A full five years have come and gone for the 2011 NFL Draft class. It was a strong draft, with players like Cam Newton, Von Miller, A.J. Green, Julio Jones, Patrick Peterson and J.J. Watt all going in the top 11 picks. The Dallas Cowboys have only two players still on the roster from that draft class, but managed to get production out of several others.
Now that five years have passed, we have a solid idea of just how good the players are from that class. Things can still change, and the Cowboys' grade is different than it would have been just a year or two ago. With that in mind, let's review and breakdown the Cowboys' 2011 draft class.
Day One:
OT Tyron Smith, USC (Rd. 1, Pick 9)
The Cowboys started their draft well. Smith is one of the best left tackles in the game, and he's missed only one game in his career. He's on a very team-friendly contract and is just 25 years old. He should a key piece of the offensive line for years to come. For more on the Cowboys, download the Chat Sports Android and iPhone app.
Day Two:
LB Bruce Carter, North Carolina (Rd. 2, Pick 40)
RB DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma (Rd. 3, Pick 71)
Carter is and was an interesting case. He showed promise at times with Dallas, highlighted by a five-INT season in 2014. He great athlete, Carter also battled injuries. He left Dallas after the 2014 season to join the Bucs, where he was a disaster in 2015. He's now joined the Jets, where he's hoping to rebound. He also struggled when the Cowboys switched him from a 3-4 ILB to a 4-3 OLB. Murray showed promise early in his career, although injuries limited him. He put it all together in the 2014 season, when he was the NFL's leading RB. But like Carter, he left in 2014 for the Eagles and struggled in 2015. He's now with the Titans. The Cowboys drafted two solid contributors on Day Two, but losing them after four years hurts a bit.
Day Three:
OG David Arkin, Missouri State (Rd. 4, Pick 110)
CB Josh Thomas, Buffalo (Rd. 5, Pick 143)
WR Dwayne Harris, East Carolina (Rd. 5, Pick 176)
FB Shaun Chapas, Georgia (Rd. 7, Pick 220)
OG Bill Nagy, Wisconsin (Rd. 7, Pick 252)
There were some starting expectations for Arkin, but he only played in one game for Dallas. He left in 2013, joining the Dolphins off the Cowboys' practice squad. He played just one game for Miami. He's bounced around since then and is currently with the Rams. Thomas is a strange case. He didn't make the roster after being drafted and latched with the Panthers. After 10 starts over three years, he bounced around in 2014 and 2015. He played for Dallas in the final game last year and didn't look that bad. He'll fight for a roster spot this year. Harris was a great return man and contributed at times as a WR, but when the Giants offered him a large contract, he left. Chapas briefly played late in his rookie year, but only lasted a season with the Cowboys. Both he and Bill Nagy were out of the NFL after the 2012 season.
Grade: B+
The Cowboys nailed their first round pick and had solid contributions out of the rest of the draft class. Although they lost good players in Murray, Carter and Harris in free agency (and that hurts the grade), they made the right moves letting them walk. The Cowboys also get a boost for their undrafted free agent class of 2011. Dallas ended up with kicker Dan Bailey and punter Chris Jones that year, and both are still starting. The 2011 draft class was one of the Cowboys' recent examples of drafting success that has helped them contend in the NFC East.