Why a DE in the 1st round?

[Romotastic]

i think we are all hung up on the fact that our first round pick wont fill all the needs that we have....or we think we have.

some people want o-line, some d-line, some secondary.
it is difficult to pinpoint which need to focus on more. all we can do now is just guess and make a plethora of mock drafts to make the time go by until the draft.

[roysmyboy31]

We have a bunch of average players at the position. As others have said, the impact of a top 3-4 DE has a big effect on a defense and those positive effects can often be seen trickling into other areas of the defense. Having a big guy up front that can collapse the pocket consistently makes everyone else's job easier and causes havoc in the backfield for opponents. We don't have that kind of guy now. Ratliff used to be that kind of guy, but he seems worn down now from overuse at the NT spot. A new DE could be a big help and I see more value there than at the 3-4 OLB or DB position as it stands.
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[waremd]

The difference between a first to second round DE/DT is vast. There is reason over the past five years DEs have been near the top position taken in the first round. Dallas needs another threat because teams always focus on Ware. We need solid DEs that can consistantly get into the backfield and disrupt the play as well as play the run.

[DaBoys]

I think DE/DT/NT has to be the pick at 14.

I believe DeCastro isn't an option because 1. he may not even be there. 2. we signed two guys to play Guard to long deals in the off season. (which sucks imo) I think the likelihood of us drafting a WR is the same as us drafting an OT. It isn't going to happen. We just drafted both those positions the last two years. I don't see saftey happening because they just signed Sensabaugh to a long deal and Pool in FA who will start this coming year. I think Jerry wants someone who will start day one, with the 14th pick. I think OLB is out of the question as well, because I don't think the team is ready to give up on Spencer and of course Ware is the other. I also don't think the Dallas organization is as disappointed in Spencer as we are. ILB is out too. Not only is there just one ILB who is potentially worthy of a #14 overall pick but dallas has drafted that position high the past two years and have a FA aquisition that they seem proud of. I think Dallas gets a pass rusher at some point, but I believe they feel set with their starters and thus won't go LB in the first. I don't think the team is moving Rat to 3-4 DE. We talk about it every offseason, and I bet we will be doing the same thing next offseason. The thing is we run a 4-3 alot of the time. We aren't a typical 3-4 base defense. We move around alot, and on passing downs we almost always rush Ware, so teams approach us like a 4-3 defense anyway. We have Ratliff who is our NT. Love it or hate it. It is what it is.

So when you think about it, 3-4 DE, 4-3 DT, and Center are our only weaknesses on our entire team that wasn't in some way, no matter how small, addressed already, including CB. We won't draft Center at number 14 soooo.....

I think Brockers would be a big body that could take a double team or two away from D.Ware and Spencer. I think F. Cox is a smart, experienced, relentless, disruptive force, that would give us something we have never seen from out 3-4 DEs. I understand why 3-4 DE isn't appreciated around here. It's because we have had nothing to appreciate. Watching the Giants and 49ers game last year, I was just blown away with how much impact number #94 for the 49ers had on that game. I often mistook him for the OLB because he was taking over the game. We have nothing like him at DE. You think Ware is a force now? line him up next to Justin Smith.... then watch. You think Spencer is always a tad late? I bet JJ Watt could get him there on time. I really feel that Cox or Brockers could be that guy. More Cox than Brockers, but I'd be happy with either one. If we don't go DE/DT at 14 then I want to trade back. or get Decastro
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[Tyshine]

The pressure comes mainly from one source(Ware) making the defense too one dimensional. I would also like a stud NT, but I don't think Poe or any other first rounder has shown they can be that guy. Maybe the scouting department feels different. I would be very exicted if we spent our first two picks on DL. We have spent too many years with a mediocre DL, and I think the team realizes it.

[htfryar]

[star20]

[DaBoys]

[GeneralDissaray]