A year ago at this time, the Cowboys went into the 2016 NFL Draft resting comfortably with the No. 4 overall pick. They knew a player who could immediately impact the team was awaiting them.
In fact, Will McClay, the Cowboys’ senior director of college and pro scouting, has said that they knew they were taking Ezekiel Elliott with their first pick days before the draft. And obviously they were proven right as Elliott went on to enjoy one of the greatest seasons by a rookie running back in league history.
Unfortunately (if you can call finishing 12-4 and winning the division unfortunate), Dallas didn’t have that same luxury this time around.