Cowboys Get Lucky In The Draft !

I couldn't believe it! The Cowboys were able to draft from the bottom of the NFL Draft, and still wind up with one of the best players available -- Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant (6'2", 225 lbs). Most scouts had Bryant picked as the best wide receiver in this year's draft, and he was expected to be picked in the top ten -- surely no later than 15th. But that didn't happen.

As most teams seemed to pick for need (as opposed to the best available player), and some teams even reached to fill that need, Bryant (pictured) kept slipping lower and lower in the draft. When he dropped into the number 24 slot, Jerry Jones couldn't believe his luck and quickly arranged a trade to move up three positions and draft Bryant. While the Cowboys' most pressing needs were for an offensive lineman and a safety, they can certainly use a wide receiver with Bryant's talent.

The Cowboys only had one wide receiver that played great last year -- Miles Austin. Roy Williams on the other side was a huge disappointment and seemed to disappear altogether in some games. Bryant will pressure Williams to either step up his game or take a seat on the bench, and that's a good thing. Now we can only hope that the Cowboys are able to pull off a couple more coups in rounds 2 through 4, and get the safety and offensive lineman they need.

Meanwhile, the other Texas team (Houston Texans) drafted in the number 20 spot, and it looks like they may have gotten some help in the defensive backfield. They drafted cornerback Kareem Jackson (5'10", 196 lbs) from the University of Alabama.

And the Big 12 Conference showed its strength. The first four players chosen in the draft were from the Big 12, and they wound up with nine players chosen in the first round.