Dallas Cowboys News & Notes: "Dallas Needs To Have A Dynamite Draft."

2014 NFL Draft: Cowboys need to have a banner draft - NFL.com
Longtime VP of player personnel for the Cowboys Gil Brandt believes the team needs "to have a banner draft." Hard to argue with that.

In 2013, the Cowboys traded down, and it paid off; they were still able to upgrade the offensive line by picking center Travis Frederick at No. 31 overall, and they used the third-round pick they received in the swap with San Francisco to snare a promising receiver in Terrance Williams. Next month, Dallas needs to have a dynamite draft -- like the class we landed back in 1975, when we had 12 rookies make a team that went on to reach the Super Bowl.

Danny White: Dallas Cowboys don’t need Peyton Manning or any other QB, they need Tony Romo | Jon Machota, DMN
Sometimes, a very long headline makes reading the article below it kind of pointless. Regardless, here's part of what White had to say about Romo:

"I don’t know if there’s ever been a more athletic quarterback," White said. "People keep saying they need to get somebody else, I don’t think there’s another quarterback in the league that would be a better fit for the Cowboys and what they need, because he has to be able to move. He has to be able to improvise, with the offense he’s got."

"It’s just a matter of putting a few pieces together, and Romo is certainly as capable as anybody of getting that team to the Super Bowl," White said. "The one thing that they have made a point of is making sure that he’s paid what he’s worth, and I don’t think there’s any question that Tony’s laughing all the way to the back on that one."

Troy Aikman concerned about Tony Romo’s back; doesn’t think Dallas Cowboys will draft a QB | Jon Machota, DMN
To summarize: Aikman projects his own back issues onto Tony Romo's status.

Ranking the NFL stadium experiences: Where does AT&T Stadium fit in? | DMN
According to stadiumjourney.com, AT&T Stadium ranks fourth in the NFL in terms of Stadium experience. The Cowboys home field is ranked behind Indy's Lucas Oil Stadium, Pittsburgh's Heinz Field and Green Bay's Lambeau Field, which of course raises all sorts of questions about the validity f that particular ranking. Here's what they said about AT&T Stadium:

Cowboys Stadium with its fans makes for one of the rowdiest atmospheres in the NFL and can make for a bad day for opposing teams and coaches. The beautiful stadium not only adds to the atmosphere but makes the experience even better. With a vast amount of leg room in the seats and seating that is perfectly placed so that no matter where you sit you have a great view, Cowboys Stadium makes for a great atmosphere.

The seemingly endless parade of draft prospects ended with Dallas Day yesterday. We know that the Cowboys brought in around 30 national prospects from Monday through Wednesday and a little over 50 local prospects yesterday. Our Pre-Draft Visit Tracker already has the names of 23 of the national prospects and 33 of the Dallas Day participants - and we expect more names to be confirmed over the following days.

That of course has resulted in quite a number of stories about the various prospects yesterday, but instead of extensively quoting from each story, I'll simply add the names of the players highlighted in those stories and you can read through the story if you are interested in the players.

Stanford's Josh Mauro closer to Dallas Cowboys dream - Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas
Josh Mauro, DT, Stanford.

Mauro will be joined by other locals like TCU safety Elisha Olabode, Missouri quarterback James Franklin (Corinth), Abilene Christian receiver Taylor Gabriel (Mesquite), Miami defensive back Kacy Rodgers (Southlake Carroll), and North Texas running back Zach Orr (DeSoto).

D-FW draft series: Ex-Stanford, Hurst Bell DE Josh Mauro has rare NFL size and stature | Rainer Sabin, DMN
Josh Mauro, DT, Stanford

Cowboys’ draft workout includes SMU ex Gilbert - Clarence Hill, Star-Telegram
Garrett Gilbert, QB, SMU.

He is among four quarterbacks, joining TCU’s Casey Pachall, North Texas’ Derek Thompson and Missouri’s James Franklin, who will attend.

