DAVID VAUGHT - VIRGINIA BEACH, VA
Do you think the addition of coaches with recent college experience, Kiffin and Dooley, could help with the evaluation of players for the draft?
Ed Cahill: I don't think it can hurt. If anything you'll have a bit of a leg up within the two conferences Kiffin and Dooley coached in (SEC and PAC-12), but I wouldn't put too much of an emphasis on it. They weren't scouts in their respective conferences, so they aren't going to know the ins and outs of all of its players.
Nick: I think that's a good point. But I have heard some talks about the coaches having less input in the draft than ever before. Not sure it will actually play out like that, but it sounds like there will be more emphasis on letting the scouts do their thing with only minimal input from coaches. As for those guys, I'm sure they will be familiar with some players, but probably nothing that will give them an advantage.
JOSH HICKS - MCLEAN, VA
What are the chances of the Cowboys signing Henry Melton to help the defensive line? Having his old coach (Rod Marinelli) would help him come to Dallas. Also, if we sign him we could release Anthony Spencer. Thoughts?
Ed Cahill: Money is going to be tight. It's going to be a struggle to get under the cap, but even tougher to find the space to sign one of the leagues up-and-coming pass rushers in Henry Melton. I think the Cowboys would be better off trusting Marinelli to find and develop an interior lineman through the draft or free agency. It'd certainly be cheaper, at least.
Nick:Well, Anthony Spencer is not getting released. He's a free agent. He [embedded_ad]
can sign with any team once the signing period begins in March. As for Melton, it sounds like a good fit with him coming back home and playing for his old coach. The Cowboys really don't have a lot of money to spend but they could move things around and make it happen. But do they want to? The first thought, to me, is see if Marinelli can help develop another Henry Melton-type instead of paying for the guy he helped get to the Pro Bowl who is ready to cash in.
