Near the top of many Dallas Cowboys' fans "realistic" dream targets for the 2018 NFL Draft is Florida State DB Derwin James. Safety is a need for the Cowboys and James is one of the top prospects at the position, so it's a natural connection. Take a look at any mock draft featuring the Cowboys trading up and Derwin James is likely the target. It's something I've done, but as we get closer to the draft, I'm growing increasingly concerned and convinced that the Cowboys don't even have interest in adding Derwin James.
The Cowboys have yet to show any actual, reported interest in James. Sure, perhaps they've met with him in secret and it just hasn't been reported yet. But the Cowboys have hosted nearly 20 prospects for official visits and there's still no word of a James visit. Heck, outside of DeShon Elliott, who should count as a local visit, there isn't a single safety coming in for a pre-draft visit as of now.
The Cowboys are not a team to mess around with or waste their 30 official pre-draft visits. They frequently draft players they visited with, even beyond the first round. Since 2005, the Cowboys have used their first round pick on a player they hosted for a visit in every season but one. That year was in 2012, when the Cowboys traded up for CB Morris Claiborne. This year, the list features the likes of D.J. Moore (WR, Maryland), Calvin Ridley (WR, Alabama), James Daniels (OL, Iowa), Will Hernandez (OG, UTEP), Kolton Miller (OT, UCLA), Connor Williams (OT, Texas), Da'Ron Payne (DT, Alabama), Taven Bryan (DT, Florida), Vita Vea (DT, Washington), Harold Landry (DE, Boston College), Rashaan Evans (LB, Alabama) and Leighton Vander Esch (LB, Boise).
Those are the Cowboys' current first round draft targets. With James not on the list, it's not a promising sign for those hoping the Cowboys take James (and that includes me). And by the way, he has no visits scheduled with the Cowboys either.
Even beyond the official pre-draft visit, there have been zero reports of the Cowboys even talking with James. He said the Cowboys didn't meet with him at the NFL Combine and nothing came out about Dallas and James at his pro day. Maybe our information isn't totally complete, but as of right now, the Cowboys simply don't seem interested in Derwin James. There have only been assumptions that the Cowboys would take Derwin because of the need and pure talent.
So why the apparent lack of interest in James? One potential reason is the Cowboys simply don't think they have a chance at James given the price tag it would cost to trade up to get him. That would also explain why players like Roquan Smith were not pre-draft visits. That's certainly a viable reason and could put James in the Claiborne category of players the team likes, but don't think they'll get. If that's the case, I won't give up complete hope on Derwin ending up in Dallas. But at the same time, if Dallas truly loved James, given that they have the ability to trade up, wouldn't they meet with him?
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The second reason for the lack of clear interest is the Cowboys might not think James is a fit for what they want to do at safety, despite James being a no-doubt first round talent. James played all over the field for Florida State last year, lining up as a nickel corner, strong safety and even an edge rusher. But despite his great gifts, and although I think he can grow into a true free safety, that's simply not what he is right now. James is best in the box and wasn't asked all that often to play the single-high, centerfielder role. The Cowboys want to add a centerfielder type, not another box safety type. That's why they passed on the likes of Tyrann Mathieu, Kenny Vaccaro and Eric Reid (so far, for those last two). I don't agree with the Cowboys' process so far at safety, but it's what they are doing. James himself has said teams have talked to him about playing a nickel corner role at times. That type of hybrid safety/corner is not what Dallas wants.
The Cowboys haven't really valued safeties all that much anyway. Byron Jones was a first round pick as corner/safety hybrid, but outside of Jones, the Cowboys don't invest in the spot. Xavier Woods was a 6th rounder, Jeff Heath and Barry Church were undrafted, Kavon Frazier was a 6th rounder, J.J. Wilcox was a 3rd, Matt Johnson was a 4th and there are a whole bunch of other misses on Day 3. You're going back to Ken Hamlin and Roy Williams for the last time Dallas really invested in a safety, despite the need.
And this is not a knock on James' talent by any means. Some NFL team is going to get a talented prospect with what should be a Top 15 pick. I would love it if the Cowboys took James because he would a badly needed upgrade at safety. If I could move up at the cost of the 3rd to get James, I would do it.
I hope I'm wrong about this and that the Cowboys actually do want Derwin James. But all the evidence we have at the moment says the Cowboys aren't seriously pursuing James. The 30 visits don't lie for the Cowboys and if the Cowboys view James as a non-scheme fit, they won't be making a move up in the NFL Draft to secure him.
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