The Cowboys eye a defensive prospect with Arvell Reese comparisons, sparking bold trade-up scenarios and debate over astronomical draft pick costs.
FRISCO - With the NFL Draft now in the books, we are seeing themes develop. And for the Dallas Cowboys, it's all about the defense.
Said owner Jerry Jones in a blanket summation: "We've changed this defense ... It's going to be different, it's going to be fresh. We've got a lot of great energy here."
What they also have is a lot of new defensive players - "great'' or otherwise.
In addition to what they did in free agency (with starting-caliber players in Rashan Gary, Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant), here Dallas ended up making XXXX picks. ...
And came away with XXXX defensive guys.
Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence are the first-rounders. So the whole group is ...
Round 1, Pick 23: Edge Malachi Lawrence, UCF
Round 3, Pick 92: LB/Edge Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
Round 4, Pick 112: OT Drew Shelton, Penn State
Round 4, Pick 114: CB Devin Moore, Florida
Round 4, Pick 137: DL L.T. Overton, Alabama
Round 7, Pick 218
And then add the trade for 49ers linebacker Dee Winters.
But maybe we shouldn't put third-rounder Barham in the "rest-of-the-group'' pile.
"He's been on our radar for a while, and when you look at Arvell Reese, there are things they do similarly," Cowboys scouting guru McClay said.
Wait. What?
Ohio State superstar Reese was the No. 5 overall pick by the division rival New York Giants and he's a blue-chip prospect who has drawn Micah Parsons comparisons.
Reese joined Downs and Texas Tech's David Bailey (who landed with the Jets as the No. 2 pick) as the guys Dallas would've traded up for ... and of course did so (from 12 to 11 for Downs).
And Barham fits into this ... how?
For one thing, maybe he can play linebacker along with doing some work as an EDGE. He's got background in both areas.
"We're going to try him at inside linebacker first,'' said coach Brian Schottenheimer. "We love the physicality that he plays with. ... We think that we want to start him inside. But we also know that we can move him as a rusher on third down, passing situations, and that's what we love about the guy.''
Schotty went with another comp by mentioning Barham as somebody who might do some of the things Zach Baun does with the Eagles.
Again ... lofty stuff. I might even call it a bit insane.
How did "The Next Arvell Baun'' last until pick No. 92? It's a miracle!
Frankly, another Friday get - Winters of the 49ers in a trade involving a fifth-round pick - probably deserves more attention. In Dallas' search for linebacker to pair with DeMarvion Overshown? If the Cowboys had a game tomorrow, I bet the TCU product Winters starts ahead of Barham.
But it's not yet "tomorrow'' here inside The Star. It's NFL Draft Weekend, when optimism and "freshness'' rule the the day.