Day three of the NFL draft was a troublesome begin for the Dallas Cowboys. Certainly one of their reported favorites at operating again, Bhayshul Tuten, went off the board to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the second choose within the fourth spherical.
From there on, it was a run on the operating again place with six getting chosen throughout 36 picks. Getting into the fifth spherical, only one runner was drafted in entrance of Dallas earlier than they had been on the clock. In the event that they wished to get their man, now was the time. The Cowboys had been ecstatic to get “their boy blue,” Texas operating again Jaydon Blue at choose 149.
Then the Cowboys did one thing puzzling. They traded up from their second choice within the fifth spherical to choose three spots after drafting Blue. Would it not lastly be a large receiver? Perhaps a younger security to develop behind the present starters? No. Dallas traded as much as choose Florida linebacker Shemar James.
Dallas has Marist Liufau, and purchased Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray from free company, however linebacker was nonetheless a necessity, however a trade-up want? The Cowboys might use the depth, nevertheless it felt like James was a reputation that got here out of left discipline.
Then you listen to the team’s secret audio, and it begins to make sense. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus appears to love James and what he can convey to that room.
“I’m so excited to have you ever, man,” Eberflus mentioned. “You bought a lot upside…simply are available right here and kick some ass I’m simply telling you…I’ve loved watching your tape, and also you had an ideal Senior Bowl. I actually appreciated that too. Man, simply so excited to develop you and make you right into a kick ass backer.”
Eberflus has a historical past of growing late-round linebackers throughout his a few years teaching with the Cowboys. Anthony Hitchens turned an ideal participant for Dallas, and whereas with the Indianapolis Colts, Eberflus remodeled Darius Leonard (a third-round choose) right into a Pro Bowl participant.
The love for James doesn’t finish with Eberflus and the Cowboys. Bob McGinn of the Go Long Substack did a profile sequence on each place earlier than the draft, interviewing quite a few scouts and getting their opinions on gamers. One scout gave James a rave overview.
Stated one scout: “Captain America. Phenomenal human being. I can see him being a CEO of an organization sooner or later. Only a stable, constant participant. Not the perfect athlete on this planet however ok. He’ll be passed by the top of the third or the fourth. Somebody’s going to fall in love with him based mostly on the interview course of.”
James remains to be rising as a participant on the sphere, so he was chosen within the fifth spherical. Nevertheless, with intangibles like these, there’s no purpose to doubt that they performed an element within the Cowboys’ choice to commerce up and choose him, particularly with head coach Brian Schottenheimer emphasizing tradition and management with nearly each draft choose.
The rookies’ jersey numbers had been launched forward of Cowboys rookie minicamp this weekend. James was given No. 50, made well-known in Dallas by linebacker Sean Lee. Perhaps it’s a coincidence, or maybe the quantity was given to James on function. Both method, if there are even only a few “Captain America-like” qualities to the rookie linebacker that resemble Lee, then the thriller draft choose will flip into a house run very quickly.
