Cowboys Draft Wants Altered By New DC

With the Cowboys having two first round picks (both of which are heavily expected to be defensive guys) I wanted to write down some notes from new DC Christian Parker's press conference yesterday. I think he gave some insight into the type of players he's looking for in the first.

1. Parker basically campaigned publicly for Caleb Downs. The following is a quote from him on the importance of a strong nickel on a team: "Very important. That guy, he's a corner sometimes, he's a safety sometimes, he's a backer sometimes. He's a defensive end when he's blitzing. You want to have a guy who has natural instincts and ability to feel the game and play football. He's usually a guy who if you were playing football on a Saturday afternoon in the neighborhood, he's your first-round draft pick just because he feels the game naturally. That's definitely an important guy to a good defense." He might as well have just said he wants Caleb Downs repeatedly. It's unlikely he'd fall to 12, but a trade up is very much in the cards. Where do y'all think 12 and 20 could get you? I could see a scenario where Parker convinces Jerry that Downs is gonna be the foundation and leader of his entire system so find a way to get him at all costs.

2. Parker is switching the defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4 base defense. The Cowboys have long been 4-3. He stressed the idea of being multiple and fitting the system to the personnel available. The strength of the defense is the DT group. This would indicate a strong need for more linebackers/Edges.

3. Parker is from the Fangio tree of defensive minds. He plans to coach the same way his former bosses have (Fangio, Elko, Joseph) but add his own little nuances.

4. Parker heavily scouted Shavon Revel and plans on making him a key player in the defense moving forward. Given he's coached guys like Surtain, DeJean, Mitchell I think the Cowboys can afford to skip drafting a CB and have Parker work his magic on current roster corners.

5. Parker was asked two semi-joke questions. Did Jerry promise him both first round picks and will he bring any Eagles with him. He was very coy and laughed them off but I have a strong feeling he will have the biggest say on day one of the draft and that he will very much try to bring some of his guys over in FA. I have no idea about Eagles defensive FAs but have heard Nakobe Dean a lot.

6. Current roster holes. Everyone knows the current holes on the Cowboys are at Edge, LB, CB, and S. The current under contract Edges on the team are Donovan Ezeiraku, James Houston, and Isiah Land. The current under contract LBs are DeMarvion Overshown, Shemar James, Logan Wilson, and Marist Liufau. The current CBs are DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel, and Caelon Carson. The current safeties are Malik Hooker and Marquise Bell. There's practice squad level guys I didn't list but that's those position groups as it stands rn. Strong cases for worst groups in the league at each of those spots. I am almost certain 12 and 20 address 2 of these 4 spots.

So in summary, I think a lot can be taken away from this new DC hire as well as the press conference. I think he's going to hold the keys in R1 of the draft for Dallas. I think Downs will be number one on the board and if possible will be targeted in a trade up. Sure every team "wants" Downs but Parker coming in as a first time DC, former DB and pass game coordinator, and the draft capital to move up just makes so much sense. I think the switch to a 3-4 base defense even furthers the need for LB/Edge. Think Styles at 12, Allen/Hill at 20 or a trade down. I think CB will be addressed in FA but not necessarily in the draft unless McCoy is just undeniable at 12. He seems to think highly of Bland and Revel, and wants to make them work. With mock drafts going forward I feel something like Styles at 12 and a DE at 20 will be the most accurate given Parker's new system and team needs.