Dec 30, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) throws a pass during the first quarter against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the 2015 Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
IRVING, Texas –The Cowboys finally got a developmental quarterback for the future and a possible successor to Tony Romo when they took Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott in the fourth round.
But owner Jerry Jones said his biggest regret in the draft was being unable to make a trade back into the first round to get quarterback Paxton Lynch. The Denver Broncos got Lynch by beating the Cowboys to a trade with the Seattle Seahawks.
Jones said he got about only three hours of sleep after missing out on Paxton Lynch.
“I was still mad about it the next morning,” Jones said. “When I look back on my life, I overpaid for my big successes every time. And when I tried to get a bargain, get it a little cheaper or get a better deal on it, I ended up usually either getting it and not happy I got it. Or missing it.
“And I probably should have overpaid here.”
Jones didn’t get to bed until about 3 a.m. Thursday night and woke up at 6 a.m Friday. He said before the morning was over, he had talked with six people about how he screwed it up.
“I was still mad about it,” Jones said. “Actually thought we had it done.”
The Cowboys eventually ended up with Prescott and Jones likes the idea of Prescott being groomed under Romo.
He envisions a similar scenario with how Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers learned under Brett Favre for a couple seasons.
“I see a heady player (in Prescott)],” Jones said. “I see a very heady player. I see an intelligent player. I see a player that has a chance to add some to his game that isn’t just a prototype fit for this offense. You may have to put some bells and whistles in there.
“I like his upside here. Coming in here and learning from Tony I think is big.”
–LB Sean Lee suffered a setback of sorts and recently underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery. It’s the same knee that Lee suffered an ACL injury in 2014, forcing him to miss the entire season.
Lee returned in 2015 to earn his first Pro Bowl bid last season. The surgery is not considered major. He is not expected to miss much time and will be ready by training camp, at the latest. Lee has battled knee injuries throughout his career, never playing a full 16-game season, but Jones expressed little concern about the latest procedure.
“It just cropped up,” Jones said. “It’d been bothering him a little bit. Why not check it here while we’re early in the offseason and get it cleaned up?”
Jones said the Cowboys will take a cautious approach with working Lee back into the offseason program, and isn’t overly concerned how much work Lee does when organized team activities get underway in late May.
“No hurry with Sean,” Jones said.
–The Cowboys went into the NFL draft with definite needs for a pass rusher but didn’t get a defensive end until the fourth round with Oklahoma’s Charles Tapper.
He is considered a project and is not going to be an immediate impact player.
They didn’t sign any proven pass rushers in free agency and will start the season with Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence who out the first four games for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.
Yet this does not mean that the Cowboys will welcome a return of controversial defensive end Greg Hardy.
Owner Jerry Jones said the team has moved on and they will not bring Hardy back.
A closer look at the Cowboys’ picks:
–Round 1/4 — Ezekiel Elliott, RB, 6-0, 225, Ohio State
The Cowboys bypassed help for the defense to take game-breaking Elliott, who they deem such a special talent who will help the offense and the defense. He will take pressure off Tony Romo and keep the defense the field.
–Round 2/34 — Jaylon Smith, LB, 6-2, 240, Notre Dame
Smith won’t play in 2016 because of a knee injury he suffered in the Fiesta Bowl in January. The Cowboys think he is foundation player for the future and worth the wait.
–Round 3/67 — Maliek Collins, DT, 6-2, 300, Nebraska
Could be a starter at tackle if the Cowboys kick Tyrone Crawford outside for the first four games to make up for the losses of Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence. Has some pass-rush ability.
–Round 4/101 — Charles Tapper, DE, 6-4, 281, Oklahoma
A good athlete with good speed who could be better in the NFL than college. He was asked to read and react at Oklahoma. He will be asked rush in Dallas. Ran a 4.59 40 at the combine.
–Round 4/135 — Dak Prescott, QB, 6-2, 230, Mississippi State
Prescott is the first quarterback drafted by the Cowboys since 2009. He has similar size and athleticism as Tony Romo. He can make plays with his feet. He’s a developmental QB for the future.
–Round 6/189 — Anthony Brown, CB, 5-11, 190, Purdue
The Cowboys had a fourth-round grade on Brown so they view him as good value in the sixth. Has great speed. Ran 4.35 40 at the combine. Could be viewed a replacement for Morris Claiborne and or Brandon Carr in 2017
–Round 6/212 — Kavon Frazier, S, 6-0, 218, Central Michigan
The Cowboys had a fourth-round grade on Frazier. The team needs safety help in the future with J.J. Wilcox and Barry Church in the final year of their deals. Frazier started 13 games in 2015 and finished with a team-high 108 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and one interception.
–Round 6/216 — Darius Jackson, RB, 6-0, 221, Eastern Michigan
Jackson is big, fast and athletic. He has 4.4 speed in the 40. He rushed for a school-record 16 touchdowns last year and ran for 1,110 yards on 207 carries. He can also be a factor on third down with 21 catches for 201 yards and two touchdowns.
–Round 6/217 — Rico Gathers, TE, 6-8, 275, Baylor
Gathers played basketball in college and hasn’t played football since junior high. The Cowboys look at him as a project and a future Antonio Gates. He has long arms and big hands. But he has the size to be a physical run blocker.
