| Carl Setterlund. 15th May, 2006 - 1:12 am
Dallas Cowboys
Picks:
1st Round: Bobby Carpenter, OLB, Ohio State (18)
2nd Round: Anthony Fasano, TE, Notre Dame (53)
3rd Round: Jason Hatcher, DE, Grambling (92)
4th Round: Skyler Green, WR, LSU (125)
5th Round: Patrick Watkins, S, Florida State (138)
6th Round: Montavious Stanley, DT, Louisville (182)
7th Round: Pat McQuistan, OG, Weber State (211); EJ Whitley, OT, Texas Tech (224)
Bill Parcells and company are leaving this draft successful; make that a second straight good year. I see several – and I mean that – players who will be in Cowboy uniforms for a long time. You could see from a mile away that Bobby Carpenter is a good fit on Cowboys. Overshadowed at Ohio State, Carpenter is a lesser version of AJ Hawk, which is something I mean as a compliment. Carpenter’s stock rose exactly at the right time but he was deserving of this pick and will be just as valuable a member of the linebacker corps as Demarcus Ware.
Anthony Fasano in the second round was all about picking the best player available. He’s both a good blocker and a good short receiver and will challenge Jason Witten soon for best tight end on the team. Even though it didn’t fit a need, I still like that Fasano selection because he’s going to be a valuable member of the offense for the next decade.
I’m not sure how much I look down upon Jason Hatcher at the end of the third round. It inarguable that he was a reach but this kid has a lot of potential and was considered a sleeper in the second day. Obviously it’s high for him but the jury is still out on how much of a reach this was. He’s one of those “wait and see what happens with him” players before you pass too much judgment.
Skyler Green was another reach but he’s an absolute force as a return man even if he’s not such a great receiving prospect. If Green ends up becoming a difference maker for the Cowboy’s return unit then this pick looks a lot better. I’m putting the chances of that at above fifty percent. I loved Dallas’ next two moves.
They got one of the last worthy safeties in the draft in Watkins and were able to wait until the fifth round. I thought this guy was a first day pick for sure and I don’t want to promise anything to Cowboys fans but you could see this guy opposite Roy Williams pretty soon if things unfold the right way.
Stanley is going to either end up making fans rejoice or else never managing to be on anyone’s radar, that’s really how I feel about him. This kid has got all the tools to be a nice nose tackle but it gets a little fishy when you go to the subject of work ethic. Bill Parcells won’t tolerate laziness and either Stanley will respond and pan out or he’ll flop, it all depends. Given his great reputation I think Bill is able to tell by now who are “Parcells guys”.
I’m obviously puzzled by Pat McQuistan in the seventh round out of Weber. I know of no such player unless he is the twin brother of Paul McQuistan out of Weber? Does Dallas still get the guy if they get his name wrong? Whitley was a less puzzling pick. He’s a nice player and Dallas needs something on the offensive line in the future. Dallas had eight picks and I really liked five of them.
I think that’s a solid draft. Pat McQuistan though? I just don’t know about that one.
Grade: B |