The NFL Draft gets cocky tonight. It goes prime time, up against the networks' lineup of must-see CSIs and Grey's Anatomy and such, and against the NBA's LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
I'll be at Cowboys Stadium from 6 p.m. until? ... at the 105.3 The Fan Miller Lite Draft Party. Admission is free. $5 parking. Owner Jerry Jones and head coach Wade Phillips up on the JumboJerry from the war room. Myself, Bill Jones, Brad Sham and Mickey Spagnola trying to make sense of it all.
Rodger Saffold? Taylor Mays? Dez Bryant? Kyle Wilson? Jared Odrick? Demaryius Thomas? Charles Brown? In the world of throw-a-dart mock drafts, this morning I've seen the Cowboys taking each of those players.
What the hell's gonna happen? Like Mel Kiper, I'm not exactly sure. But I do have some thoughts ...
*The Cowboys have only 25 players with 1st-round grades, meaning don't be shocked if they trade down for value. I know. Yawn.
*I also know they love Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant. If he falls into the late teens, Jones will start seeing a way to finally un-do the passing of Randy Moss in '98. Privately - way down deep - I think Jones is as skeptical about Roy Williams magically "snapping out of it" as the rest of us.
*Cowboys like Texas safety Earl Thomas, but don't believe the rumor about them trading up to 13 to nab him.
*They will not draft Rutgers offensive tackle Anthony Davis or Maryland offensive tackle Bruce Campbell.
*Big names that could be traded today: Darren McFadden, Osi Umenyura, Albert Haynesworth and Shawn Merriman.
*In the end the Cowboys have decided their biggest need is at free safety. Their defense had only 21 turnovers last season, fifth-lowest in the NFL and worst among playoff teams. The free safety position - think Ken Hamlin - produced 0 turnovers. Consider that New Orleans' Darren Sharper had 11 and the Colts' Antoine Bethea six. Given that, at 27 keep in mind USC's Taylor Mays. If they can trade into the second round for South Florida's Nate Allen, book it. But Dallas also realizes that Bryant would push them closer to the Super Bowl right here, right now. And, of course, a talented diva receiver would also generate quite the buzz. We all know Jones cherishes the attention.
