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Bucky Brooks, a former NFL defensive back and current analyst for NFL.com, joined Elf and Slater on KRLD-FM The Fan this week to discuss the Cowboys' draft. Here are some highlights:
On if Travis Frederick is better than Alabama center Barrett Jones:
I think Travis is a much better player than Barrett Jones. For all the accolades that Barrett Jones gets, I think it’s a little bit different story that scouts would give you when you look at his game and his potential and how his game projects to the next level. Travis Frederick is a solid, hard hat, lunch pail guy. He’s going to give you all the athleticism and versatility that you want to see from your interior people. He’s got football instincts, savvy and the ability to really just get it done against bigger people. And when you think about the fact that Wisconsin has been so successful producing guys in the pros, particularly on any level of the offensive line, I think this is a great pick. I think it shores up a big area for Dallas.
On if Frederick would’ve made it to No. 47:
It’s hard to know. The thing is what you can’t underestimate [is] it only takes one team to like him. If the Cowboys got a sense that there was another team or a series of teams that liked Travis Frederick, he was not going to be there. Typically when you think about guards and centers, they go not necessarily at the bottom of the first round, they go at the top of the second round. So with them picking 31st, they obviously felt like he was not going to be there at 47 and that’s why they pulled the trigger. And I credit them because when you fall in love with a player, if there’s a guy that you love and you know he’s your guy, there’s no need to get cute trying to get him at the right value. They got him, he’s a starter for their team, he upgrades the offensive line. I think they’re certainly happy with the pick.
On if Travis Frederick is better than Alabama center Barrett Jones:
I think Travis is a much better player than Barrett Jones. For all the accolades that Barrett Jones gets, I think it’s a little bit different story that scouts would give you when you look at his game and his potential and how his game projects to the next level. Travis Frederick is a solid, hard hat, lunch pail guy. He’s going to give you all the athleticism and versatility that you want to see from your interior people. He’s got football instincts, savvy and the ability to really just get it done against bigger people. And when you think about the fact that Wisconsin has been so successful producing guys in the pros, particularly on any level of the offensive line, I think this is a great pick. I think it shores up a big area for Dallas.
On if Frederick would’ve made it to No. 47:
It’s hard to know. The thing is what you can’t underestimate [is] it only takes one team to like him. If the Cowboys got a sense that there was another team or a series of teams that liked Travis Frederick, he was not going to be there. Typically when you think about guards and centers, they go not necessarily at the bottom of the first round, they go at the top of the second round. So with them picking 31st, they obviously felt like he was not going to be there at 47 and that’s why they pulled the trigger. And I credit them because when you fall in love with a player, if there’s a guy that you love and you know he’s your guy, there’s no need to get cute trying to get him at the right value. They got him, he’s a starter for their team, he upgrades the offensive line. I think they’re certainly happy with the pick.
