passing game.

Dallas Cowboys 2014 Day 2 Picks

Team	Round	Overall Pick	Player	Position	College
	Round 2	34th Overall Pick	DeMarcus Lawrence	LE

Dallas Cowboys Day 2 Draft Grade: (B) DeMarcus Lawrence is a stud left end with the tools to develop into a DeMarcus Ware type player down the line at right end. Unfortunately defensive ends Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Lawrence both suffered injuries at Cowboys’ training camp. Spencer will miss the entire pre-season in a contract year, and Lawrence will be out until week 5. Getting injured as a rookie is never a good sign because now there is an injury-prone vibe that Lawrence carries. That is why I downgraded this pick from an A grade to a B grade.

Dallas Cowboys Day 3 Draft Picks Slideshow

Dallas Cowboys Day 3 Draft Grade: (C+) Dallas added a few sleepers. Most of the day 3 picks stunk. Adding guys like Pitt WR Devin Street as a slot receiver, Ben Gardner as a pass rusher for depth and Ahamd Dixon will pay off. Dixon could start right away at safety because the Cowboys’ secondary is so anemic.