FRISCO, Texas — The time is here. The day before the much-anticipated 2021 NFL draft begins. Months and months of speculation and player evaluations will cease as names are called from the podium. Dreams will become reality for prospects entering the league.
On Tuesday, Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, and Mike McCarthy held a pre-draft press conference to give insight on their draft preparation and to address many questions that have plagued the media’s minds over the last several months. As the team’s draft board is finalized, here are some key talking points from the press conference. From Jerry Jones’ intrigue of Kyle Pitts, Dak Prescott’s recovery process, priorities in evaluating cornerback prospects, to the possibility of the club drafting an offensive tackle after last season’s makeshift line fiasco- the puzzling questions were answered. Of course, no one can accurately predict what will happen come draft night, but here are some important takeaways from the Cowboys’ front office and head coach.
Drafting an offensive player at 10th overall?
Mike McCarthy: “BPA is best player available. We all would like to go that way. But obviously, we are building a football team. We have a new defensive coordinator. The speed and energy- we need to get more of it as a football team…we have excellent size and length. Speed is something that would definitely help us as we got through these draft prospects.”
Biggest shortcoming without a combine
Jerry Jones: “Medical is the No. 1 shortcoming. Medical. We’re not as prepared as I’d like to be for medical. It’s just the process, it’s harder to do to have everybody, that aggregation of players there in Indianapolis and the doctors and everything. There is no question that I don’t have the same feeling about the 40 times with them going on different surfaces and all over the country and different clocks.”
Has Jerry Jones’ “infatuation” with Kyle Pitts been blown out of proportion?
Jerry Jones: “It’s not legitimate. But when I say it, anybody in the draft is impressed, probably an exaggeration as fascination. I may have used the word myself, but the point is its distortion for this draft and where we are there. To imply something is just not the case. We’re not going to go in there and spend an inordinate collateral or value to maneuver up there so we can get him. “
Does NFL bloodlines impact player evaluations (fathers of Patrick Surtain II and Jaycee Horn)?
Jerry Jones: “For me, it does. I believe in osmosis, sitting around the breakfast table. It works. We ask all the time, ‘are they a coach’s son?’ We ask that all the time. It really helps to hear it all day long, every day and have it in your fabric to have been a part of that. There’s an awareness factor that we look to. But absolutely. Personally, and I think in general, people, we make that point of reference is that [Joe] Horn played, had a lot of time in New Orleans and was a great competitor. Fair to say?”
Mike McCarthy: “Yeah, I coached him for 10 years. Coached his father.”
Where is Dak Prescott in his recovery process?
Stephen Jones: “Where we sit right now, we couldn’t be happier. I’m sure you all get peeks out on the field. He’s just done an amazing job. His work ethic, of course, it’s contagious with his teammates. One of the things that stuck out about Dak’s leadership last year is he was right back in the facility right after he was hurt. His leadership is elite. And of course, he’s doing that on the field, and he’s just making a tremendous amount of progress. We feel like he’ll be 110 percent ready to go.”
Mike McCarthy: “Well, he’s made a lot of progress lately. I was able to watch him work Saturday. It was probably his most extensive work so far. He’s throwing now, doing the footwork drills. He’s made a lot of progress. Very disciplined in his regimen. He’s here almost every day, so I’d say he’s right on track or maybe a little ahead of schedule.”
What matters most in analyzing cornerbacks: making plays on the ball or solid press coverage?
Stephen Jones: “I think both, especially when you’re picking 10th. You want these guys to check all the boxes. You want them to have the length to deter the quarterback from throwing it that way, but if they do, then you want them to have great ball skills and great playmaking ability to turn the ball over. Mike, I think he says it about every 15 minutes- ‘get the ball.’ We did a good job of that last year on defense, we had some really good numbers on getting the ball. What we’ve got to do, obviously, on offense is protect it a little better. But finding these defensive guys that can go get the ball are a premium and certainly the top guys in this draft. They not only have the length and ability to get with these big receivers, and tight ends if they need to, and not only prevent the ball from coming their way, but if they happen to throw it their way, they certainly can make a play on the ball, track the ball, pick it off.”
Team’s main priority in evaluating defensive backs
Mike McCarthy: “I think you look at all players, whatever the position is. Defensive back, you break down the physical, the measurables and the mental. You get a grade on that. And then the emotional component. But as far as the length and short-area quickness, I’m very focused on the ability to make plays on the ball. I think the ball skill grade is something that we pay close attention to, because it’s about the football. Turnover differential is the most important focus of our football team outside of winning the game. That will be reflected in all our defensive players, especially defensive backs.”
Drafting an offensive lineman?
Mike McCarthy: “I think, number one, you’re trying to develop obviously the full roster, particularly the offensive line. I don’t think you ever pass on an offensive lineman particularly from a depth standpoint. Given our experience last year, that’s an illustration that tells you the importance of all the positions. It changes the way you play when you lose- or the way you have to play- when you lose tackles…the development of that whole group is something I think with 10 picks, I would not be surprised if we do select a lineman in the draft.”
