Draft Insiders' Digest Premier NFL Draft and Free Agency Publication
Cowboys Deal Picks for Roy Williams
Photo - Wideout Roy Williams
The NFL trading deadline closed Tuesday with a major deal between the Cowboys and Lions involving wideout Roy Williams. The Cowboys surrendered their #1, 3 and 6th round selections in the NFL Draft '09 for the talented receiver. Detroit also gave the Cowboys a 7th rounder next year. It presents an interesting alignment for the Cowboys with Terrell Owens and Roy Williams the current starters. Unfortunately, they will operate without starting QB Tony Romo who is out for a month with a broken pinkie. The Cowboys outbid several clubs and paid a high price for the young veteran but he addresses a major need area for their offense. Draft Insiders predicted Williams was on the block this week and stated he was being rumored to be heading to either Dallas and Tennessee with the Lions being able to get three picks and two high selections as the bidding rose over the final days. Dallas paid a high price for this former #1 pick. They quickly signed this potential free agent to a five year deal avoiding Williams becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The deal indicated the Cowboys are definitely playing for this season with almost half their draft selections already gone in this blockbuster deal. Williams does give them an awesome duo with veteran TO, though it could take to late in the season for the duo to provide any impact with Romo missing until after midseason. Veteran Brad Johnson will take over the QBing duties in the short term and benefits from the deal and strong offensive supporting cast.
The Colts acquired DT John McCargo from Buffalo for a #4 selection plus other consideration next spring in the only other transaction. McCargo addresses the the Colts' battered front four that has struggled with many injuries, in addition to an overall subpar performance through the early '08 season. He is a disappointing former #1 pick who has never lived up to the high expectations when he entered the NFL and gets another opportunity to produce in a four man front that should allow him to succeed in a three technique spot. Otherwise, the NFL trading deadline was an afterthought despite many rumors this year involving veterans like receivers, the Bengals' wideouts T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson and the Rams receiver Torry Holt to Bucs all rumored in trade talks. Kansas City's Pro Bowl TE Tony Gonzalez remained with the Chiefs despite several clubs interested in adding him prior to the 4 pm deadline.