2015 NFL Draft grades: Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys made the most controversial pick in the 2015 NFL Draft with the selection of Randy Gregory but how well did Jerry Jones and his team do for the entire draft?

As they always seem to do or at least try to do, the Dallas Cowboys stole the show during the NFL Draft’s second day when they stopped the slide of Nebraska’s Randy Gregory at the bottom of the second round.

Gregory failed a drug test at the combine and has some other red flags that saw him drop from a likely top-10 pick to the No. 60 overall pick. When he’s good, he’s really good and capable of being a double-digit sack performer as an edge rusher. Don’t ask him to get in the bottom of a pile or anchor against the run and he could be a difference-maker for Rod Marinelli’s defense.

The presence of Marinelli can’t be understated here as he should be a great mentor and coach for Gregory who to his credit said and did all the right things after his failed drug test was made public after the combine in February.

Gregory was one of five defensive players the Cowboys took with their seven picks, including first round pick Byron Jones who tore up the combine and rose up draft boards after he set a world record with a 12 foot 3 inch broad jump. With Morris Claiborne all but done in Dallas, Jones could see immediate playing time in the Cowboys secondary.

The selection of Florida offensive tackle Chaz Green in the third round was arguably the biggest head scratcher of the first three rounds. He missed significant time with injury at Florida and projected as a fifth or sixth round pick. If healthy, he could challenge for a roster spot as a reserve right tackle behind Doug Free this year and potentially earn the job from him should Free get hurt again or see his play drop.

Dallas went to the Big Ten for their fourth and fifth round picks in Minnesota inside linebacker Damien Wilson and Purdue defensive end Ryan Russell. Wilson shows good range in the run game and Russell was a team captain who can is scheme versatile.

The Cowboys had three picks in the seventh round where they took flyers on Wyoming outside linebacker Mark Nzeocha, Virginia Tech offensive tackle Laurence Gibson and Texas tight end Geoff Swain.

Dallas took a big gamble on gregory and this grade is dependent on the type of player he becomes. If he’s the next Charles Haley this is an A+ draft but judging from his past behavior, his future behavior is not likely to see that happen.

Grade: C

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