There seems to be a huge split on this topic recently. On one hand, we see time and time again RB is the most easily replaceable position in the NFL. Prospects can be had in the fourth round like David Johnson and instantly produce. Teams can easily sign talented backs in FA like Lamar Miller or Matt Forte. Then there are guys like Gurley who are taken top 10 and instantly change the whole complexion of their team's offense. What do you think of the Cowboys' picking Elliott at 4? Massive reach for the "least important" NFL position, or a great pick of a special talent? I love the pick, and I think Zeke will be close to Gurley-level good. He's gonna single handedly win games for that team behind their elite offensive line. I think they made the right call by taking him over Ramsey.
I'm with Francessa on this one. I would virtually never take a running back with a top 5 pick in today's NFL. IMO, even if he becomes Adrian Peterson, you don't want to have to pay a stud running back with the hard cap being what it is. It's just not an important enough position in today's NFL to garner a large percentage of your cap (as any star player is bound to do, after his rookie contract runs up).
I think the running game is making a comeback. Now I don't know if I would take a RB in the top 5 --- but in the first round, the question IMO re-opens. Especially if that running back can run, catch and pass-protect, that is a lot of value. You got 4 guys that could potentially go in the first round next year. Fournette, McCaffery, Cook and Jovon Robinson from Auburn. It's been a while since that would've happened as the most I believe was 2 with Gurley and Gordon.
Ezekiel Elliott Todd Gurley - worth it Melvin Gordon - too soon to tell, but not looking good Trent Richardson - epic bust Doug Martin - kinda worth it David Wilson - not worth it Mark Ingram - kinda worth it, was a late first I think Zeke is head and shoulders better than these guys aside from Gurley. It'll be fun to see how his career pans out.
Its a good pick because he will do amazing behind that oline , an oline that for glimpses last season made Darren McFadden look like he actually still belonged in the NFL. But with the 4th pick in the draft , I want a guy that is going to be a star , or at the very least be more than just productive for the next 10 years , not the next 5 years. IMO Jalen Ramsey is going to outperform Elliott over the course of their careers and he should've been the pick by Dallas at 4. But I can also see why Jerry made the pick , aging QB , win now mode , he's also in his 70s , so 10 years from now who knows where he is. Picks like this are made for the next 3-5 years with no caring after that. With that said , if I had a top 5 pick next year and a RB need , I take Fournette. That is the next AP.
Top rushers over the past several years and rounds they were picked in. (based on RBs that made the top 5 yards per season list more than once, from 2008-2015). Adrian Peterson - 1st round - 7th overall Demarco Murray - 3rd round LeSean McCoy - 2nd round Marshawn Lynch - 1st round - 12th overall Jamaal Charles - 3rd round Doug Martin - 1st round - 31st overall Alfred Morris - 6th round Maurice Jones-Drew- 2nd round Ray Rice - 2nd round Arian Foster - UDFA Chris Johnson - 1st round - 24th overall Based on that list and the list Ubiquitous posted, it seems you can get a top RB in later rounds just as easily as the first round, but you gamble much more risking a 1st round pick on what could easily be a bust.
It's a fair point. Dallas was in a very unique position at the top of the draft though, as they feature a Superbowl calibre roster that shrunk to it's horrible record due to Tony Romo's injury.If they keep Romo healthy, Elliott is a hell of an x-factor for them. No runningback in this draft had anywhere near Zeke's talent, and a talented halfback behind that line should/could rush for 1,800 yards with ease, mostly not getting contacted before he breaks the line of scrimmage. I'm not a big fan of drafting backs high, or spending a lot of money on them. But every so often an extremely talented guy like Zeke, Gurley, AP come around and they're worth the top pick because they instantly become the center piece of the offense. On the flip side you see guys like Melvin Gordon get drafted way too high and there's your example of poor expenditure of a pick on a runningback.
i just dont see it with elliott. i dont see him being a dependable 3 down back for the next 8 years. i think he will have flashes but i think that the talent at this level will have caught up to him. i really cant even pinpoint why i dont think he will do well but i have this gut feeling that he wont. and lets get away from saying last years cowboys had superbowl caliber talent and then romo going down made them 5-11 or whatever they were. if they truly had that kind of team put together they would have managed to put together a little better season than that, especially in that dogshit division. they arent the strongest team in the world and i dont think this move will put them over the top.
I absolutely would not take a RB in the top 5, but in the first round? 100% yes. I hate the idea that "you can find a RB anywhere". Sure, you get Adrian Foster and Alfred Morris, but you also get Tony Romo and Damon Harrison and so forth. The majority of the top rushers in the league year-in and year-out are selected in the first three rounds (premium rounds of the draft).
I wouldn't have taken him that high but Jerry Jones just can't help himself. The guy still doesn't get that he's not a GM. The guy could go on to have a great career but honestly I think it would have depended who they also had on their board to really say if this is a reach. I'm a fan of BPA outside of the top 10-15 picks or so which is why I wanted the Jets to take Doctson in the 1st despite having a pretty good group of WR's, I just really liked him. I think when you pick that low barring a trade down you have less holes so BPA is a better luxury. I just think when you are in the top 5 you have to address needs, did the Cowboys forget they signed Alfred Morris last month? Not saying he's as good as Zeke but RB wasn't a pressing need for Dallas so it's a bad pick for the very reason it was a hey look at us pick as opposed to is this guy going to take u over the top? Likely he won't.
The problem is the Cowboys did not even have a serviceable backup QB. Their defense last year was good enough to contend, they were in almost every game without Romo to the end. They just couldn't overcome that loss to put enough points on the board. Plus you have to combine that with the loss of Murray from that previous off season. If they had a halfway decent backup QB things would have been different.
I'm not a fan of taking a RB in the first round unless he's really special, but I would rather do that than pay one in FA. I think that's a bigger mistake.
I never understand why people say Jerry not a GM? Didn't he win 3 SB's as a GM? Doesnt he have a talented team just about every year? I'm no Cowboys fan but he won more SB's then a lot of great GM's.
Nah... http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/07/jimmy-johnson-calls-jerry-jones-g-m-claims-a-crock/
Really? Do you really think Jerry Jones built that team? Do you really think he engineered the Hershel Walker trade? Jones loves his big name and there weren't too many bigger than Walker at that time. No way Jones would have traded Walker. He has built some decent teams but he's also had a lot of stinkers as well. He ran Jimmy Johnson out of town because he wanted things done his way. That's why Switzer was hired, he would do whatever Jerry told him to do as long as he got his longnecks and a paycheck.
