With the NFL offseason just kicking off, Chat Sports is taking the time to reflect on the 2016 NFL Draft. While the true career arcs of these players won't be known for years to come, we do have an idea of which way the teams' draft classes are trending. For the Dallas Cowboys, the 2016 draft class was arguably the best in the entire NFL. Here's how we graded it:
Day One:
RB Ezekiel Elliott, Rd. 1 Pick 4
Home freakin' run. Many questioned the pick of Elliott at the time given Dallas' need for other positions, but Elliott led the league in rushing and was a huge reason why the Cowboys went 13-3 this past season. He's someone they will build their future around.
Day Two:
OLB Jaylon Smith, Rd. 2 Pick 34
DT Maliek Collins, Rd. 3 Pick 67
Smith didn't play at all this season as he continues to recover from a terrible knee injury. He was projected to be a top 10 pick before the injury, and if he comes back anything similar to the player he was, he will be a total steal. Collins also made significant contributions.
Day Three:
DE Charles Tapper, Rd. 4 Pick 101
QB Dak Prescott, Rd. 4 Pick 135
CB Anthony Brown, Rd. 6 Pick 189
SS Kavon Frazier, Rd. 6 Pick 212
RB Darius Jackson, Rd. 6 Pick 216
TE Rico Gathers, Rd. 6 Pick 217
In rounds 4-7, teams just hope to land one or two players who can contribute and make a career. Dallas ended up drafting the Rookie of the Year and finding their quarterback of the future in Dak Prescott. Safe to say that's a huge, huge win.
Grade: A+
The 2016 class has the potential to be a real franchise changer for the Cowboys. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott alone are enough to give Dallas an 'A' grade for this class, but Jaylon Smith has the potential to be a star (when healthy) and found contributors later in the draft. For all the Cowboys draft coverage, download the Chat Sports Android and iPhone app.