DALLAS — The Dallas Cowboys have taken heat over their decision to trade a first round pick for wide receiver Amari Cooper. This is perhaps due to the fear that the team will now be unable to address their quarterback situation in 2019 if Dak Prescott falters in the second half of this season. At least, that is one reason the decision has been frowned upon through the media and fanbase alike.
Without a first round pick, does that remove the Cowboys from any opportunity to select a signal caller?
Short answer, no it doesn’t. In the present day NFL, 70% of starting QBs came from the top 32 picks. Drew Brees was the 33rd selection the year he came out of college. There are outliers in any situation but it isn’t the norm.
The quarterback has been the most criminally overdrafted position in the league and that is why you see teams move up to grab them because they are so difficult to gauge and so vital to a team's success. This year could be the year to pass on a quarterback but there is one name to keep in mind should Dallas look to invest in bolstering their depth at the position.
The Cowboys have recently taken a shine to selecting players out of Boise State. Tyrone Crawford was first back in 2012. The Cowboys liked him so much, they went back to Idaho and drafted defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. That worked out pretty well.
Current QBs coach Kellen Moore was an undrafted free agent out of Boise State when he held the clipboard for Prescott before retiring. The newest star from the wellspring is linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. Dallas wasn't done in Boise this past April, however, as they selected wide receiver Cedrick Wilson as well.
Should Dallas opt for a QB in the upcoming draft, they could look at the man who threw Wilson passes in Brett Rypien. If that name sounds familiar it should, Brett is the nephew of Mark Rypien. Mark was a Super Bowl MVP for the Washington Redskins. Brett has NFL bloodlines and that shouldn’t be swept under the rug.
Rypien isn’t likely to be taken during the first round (at this point in the process) but teams could make a case starting in round two. Rypien doesn’t blow you away with arm strength but he definitely will display plenty of “Sunday throws”, passes you see at the NFL level. Where he lacks in arm strength, Rypien makes up for with anticipation throws. He will throw to an area where he expects his receiver to be and away from coverage. At Boise State, Rypien has kept his interception numbers down with a high touchdown/interception ratio of 2.93.
The things that stand out most for Rypien is his ability to quickly diagnose the defense and finding the gaps in the zone. He can be inconsistent with his footwork based on pressure but handles it well for the most part. Rypien has played in 47 games during his four seasons for the Broncos up to this point, so there aren’t durability concerns. He also stands in the pocket and delivers the ball even though he sees the big hit coming.
As bowl season approaches, keep your eye on number 4 for the Boise State Broncos. He could find his way to Dallas if the Cowboys look to address the quarterback position with so many questions surrounding the position group as a whole.
Should the Cowboys consider another Boise State Bronco in the draft or is it time to look elsewhere for help at the QB position? Share your thoughts with Patrick on Twitter @DraftCowboys.