Other known locals invited are Texas receiver Mike Davis, Tarleton State cornerback Dashaun Phillips, Kansas running back James Sims, Missouri safety Matt White, Baylor guard Cyril Richardson, Miami defensive back Kacy Rodgers II, North Texas linebacker Zachary Orr, Nebraska safety Ciante Evans and SMU cornerback Chris Parks.

Recognizable QBs Among Several At Dallas Day Workout - Rowan Kavner, DallasCowboys.com
Garrett Gilbert, QB, SMU - Casey Pachall, QB, TCU - James Franklin, QB, Missouri - Mike Davis, WR, Texas - Ben Molina, RB, Texas A&M - James Sims, RB, Kansas.

Possible Pick: NDSU’s Turner Could Be Lower-Level Steal - Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com
Billy Turner, OT, North Dakota State

Closer Look At Prospects From Dallas Day - Bryan Broaddus, DallasCowboys.com
Kenneth Acker, CB, SMU - Mike Davis, WR, Texas - Kelvin Palmer, OT, Baylor

Casey Pachall has ‘good day’ throwing at Cowboys’ workout - Charean Williams, Star-Telegram
Casey Pachall, QB, TCU

SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert, Miami defensive back Kacy Rodgers (Southlake Carroll), Missouri quarterback James Franklin (Lake Dallas), Stanford defensive lineman Josh Mauro (Hurst L.D. Bell), Texas receiver Mike Davis (Dallas Skyline) and Texas A&M running back Ben Malena (Cedar Hill) were among notable names invited.

Other players at the workouts: SMU cornerback Kenneth Acker, TCU safety Elisha Olabode, Missouri safety Matt White (Keller), North Texas linebacker Zach Orr (DeSoto), Nebraska cornerback Ciante Evans (Arlington Seguin), Abilene Christian receiver Taylor Gabriel (Mesquite), Kansas running back James Sims (Irving MacArthur), Baylor OT Kelvin Palmer (Dallas Adamson) and Tarleton State CB Dashaun Phillips (Duncanville).

Gil Brandt: Cowboys tried to move up for Terry Bradshaw in 1970 draft - NFL.com
Brand writes that when he was working with the Dallas Cowboys, they tried to engineer a trade with Pittsburgh for the top pick in the 1970 draft:

Prior to the 1970 NFL Draft, when I was working with the Dallas Cowboys, I tried to engineer a swap with the Steelers for the No. 1 overall pick, with the intent of drafting quarterback Terry Bradshaw to play for us. I was turned down by Art Rooney Sr. himself, who said if my interest in the pick was so high, it might be in his best interest to keep it. The Steelers kept the choice and used it on Bradshaw, who went on to win four Super Bowls with the team -- and they haven't gone without a first-round pick since.

Remembering Back To When Lynn Swann Was Five Seconds Away From The Cowboys Drafting Him - Steelers Depot
In addition to Bradshaw, it looks like the Cowboys were close to drafting another Steelers Hall of Famer, Lynn Swann, this time in 1974: The Steelers took their sweet time with the 21st pick and let the clock run down to 14 minutes and 55 seconds of their 15 minute selection time. The Cowboys were already on deck, ready to turn in their own card with Lynn Swann on it the second the Steelers' time would elapse.

Is this the year mobile QBs surpass pocket passers in NFL draft? - Yahoo Sports
Greg Cosell asks: Are pocket passers not thought of as highly by NFL decision makers? To simplify the conversation: Would NFL organizations rather have Matt Ryan or Colin Kaepernick?

Dominique Easley pro day results: Florida DT moves past ACL injury - SBNation.com
Dominique Easley drew a big crowd to Gainesville for his pro day Thursday. He impressed everyone with his mobility after tearing his right ACL last September.

Here are five pass rushers who may go on Day 3. | SportsonEarth.com
Finding star players -- especially pass rushers -- late in the draft is what separates the most successful teams. With that in mind, Russ Lande offers five potential Day 3 pass rushers who have the tools to develop into quality starters. Carl Bradford, Shaquill Barrett, Michael Sam, Cassius Marsh, and Jeremiah Attaochu.