NEWSLETTER
It feels like it happens so frequently that I associate it with the first true sign that spring is here.
The annual leaking of the Dallas Cowboys’ draft board:
Enhanced photo shows these might have been the top 34 players on the Cowboys' draft board https://t.co/WWYNZABhWV
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 4, 2022
Lol not for lack of trying… I legit went home and screencast our video of the presser from my laptop to my TV… this was all I got pic.twitter.com/rjVG093qAT
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) May 3, 2022
What makes this year different than others is that, if you squint a little, you can make out some of the names, including one with very direct Bears ties. That’s because, if you look at the board in Jon Machete’s post, you’ll see that Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon is the 24th overall player on their board. And if you give it an even closer look, it appears as if Gordon is Dallas’ CB3. And, suddenly, I feel infinitely better about the Bears snagging Gordon with the 39th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
To be clear, I never felt bad about the pick. In fact, I felt pretty good about the Bears addressing a significant need at an important position with a strong prospect who probably should’ve been off the board by the time they were on the clock. But it’s the Cowboys having Gordon as a top-25 prospect *AND* a top-3 cornerback that has my attention.
For all their flaws, the Cowboys have done well on draft weekend.
On the defensive side of the ball, picks such as linebacker Micah Parson (2021), cornerback Trevon Diggs (2020), and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (2018) have been solid contributors with Pro Bowls to their names. Say what you want about the Falcons teams Dan Quinn had as a head coach, but his defensive units in Dallas and elsewhere have been solid. Someone knows their talent. And, for whatever it’s worth, the Cowboys’ offensive picks have also been solid. Between early selections of CeeDee Lamb (2020), Tony Pollard (2019), and the 2018 class of Michael Gallup, Dalton Schultz, and Cedrick Wilson Jr., the Cowboys’ hits have been plentiful. No wonder Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay was garnering interest as a general manager candidate this past offseason. Something is clearly clicking in Dallas, even if the sum of its parts finds a way to disappoint its fans come playoff time.
It’s hard not to get swept up in prospect hype. But it is also easy to ground yourself knowing that we’ve built up a buzz for prospects before. However, seeing a team with a good recent track record in the draft that has done well taking defensive players should make Bears fans feel better. Maybe the Bears just came away with an absolute steal last weekend.
