The Dallas Cowboys have some work to do this off-season filling the holes in their roster. No position may be in more dire need of being addressed then the cornerback position. And to think, things could even be worse if not for last years sixth round draft pick, Anthony Brown.
To state that Anthony Brown was a godsend is an understatement.
As a sixth round draft pick, Brown wasn’t even guaranteed a roster spot in training camp, but he took advantage of his opportunities when one of the players went down with an injury.
He ended up playing in all 16 games and started nine of those contests. He finished his rookie season with 55 tackles, eight passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one interception. Those are all pretty impressive numbers, especially when you compare them to Jalen Ramsey’s, who was the first CB drafted in 2016 NFL Draft.
Ramsey started all 16 games and finished his first year in the NFL with only 10 more tackles (65), six more passes defensed (14), and one more interception (2). Ramsey did however score a defensive touchdown for the Jacksonville Jaguars, something that Anthony Brown unfortunately wasn’t able to accomplish.
You can see for yourself that the Dallas Cowboys received tremendous value in the sixth round by drafting Anthony Brown instead of investing their first round draft pick in a player that put up similar numbers.
Of course, both Ramsey and Brown are just getting their professional careers started in the NFL and things may change in time. But, there’s no denying that #30 has a bright future in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys.
If not for Dak Prescott’s impressive rookie season, then we would all be raving about the year Anthony Brown had for the Cowboys. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending how you look at it, Brown was overshadowed by both Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. That’s just how good the Dallas Cowboys 2016 draft class was.
The Cowboys rookies played a total of 3,136 snaps in 2016 and do you know who played the most?
No, it wasn’t Anthony Brown. It was the Cowboys future signal caller, Dak Prescott, with a total of 1,011 snaps. But, Brown did finish second with 715 snaps, ahead of Ezekiel Elliott (712), Maliek Collins (662), and Kavon Frazier (36).
The former Purdue Boilermaker cornerback may have been able to stay somewhat in the shadows his rookie season, but that will surely change in 2017 since he is projected to start at one of the CB positions. In fact, he might just be the best CB the Cowboys have on their roster currently.
As things stand right now, Anthony Brown, Orlando Scandrick, and Leon McFadden are your top three corners for the Cowboys. So, you can see why this position absolutely has to be addressed this off-season.
Fortunately though, #30 at least gives all of us Dallas Cowboys fans a glimmer of hope that the future of the CB position is getting younger and more talented. We just have to hope that continues.
What do you think of Anthony Brown’s first season in the NFL?
Please feel free to use the comment section below to share your thoughts and opinions on this topic.
Brown was a breath of fresh air to the secondary. Despite being picked on by veteran quarterbacks, like Aaron Rodgers, in the playoffs. Brown still held his own. He reminds me of another Brown, that the Cowboys had in the 90’s, that was the MVP of Super Bowl 30, Larry Brown. If the Cowboys can luck up, on selecting another quality corner, like the corner from West Virginia, can’t think of his name, who held his own, recently in the Senior Bowl. In addition, to the Cowboys finding quality in the latter rounds, with Muhammad, of Miami, Rivers ,of Youngstown, to resolve the pass rush woes. It would be great also, if the Cowboys was able to get the safety from Connecticut, in addition to Hooker, Ohio State. Let’s not forget Fred Ross, receiver and friends with Dak, of Mississippi State. One can drwam, right? It’s time for Jerry to seal the deal.
The CB you are thinking about from West Virginia is Rasul Douglas. I agree with you there. I really like Douglas. He is a tall CB and has a fluidity to his game that should make him a really good player in the NFL. I also like Derek Rivers. I don’t think I would consider him a late round pick. I currently have a late 2nd/3rd round grade on him. But, Mohammed would be a good find in the later rounds. He is really talented, but the off the field issues will drop him down that far I think. I also like with the safeties you mentioned. I think Hooker will be gone before the Cowboys are on the clock in the first round, despite undergoing surgeries. Obi Melifonwu would be a good addition hopefully in the third round, but the Cowboys would probably have to take him at 60. Overall, there’s a lot of good players in this draft that can certainly help the Cowboys in 2017.
Thanks Brian for your thoughtful comments. With Mr. Jones, induction in the PFOH, Class 2017, Dak, Rookie of the year, Zeke, co-FEDX offensive player of the year, Coach Garrett, Coach of the year, and most important of all, the Cowboys offensive line, the best of the year. The Cowboys future looks very bright. Now let’s get some that hardware for the defensive side of the ball.
When that happens, we will finally see the Cowboys Trophy case, fill up, by bringing the Lombardi Trophies back to big d, like the Cowboys teams of the 70’s and 90’s. As a diehard Cowboys fan since 1966. I’m looking forward to years of dominance, once again.
Especially, if yhe Cowboys, hit on those defensive player, I mentioned in aforementioned article. How About Them Cowboys Super Bowl Bound!!
Free agency and the draft can’t get here soon enough. I want to see the new pieces they add to this team, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
great,bright future go AB…..