Cowboys’ McCarthy shifts focus
Now that his first draft with the Dallas Cowboys is finished, coach Mike McCarthy moves into an unusual offseason not knowing when Dak Prescott will be under contract.
Meantime, the Cowboys gave their quarterback a receiver they didn’t think would be there in the middle of the first round in Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, and turned to arguably their biggest need at cornerback in the second round with Trevon Diggs of Alabama.
“It really starts tomorrow morning,” McCarthy said Saturday of his first full offseason. “We’ve kind of put on the side some of the planning and anticipation of what’s in front. Really already have two separate training camp schedules and plans that are completed.”
The coronavirus pandemic is keeping players away from facilities, forcing all meetings with coaches to be virtual, and might mean the Cowboys can’t go to California for training camp as usual.
“There’s a set of rules and procedures that we’re operating in, and we will use that process to get our team ready to win games,” McCarthy said.
The Cowboys used the final day of the draft to add another cornerback in Tulsa’s Reggie Robinson II and a pass rusher with Utah career sacks leader Bradlee Anae.
Offensively, Dallas traded up for Wisconsin center Tyler Biadasz and added a Prescott understudy with James Madison quarterback Ben DiNucci. The Cowboys put the franchise tag on Prescott while they try to agree on a long-term deal.
It worked out well the last time the Cowboys drafted a center out of Wisconsin. So, after five-time Pro Bowler Travis Frederick surprisingly retired at age 29, Dallas traded with Philadelphia and took Biadasz with the final pick of the fourth round.
The Cowboys traded down to near the bottom of the first round for Frederick in 2013, and he was the starter from the beginning. He missed the 2018 season because of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a nerve disorder that was part of the reason he retired even though he returned last year.
“He’s an animal, and I try to mold my game just like that,” said Biadasz, who skipped his final season at Wisconsin after winning the Rimington Award as the nation’s top center.
The Cowboys re-signed Joe Looney, who replaced Frederick when Dallas made the playoffs two years ago.
Left guard Connor Williams and second-year man Connor McGovern could also get a look at center.
With Robinson and Diggs, it’s the second time in four years the Cowboys drafted multiple cornerbacks.
Chidobe Awuzie, a secondround pick in 2017, was the starter last season alongside
Byron Jones, who took a big contract from Miami in free agency. The other 2017 choice, Jourdan Lewis, still has a shot to be a contributor along with Anthony Brown, a 2016 sixthrounder.
The Cowboys have 10 cornerbacks on the roster before adding undrafted free agents, which should make that position among the most competitive through training camp.
Defensive end was arguably as big a need as cornerback going into the draft after 2019 sacks leader Robert Quinn went to Chicago in free agency. The Cowboys finally addressed it in the fifth round with Anae, who led the Utes in sacks for three straight seasons and finished with 30.
The next most proven players, Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory, are seeking reinstatement from substance-abuse suspensions. Smith hasn’t played since 2015, and Gregory missed last season following his fourth suspension.
DiNucci said McCarthy’s brother was his eighth-grade basketball coach in the Pittsburgh area. He introduced himself to the man who ended up being his new coach in January when they were in an elevator together at the hotel that’s part of Cowboys headquarters.
James Madison lost to North Dakota State in the FCS championship game in Frisco.
“He was very familiar with our team,” DiNucci said. “I was kind of surprised that he knew who I was. Now I’m going to be able to play under him, and it’s just crazy.”
Washington deals Williams to 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers acquired one Pro Bowl left tackle and said goodbye to another.
The defending NFC champion 49ers acquired seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams from Washington on Saturday for a pair of draft picks and later announced that six-time Pro Bowler Joe Staley is retiring.
Williams sat out the entire 2019 season because of a dispute with Washington’s front office. Washington wasn’t able to get the compensation it wanted at last year’s trade deadline and kept Williams. He renewed his request for a trade this offseason and was finally dealt.
Odds and ends
The Carolina Panthers used all seven of their draft picks to bolster a defense that allowed 29.4 points per game last season, the most in franchise history. It marks the first time since the AFL-NFL merger that a team has used all seven picks on defense, per ESPN Stats and Info. … The Eagles acquired wide receiver Marquise Goodwin from the 49ers. … The
Colts traded cornerback Quincy Wilson to the New York Jets and used that sixth-rounder on cornerback Isaiah Rodgers of Massachusetts. … The Dolphins addressed by a priority by acquiring running back Matt Breida from the 49ers for a fifthround draft pick. Breida totaled 1,902 yards rushing in three years with the 49ers. New Patriots kicker Justin Rohrwasser says a tattoo on his arm is not representative of the Three Percenters, a loosely organized right-wing militia group that has adopted the symbol. Rohwasser, drafted 159th overall out of Rhode Island, said the tattoo will be covered.