IRVING, Texas – The analysts for DallasCowboys.com have been all over the mock drafts for the last month, but none of them even mentioned Travis Frederick, the center from Wisconsin who went 31st to the Cowboys.
Here's the initial analysis from Valley Ranch:
Ed Cahill:The best center in the draft. The Cowboys were known to covet Wisconsin's center Peter Konz last season, and they go ahead and select his successor this season. He has lined up at both guard and center, but has shown a good football IQ with great upper and lower body strength. I think he'll be a good anchor for the Cowboys offensive line moving forward. The questions will be where the Cowboys project him, center or guard?
Nick Eatman: Obviously, this is disappointing for a lot of Cowboys fans who had high hopes for a better player. But, offensive line help was needed and they got it. One thing I always say about taking guards and centers in the first round, you usually get the best ones in the draft. And they did with Frederick. Is it enough consolation? Not sure. I think had the Cowboys gotten more in the trade, it would've been a better move. But if you take a center 31st overall, he starts. So that should be an upgrade right there.
Rowan Kavner: The Cowboys passed on one of the draft's highest ranked defensive lineman to move down, add a third round pick and take a center that couldn't have been on many first-round draft boards. The addition of Travis Frederick addresses a need on the offensive line, although when Phil Costa was healthy against the Ravens the line looked better than it did all season. It certainly was an unexpected pick and first day as a whole.
David Helman: Truth be told, my initial reaction to the selection of Wisconsin center Travis Frederick was "Who?" Somehow he managed to avoid every bit of pre-draft coverage I digested. He's definitely not a sexy or exciting pick, but he could be the interior line help the Cowboys were looking for. If new Minnesota defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, who could have been headed to Dallas as the 18th pick, winds up having a better career than Frederick, Dallas and its front office won't hear the end of it.
Bryan Broaddus: I honestly was surprised they traded back in this draft. They didn't value defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd as much as I did. I thought he would have been an outstanding fit in this scheme but that's not the case. I believe they lost out on Slyvester Williams as well to take a center that had his moments where he didn't play as well on tape. I believe that Frederick was their highest ranked linemen on the board which is why they made the pick. This will be an opportunity for Bill Callahan to work to develop him the best he can.
