Los Angeles Lakers
Judging the Lakers before the trades is a non-sensible task. They are drastically different in talent and attitude since moving on from the Westbrook days.
Who is betting against LeBron in the series against Memphis? No back to back games in the playoffs. I have to laugh at the “he and Anthony might get tired” narrative Laker haters (Tim Bontemps and Alan Hahn) try to say on the networks.
Funny that some talking heads on ESPN keep saying the Lakers had to go to OT with the Timberwolves true, but if you watched the game, if it wasn’t for an Anthony Davis bonehead play on the last shot, that argument is eliminated. Funny how some supposedly talking heads can hate on a team but act as if it’s just a professional opinion.
If the Lakers return most of this roster next year, the real excitement will be watching them in the 2023-24 season. Hopefully, they learned what other teams have shown better to play against Kyrie instead of with him.
Great first win against Memphis, and with Ja Morant being banged up, if somehow the Lakers get game two, this series can be over quickly.
Dallas Cowboys
Confused. Was Kellen Moore, the great offensive coordinator, the same guy that called the plays versus the 49ers in the past two playoff games? Talking heads refer to him as a cross between Air Coryell and Bill Walsh but did anyone watch those games? Kellen is a good coordinator who is pass-happy for most and will still have growing pains as he tries to get the Chargers a playoff win.
How many more years does Dallas talk Dan Quinn out of head coaching jobs? It seems clear that the pressure is squarely on Mike McCarthy, who turns 60 turning the season. Jerry lost the chance to add Sean Payton, but I can’t see him losing Dan Quinn. Should Dallas catch a little lighting in the bottle and make a Super Bowl run, would anyone be surprised if Mike McCarthy retired and possibly to a consulting role with the Cowboys? It is pretty apparent that this team trust and listens to Dan Quinn.
Great teams are built on day three, and UDFA signings, and here are some players that caught my eye for the Cowboys to have high on the day three radar.
Offense
o QB--Malik Cunningham, Louisville
o RB--Chase Brown, Illinois,
o RB—DeWayne McBride, UAB,
o WR—Parker Washington, Penn State
o WR—Jake Bobo, UCLA,
o TE---Will Mallory, Miami,
o OT---Jaxson Kirkland, Washington
o OT—Wanya Morris, Oklahoma,
o OC—Steve Avila, TCU,
o OG--Atonio Mafi, UCLA
Defense
o DE--Dylan Horton, TCU
o DT--Keondre Coburn, Texas
o DT--DJ Dale, Alabama
o DE--Andre Carter, Army
o LB—Charlie Thomas, Georgia Tech
o LB—Dee Winters, TCU
o LB---Nick Hampton, Appalachian State
o CB--Cory Trice, Purdue
o CB--Jaylon Jones, Texas A&M
o FS—DeMarco Hellams, Alabama
o SS--Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn State
A No Trade Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft
Rd1—(26)----Calijah Kancey DT Pittsburgh
With the resigning of Jonathan Hankins and the loss of Carlos Watkins, run-stopping is still a priority to address this off-season. Bijan Robinson is unavailable in this draft, so the Cowboys select between the best defensive tackle and offensive guard on the board.
Kancey is a very different type of defensive tackle than Hankins but will serve as a rotational run stuffer with much more on the pass-rushing side. He’ll be a rotational player to start the season but should end the season as a starter and major contributor on the defense.
Comparison: Grady Jarrett (a former Dan Quinn selection in Atlanta)
Rd2--- (58) ----Steve Avila OG TCU
He should be a day-one starter, left guard, and offers insurance and the ability to move to center should Dallas elect to move on from Tyler Biadasz after the season.
NFL.com comparison: Chris Kemoeatu
Rd 3--- (90)--- Zach Evans RB Ole Miss
The ideal back to add to Pollard and Jones. Evans has all the traits to be a three-down back but should benefit from sharing carries and time this year before pushing for a more substantial role in coming years.
NFL.com comparison: Melvin Gordon
Rd 4—(129) ---Luke Schoonmaker TE Michigan
With Jake Ferguson’s and Peyton Hendershot’s limited success, the need for tight ends is less pressing than some in the media would make you think. With everyone moving one spot up the depth chart, Schoonmaker gives them a more than adequate number 3 tight end for this season, with likely more in coming years as contracts play out.
NFL.com comparison: Dawson Knox
Rd 5---176---Charles Jones WR Purdue
Cowboys have the homerun guys in Lamb and Cooks, but a sure-handed chain mover receiver is a good idea for the number four spot. Jones is an outstanding route runner with good hands and has a special team aspect to his game that will be valuable to the team.
Rd 6—212—Cam Jones LB Indiana
He has the making of an excellent quality backup who can assist on special teams and be an outstanding role player for the defense. Jones missed the action last year, or his stock likely would be higher and is a steal at this point in the draft.
Rd. 7---244---Viliami Fehoko DE San Jose State
The perfect add at this point as someone they can stash likely on the practice squad for a year to get up to NFL weight and strength and then push for a roster spot, as many Dallas defensive linemen came back on short or one-year deals.
This draft checked a lot of the remaining open boxes for the Cowboys. Still, it did not address all of them, as it took care of run defense, left guard, running back depth, and tight end depth but missed adding a developmental QB and additional corner, but sometimes you have to go with what the board and draft dictates.
This group of quarterbacks drops off quickly from real potential long-term candidates to clipboard holders for a brief time. None of the guys available after addressing their most significant needs would be able to beat out Will Grier for the number three spot, so I passed. The same thing happened when I came to rounds six and seven, as more quality linebackers and defensive linemen were available compared to cornerbacks.
They would be better off adding someone like Malik Cunningham if he goes undrafted or Jeff Driskel if they are looking for someone to push Grier. Ideally, Cunningham would be a great addition as a UDFA and someone they can stash on a practice squad for developmental purposes.
A player to remember after the draft that could still join the Cowboys include Anthony Brown (if healthy). If not, Fabian Moreau would be a nice low-cost corner with 45 starts in the league.
Houston Astros
Still one of the best-run franchises in all sports. Watching them, though, this season, I do feel like with the departure of Justin Verlander and the injury to Jose Altuve, they are still getting their legs under them, figuring out how to win as they enter uncharted waters without a true ace, and their leader on the field. Not surprising to see the peaks and valleys they are experiencing.
Learning to win without Jose, Verlander, and Brantley will only strengthen them as the season progresses and the baseball gets around to the playoffs.
Early signs that the new ace of the Astros will be Hunter Brown, and I’m good with that. He paid his due in the minors and probably was left down there a little longer than needed, but so far, this season looks strong and is getting stronger.
As the Astros hang around 500 after the first 20 games, the good news is that Michael Brantley is scheduled to return the first week of May, and Altuve is likely by the end of May or early June.
One area that has me concerned is the bullpen and the unreliability. Adding another arm in the pen would be wise if things continue progressing. I am sure they can get Alexis Diaz from Cincinnati or Dany Jimenez from Oakland for a top prospect as the
Astros have a few cornerstone guys that are not going anywhere, so you can trade a third-baseman, shortstop, or second-baseman prospect for a quality relief pitcher.
Well, check back soon as we approach the draft, the NBA playoffs continue, and MLB continues to move along in the first quarter of the season.