Grading the Draft: Dallas Cowboys

Grade: C+

1. Felix Jones-RB Arkansas
1. Mike Jenkins-CB South Florida
2. Martellus Bennett-TE Texas A&M
4. Tashard Choice-RB Georgia Tech
5. Orlando Scandrick-CB Boise St.
6. Erik Walden-DE Mid Tenn St.

After such a great season last year, the Cowboys had the luxury of drafting depth more than immediate needs. However, it was a lack of true value in their picks and some poor decisions that bring their grade down.

With two first-round picks, the Cowboys should have picked up two solid starters who can play consistently for the forseeable future. They didn't exactly get that with RB Felix Jones and CB Mike Jenkins. The Cowboys allowed Julius Jones to depart in free agency as Marion Barber emerged as the true starter with his bruising style of play. With no glaring weaknesses on the team, owner Jerry Jones elected to go with a change of pace back to complement Barber with their first pick. Jones is a speedster with great returning abilities, but doesn't have the body to be an every down back. Jerry, while your team may have gone 13-3 last year, it still doesn't justify taking a backup running back with your top choice.

Jenkins is another story. While Dallas does have two very good corners in Terrence Newman and Anthony Henry, there's always room for depth in the secondary. Even though the Cowboys also acquired Adam "Pacman" Jones from the Titans, he can't be counted on because of his past legal troubles. Jenkins was the most polished CB in this draft class, although his upside is lacking. He should figure as a solid #2 CB down the line and he is also physical in run support. He could get himself decent playing time right away in the nickel package.

Martellus Bennett is a questionable choice, looking at the big picture. Before the draft, Dallas traded their second-round pick from last year, TE Anthony Fasano, and DE Akin Ayodele to Miami for a fourth-round pick. Right there, that's terrible value. Last year's second rounder and a contributor on defense for a fourth rounder? Moreover, Dallas turns around and uses their second-round pick on a tight end for the second straight year, apparently to replace the departed Fasano. Let's keep in mind the Cowboys already have perhaps the best tight end in the league in Jason Whitten. So to recap, the Cowboys used their 2007 second rounder on Fasano, a backup for Whitten. They then trade him and a decent defensive linemen for a fourth rounder. Dallas then uses a second rounder again on a backup for Whitten, this time on Bennett, who played more basketball than football in college. He's an athletic, big player with good upside, but after all that maneuvering, it's just not drafting wisely.

With no third-round pick, the Cowboys re-entered in the fourth. RB Tashard Choice is a player who is actually very comparable to Marion Barber, a former fourth-round pick himself. Choice is a workhorse back, a north-south runner who won't make defenders miss, but will punish you coming through the hole. Spending a fourth rounder on an insurance policy for your feature back isn't a bad idea. Choice could be a steal given the opportunity to produce.

CB Orlando Scandrick and DE Erik Walden were taken in the fifth and sixth rounds, respectively, and will need to work hard to make the team. With Dallas already having its starting CBs coming back from last year, investing a first-round pick in Jenkins and trading for Pacman Jones, Scandrick has his work cut out for him. Walden will need to find a home in the 3-4 scheme. His coverage skills are lacking, but he isn't big enough to play on the line. The Cowboys had enough talent already that they felt comfortable enough to trade away Ayodele, so Walden might be camp fodder.

Overall, the Cowboys had their team in place coming into the draft and didn't need to add much. However, they used the draft to invest more in luxury items than big time players. They also neglected to address wide receiver, as a #2 wide out would have been a nice addition. Terry Glenn continues to be a question mark with his knee problems and Patrick Crayton is more of a slot receiver. Passing on a need and not getting proper value for their picks lands Dallas with a C+.