Cowboys should keep it simple in draft, target Joey Bosa
The easiest and simplest thing that the Dallas Cowboys can do with the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft is take Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa — if he’s available.
Sure, the Cowboys are evaluating quarterbacks like never before in hopes of finding a future replacement for Tony Romo.
And they certainly don’t want to be back at the top of the draft in the near future — so the opportunity to take a potential franchise quarterback is tempting.
But what the Cowboys can’t do is confuse “best” quarterback in the draft with “franchise” quarterback.
California’s Jared Goff and North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz are the top quarterbacks in this year’s class, and one should be available when the Cowboys make their selection.
But neither is considered to be a transcendent player, and both would rank behind last year’s top two quarterbacks — Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, the first two picks in 2015.
But there’s no question about Bosa. He’s ranked No. 1 overall by NFLDraftScout.com.
And if you don’t believe them, just ask the player on whether he thinks No. 1.
I do believe I’m the best player in the draft.
Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa
“Yeah, I do,” the confident Bosa said before a throng of media at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I do believe I’m the best player in the draft. There’s of course, a lot of amazing players in the draft and it’s going to be up to Tennessee to make that decision. But I think as a player if you don’t believe that then there’s kind of something wrong.”
The Tennessee Titans have the first overall pick and are likely targeting Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. The Cleveland Browns need a quarterback at No. 2, so either Goff or Wentz will go there. Bosa is not considered to be a good fit at No. 3 for the San Diego Chargers and their 3-4 defense.
“Yeah, I guess you can say I’d be more comfortable [at defensive end in a 4-3] because I’ve never played in a 3-4,” Bosa said. “But I can’t speak for it because I’ve never played in a 3-4. I think I’ll be comfortable staying wherever they see me.”
He would be a natural fit in Dallas, where the Cowboys could finally have the answer to their troubles at defensive end.
The Cowboys tried to address the position last year by drafting Randy Gregory in the second round and signing Greg Hardy as a free agent. Gregory recorded zero sacks and has been suspended for the first four games of 2016 after violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Hardy registered five sacks but was such a problem off the field that the Cowboys are unlikely to bring him back.
“We’ve just got to do everything we can,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “Obviously, we tried hard last year. That will continue to be a focus. At the end of the day, that’s a big part of a successful football team, getting pressure on the passer.”
Bosa did that as well as anyone in college football, racking up 18.5 sacks the past two seasons. In 2014, he led the Big Ten in sacks and tackles for loss en route to being named the conference’s defensive player of the year.
“I think I bring the best pass rusher, the best defensive lineman in the country,” Bosa said. “I’m obviously coming to the team that drafts me to help them win and help them eventually make it to the Super Bowl.”
Another positive about Bosa is his “cool dude” personality. His ease in handling the media shows that he will do well under the Dallas spotlight.
Consider these answers:
No, I never see myself as a Joe. Maybe once I’m 50, I’ll be Joe. Old man Joe.
Joey Bosa
Will you be Joe in the NFL or still Joey?
“No, I never see myself as a Joe,” Bosa said. “Maybe once I’m 50, I’ll be Joe. Old man Joe.”
As the son of former Dolphins defensive end John Bosa, who was a first-round pick in 1987, he was asked if there was pressure on his future son to be a first-round defensive end.
“Never really thought about that,” Bosa said. “Got to marry a tall, athletic girl and breed football players, I guess.”
Bosa gets it and is not afraid to say it.
While there is a legitimate school of thought regarding the need to take a quarterback at the top of the draft as a future replacement for the aging Romo, Bosa said teams should let the recent Super Bowl and linebacker Von Miller’s dominant pass-rushing performance be their guiding force.
“I mean, you watched the Super Bowl,” Bosa said, when asked if he could impact a game as a much as a franchise quarterback. “That’s pretty much the only example I have to give. The defense won that game — 100 percent Von Miller. He really showed what a pass rusher can do for a team.”
Attention Dallas: Keep it simple, take Bosa.
Clarence Hill: 817-390-7760, @clarencehilljr
This story was originally published February 28, 2016 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Cowboys should keep it simple in draft, target Joey Bosa."