Trade for Williams has impact on Cowboys' draft philosophy

CLARENCE E. HILL JR.

Much of the off-season talk around the Dallas Cowboys’ Valley Ranch training complex centered on the wide receiver corps _ from the unceremonious departure of Terrell Owens to whether Roy Williams can fill the void as the No. 1 option.

Two days before the NFL Draft, wide receivers remain a hot-button issue.

The now critical midseason trade with the Detroit last season for Williams has left the Cowboys without a No. 1 pick in the draft, while the departure of Owens has left them without a consistent playmaker at receiver.

The Cowboys traded a first-, third- and sixth-round pick for Williams, while getting a seventh-round selection back in return. They have 11 picks in the two-day draft this weekend. Their first pick on Saturday will be in the second round, 51st overall.

It has all fostered widespread concerns about the shape the Cowboys are in at the position _ so much so that former Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman said that the Williams trade has the potential to be one of the biggest busts in NFL history.

Yet, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones remains steadfast in his belief in Williams and is even more confident after seeing his work in the off-season with quarterback Tony Romo that he describes as "triple A plusses."

"The verdict is really still out, but I would absolutely do that trade again," Jones said during a pre-draft news conference at the... -- Continue reading at the publisher's site