The most productive restructuring plan the Cowboys launched in recent memory was started partly by chance. The best ones sometimes are.
When they spent the ninth pick of the 2011 NFL Draft on Tyron Smith, Dallas had not used a first-round pick on an offensive lineman in 20 years. They knew they needed line help. They even knew they had to rebuild the line. They knew Smith was a rare, young talent who wouldn’t come around often.
They did not know they would be spending first-round picks on Travis Frederick and Zack Martin when they did.