The Morning After: Cowboys defense grabs Micah Parsons and ignores the sunk cost

 On one hand, there are plenty of folks who have enjoyed all of the media draft work that has been done for 100 days only to see the Cowboys show us that we can read the tea leaves all we want and still not see the train coming right at us.

On the other hand, perhaps they were the ones hit by the train and are now spinning the story to appear as if they were playing chess while the rest of us were stuck on checkers all along.

https://theathletic.com/2555848/2021/04/30/the-morning-after-cowboys-defense-grabs-micah-parsons-and-ignores-the-sunk-cost/

The 2021 NFL Draft game plan: Here is what the Cowboys should do at No. 10

 The drafting process was indeed different here in 2021 from what it even was in 2020. As shutdown as the world was in 2020, there was, in fact, an NFL Combine and hundreds if not thousands of campus visits by scouts all year long. In 2020, we lost the draft itself and the final six weeks of the buildup activities with pro days and 30 team visits. In 2021, we lost the whole combine and the 30 team visits have converted over to more Zoom calls. Yuck.

https://theathletic.com/2549261/2021/04/28/the-2021-nfl-draft-game-plan-here-is-what-the-cowboys-should-do-at-no-10/

‘This isn’t even close’: How the Cowboys became convinced that Tyron Smith was the man for the No. 9 pick in 2011

 The 2010 season felt like the end of the road for a Cowboys organization that appeared to grow old from the end of the Bill Parcells era through the Wade Phillips regime. Their annual high hopes were crushed when Tony Romo’s collarbone gave out when Michael Boley ran past fullback Chris Gronkowski on a blitz and into the young Dallas quarterback. From there, a horrendous 1-4 start grew into 1-7.

https://theathletic.com/2543017/2021/04/27/this-isnt-even-close-how-the-cowboys-became-convinced-that-tyron-smith-was-the-man-for-the-no-9-pick-in-2011/

Cowboys draft conversation: Tyron Smith’s future? What makes sense at 10 and 44?

 With the NFL Draft less than a week away, The Athletic’s Jon Machota and Bob Sturm met up Thursday to talk all things Cowboys draft. Here’s a transcript from our conversation.

https://theathletic.com/2537654/2021/04/23/cowboys-draft-conversation-tyron-smiths-future-what-makes-sense-at-10-and-44/

Cowboys Draft Digest: The final 2021 ‘Sturm 60’ NFL Draft board

 https://theathletic.com/2536265/2021/04/22/cowboys-draft-digest-the-final-2021-sturm-60-nfl-draft-board/

Dallas Cowboys Draft Digest: Analyzing the 5 big-time QB prospects, led by Trevor Lawrence

 Today, we study the quarterbacks. This is the eighth year I have done this and the fourth for The Athletic.

https://theathletic.com/2530708/2021/04/20/dallas-cowboys-draft-digest-analyzing-the-5-big-time-qb-prospects-led-by-trevor-lawrence/

Dallas Cowboys Draft Digest: Five DFW prospects to keep eyes on in 2021

 One thing that is clear every year is how many unbelievable athletes call Dallas-Fort Worth their homes. That gives us many players to look at as significant draft figures every year and many have been covered in previous Draft Digests.

However, several more have fallen through the cracks so we grab five more here to look at because there is a deep crop yet again.

https://theathletic.com/2523433/2021/04/16/dallas-cowboys-draft-digest-five-dfw-prospects-to-keep-eyes-on-in-2021/

Dallas Cowboys Draft Digest: Day 2 candidates to strengthen their defense

 The last few weeks I have been trying to spend most of my time targeting Day 2 players for the Cowboys. This is mostly defensive pieces, but I really think remembering that there is never a bad time to add talent to the offensive line is important.

The Cowboys have selections in this draft at one spot on Day 1 (No. 10), and currently have three swings of the bat on Day 2 with a chance to really get it going with picks that should populate the defense: No. 44, 75 and 99.

https://theathletic.com/2514533/2021/04/13/dallas-cowboys-draft-digest-day-2-candidates-to-strengthen-their-defense/

Dallas Cowboys Draft Digest: Deep offensive tackle options on Day 2 are a possibility

 We talked about the top batch back in Draft Digest No. 2, but since I really don’t think Dallas is looking at the tackle crop in the first round (unless someone like Penei Sewell unexpectedly shows up at their selection — even then they might still pass), I wanted to come back and look at some of the options for them in what we assume would either be in a trade-back in Round 1 or somewhere on Day 2 in Rounds 2 or 3.

https://theathletic.com/2505613/2021/04/09/dallas-cowboys-draft-digest-deep-offensive-tackle-options-on-day-2-are-a-possibility/

Draft Origins: Checking in on the Big 12’s struggle to produce top draft prospects

 I love the NFL Draft for many reasons. Most are made clear from the pieces I write in which we discuss another prospect and how his life is about to change and he also has a chance to change the franchise that has selected him. Other times, I just love seeing how different parts of our country supply different amounts of the new stock coming to the league.

https://theathletic.com/2501018/2021/04/07/draft-origins-checking-in-on-the-big-12s-struggle-to-produce-top-draft-prospects/

Dallas Cowboys Draft Digest: From Kyle Pitts to Ja’Marr Chase to DeVonta Smith, these pass catchers are electric

 It’s very important that we look at one of the positions that Dallas is unlikely to entertain, but nevertheless might be the defining position in this draft — pass catchers.

More specifically, the five receivers we look at today will be gone on the first night. These are all the potential candidates for rookie of the year. So even if Dallas seems well “set” at receiver, we should understand the impact this group could make on the league and with the rivals of the Cowboys.

https://theathletic.com/2491603/2021/04/01/dallas-cowboys-draft-digest-from-kyle-pitts-to-jamarr-chase-to-devonta-smith-these-pass-catchers-are-electric/