9. Tyron Smith C+

Offensive line was a need for them, especially right tackle, but you don’t take a right tackle at 9. Smith can play the left side, but Doug Free is doing fine there. Why mess with that? All this pick is doing is upgrading the right side, whether they stick Free on the right side and Smith at left tackle or just stick Smith at right tackle. Smith fits the range decently, but I don’t like the idea behind the pick. Prince Amukamara, Cameron Jordan, and JJ Watt all would have made more sense.

40. MLB Bruce Carter D

This was a head scratcher. First off, middle linebacker was not a huge need for them, not compared to defensive end, cornerback, and safety. Second of all, he was projected in the 3^rd round because he’s not going to be able to play much in 2011 with an ACL injury. Third of all, I thought he was overrated even before he was hurt. I never had a first round grade on him. I don’t like this pick at all.

71. RB DeMarco Murray B+

Running back was a need. Marion Barber doesn’t have much left in the tank and will probably be cut when they can do so. Felix Jones hasn’t emerged as the feature back as they imagined him when they drafted him in the first round in 2008. Murray also fits the range well. However, defense needed to be the focus in this draft. They need a cornerback, a defensive end, and a safety early in this draft and instead they got a right tackle, an injured middle linebacker, and a running back. Not exactly what I had in mind.

110. G David Arkin C+

Arkin fills a need at guard for them, but I think he was a reach for them. I had him rated a couple rounds lower.

143. CB Josh Thomas C+

The Cowboys finally fill their cornerback need, but I think Thomas is a reach at this point. I didn’t even have him in my top 300.

176. WR Dwayne Harris A-

Wide receiver was a need of theirs as Roy Williams is overpaid and will probably be cut when they can cut players. Harris was a great value, but again, they need defense. The defense was the problem, not the offense. If they could fix their defense, they could have been a Super Bowl contender in 2011.

220. FB Shaun Chapas B

Fullback was a minor need of theirs and Chapas fits the range, but I think there were better picks here.

252. C Bill Nagy B

Center was a need of theirs, but I think there were better centers.

Overall:

This needed to be a defensive draft. Their offense was very good under offensive minded coach Jason Garrett after he took over and they’re getting quarterback Tony Romo back. I understand the need to protect him by getting a new right tackle for him, but they didn’t need to use the 9^th overall pick on him. Even if Tyron Smith moves to left tackle and Doug Free moves to right tackle, they’re only really upgrading the right tackle position. Free is a good player. They could have gotten a right tackle in the early mid rounds, the 2^nd-4^th. 3 of their first 4 picks were on offensive players and they didn’t add a single end, rush linebacker, or safety and they only added one cornerback in the 5^th round, who I think was a reach. I did like that they got Dwayne Harris where they got him, to replace Roy Williams and taking DeMarco Murray to replace Marion Barber in the 3^rd wasn’t terrible. I do think they could have filled that need in the later rounds though. If they fixed their defense, they could have been a legitimate Super Bowl contender this year. I think they messed that up.

Grade: C-