Cowboys Rise on NFL Power Rankings After NFL Draft?
The Dallas Cowboys entered the NFL Draft with no "glaring" needs to fill on the roster. Many are unsure how to feel about the Cowboys draft haul, though with grades ranging from A+ to B it seems "feel-good'' is about right.
The Cowboys picked up Mazi Smith, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown, Viliami Fehoko, Asim Richards, Eric Scott Jr., Deuce Vaughn and Jalen Brooks over the course of the selection process.
But does the Cowboys' draft haul move the needle as far as their seat at the table regarding a Super Bowl run? Additionally, where does it leave the Cowboys in Dan Hanzus' NFL power rankings?
Hanzus has them ranked sixth. ... Behind only the Chiefs, Eagles, Bengals, Bills and Niners - pretty good company.
"The strength of Dallas' defense is a fierce pass rush led by Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and Dorance Armstrong," Hanzus wrote. "Head coach Mike McCarthy believes that strength will intensify after the team used its first-round pick on Michigan run-stuffer Mazi Smith. It marked the first time Dallas has used a first-round selection on defensive tackle since the pick of Russell Maryland in 1991 (that one worked out pretty well)."
Now, all the teams above Dallas are considered genuine "Super Bowl contenders," and after their draft selections, it feels as if Hanzus might have a similar thought for the Cowboys.
While these power rankings can be taken with a grain of salt as a single down has yet to be played, Hanzus' positioning of Dallas tells us what most already know - the Cowboys are a good football team.
With the additions of Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore via trade and now coupled with the draft haul, Dallas is in a good position to go on the other playoff run.
But are they the sixth-best team in the NFL? Time will tell, along with this thought: Dallas is No. 6, after the draft ... probably right where we would've ranked the Cowboys before the draft. So that "move-the-needle'' thing hasn't really happened yet.
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