Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on the sidelines with son Stephen Jones and family before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, on Sunday, September 20, 2015. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News)
Debate surrounding the No. 4 overall pick continues to intensify as the time before the draft has shortened dramatically.
Dallas has brought in all of the top quarterbacks for workouts, along with top running back Ezekiel Elliott, which has brought about plenty of speculation on the Cowboys’ intentions for the No. 4 pick.
One NFL.com analyst thinks the Cowboys should make that home run pick at No. 4 by selecting a quarterback or a running back, especially since they have a shot to win the division next season. Here’s what Adam Schein had to say:
Dallas certainly could get calls at No. 4 from teams looking to trade up and snag a quarterback. But what kind of ammunition will organizations like the Eagles, 49ers, Rams, Jets and Broncos really have? And if you can hit a home run at 4, is it even worth trading back?
This franchise is in a unique position with the fourth overall pick. The Cowboys aren’t thinking rebuild; they’re thinking playoffs. And beyond. And it’s not crazy.
The top priority must be [QB Carson] Wentz. If he’s gone, grab the stud running back, no matter what the draftniks say.
Schein focused a lot of his attention on the North Dakota State quarterback for the Cowboys, settling on him as the best option for the franchise in the present day and for the future. Check out who he’s been compared to, according to scouts:
But Romo isn’t getting any younger: He turns 36 later this month. And in addition to his collarbone, Romo’s balky back is still something Dallas has to worry about. The Cowboys need a better backup quarterback. And they need their quarterback of the future. Consequently, if Carson Wentz is there at No 4, Dallas must scoop him up. I think the North Dakota State product is going to be a stud. One NFL personnel director told me via text, “He’s Joe Flacco, but a better athlete. I think he will be better than Flacco.” High praise, considering Flacco’s track record (see: Super Bowl MVP).
Finally, if Wentz is gone, Schein still thinks the Cowboys should make a splah pick by drafting Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott:
So if Wentz is gone — and assuming LT Laremy Tunsil and DB Jalen Ramsey are both selected in the top three — I’m going a different route: I’m drafting running back Ezekiel Elliott… Look, I don’t think Elliott is a top-four overall player in the draft — but he’s definitely top 10. And in Dallas, behind that offensive line, in conjunction with Romo and Bryant and Jason Witten, Elliott would be my pick to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was great at Ohio State and I think he’s going to be a consistently strong, game-changing pro.
The Cowboys certainly have plenty of intriguing and exciting options at No. 4, whether it’s trading back, picking a quarterback of the future, a running back to give them a stout rushing attack, or the top pass rusher in the draft. With only 18 days until the draft, it’s still anybody’s guess which way they will go.
