When Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa was selected third overall by the San Diego Chargers, the door opened for both of the Cowboys' biggest potential targets -- Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey and Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott -- to come to Dallas.
The choice left the Cowboys in a tough spot: choose a player who could bolster the secondary of a rebuilding defense, or bring in a running back who could potentially turn the Cowboys' offense back into the machine that led Dallas to a 12-4 record in 2014.
Here's how the football world feels about the Cowboys' selection of Elliott at No. 4:
Dan Kadar, SB Nation: There's no mistaking that Elliott is one of the draft's best players. He's a complete running back who can do everything. But this is high for a running back, especially when you have Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden on the roster. Sure, they're not world beaters or superstars like Elliott, but having them is a waste of money. Still, Elliott should be the Offensive Rookie of the Year front runner. With Elliott along with quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant, they have their new Triplets. Grade: B+
Doug Farrar, Sports Illustrated: This is a natural pick for the Cowboys, because they have the best run-blocking line in the league, but they haven't been able to replace DeMarco Murray's production. Elliott is comparable to LaDainian Tomlinson because he runs so well between the tackles, he's shifty outside and he's a tremendous blocker. Like Tomlinson did after his stint at TCU, Elliott can also blossom into a top-notch receiver. Not that he needs huge gaps to make things happen, but he's going to get them running behind this line, and we could be talking about a future rushing champ here. Elliott will define the Cowboys' offense through the end of the Romo era and beyond. Grade: A
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Good player. Too high. Other needs. Bad pick. He's a back. Grade: D
(Dallas received the lowest grade among all of Prisco's judgments.)
Mike Tanier, Bleacher Report: Elliott will be a blast to watch and a nightmare to defend behind the Cowboys offensive line. The problem is that Elliott may be overkill. The difference between him and a committee won't matter much if the Cowboys are allowing 30 points per game. Grade: C
Shutdown Corner Commentary, Yahoo! Sports: Presented a situation they might not have expected given the pick before, the Cowboys still took the player that team owner Jerry Jones has been rumored to be in love with for months. There was an internal debate over which player fit best here, but the Cowboys now have the most well-rounded RB prospect in years operating behind the league's best offensive line. Good luck with that, NFC East. This could help extend Tony Romo's career a year or two. Again, no Ramsey? Grade: B+
Jared Mueller, Scout.com: Back to back Buckeyes, the Cowboys are looking to win now and Zeke helps with that. High for a back but this is the team that should make that move. Grade: B
Steven Ruiz, USA TODAY Sports: Drafting a running back this high is always a risk, but Elliott is a complete back who will eat behind the best offensive line in the NFL. He's much more than a runner, too, which is a big reason why the Cowboys took a chance on him. He's great in pass protection and a threat out the backfield. Elliott will be the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, and should have the Cowboys back in the playoffs next season. Grade: B+
Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus: The rumors were heavy in Dallas all draft season, linking them to almost all of the top players, but they went the safe route with the best all-around running back in the draft. With one of the league's best offensive lines, they're looking to re-establish the running game with Elliott who can run in any scheme while showing good hands out of the backfield and pass protecting better than any back in the nation (one pressure surrendered on 102 pass blocking attempts).
He's always moving forward through contact and given his ability in the passing game, Elliott is a three-down option for the Cowboys. However, given the value of the running back position around the league and CB Jalen Ramsey on the board, they may have passed up a home-run defensive chess piece for their defense. Grade: C+
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: I love Elliott as a player. There's always concern when a running back is taken early in the draft, however, because of attrition at the position. Grade: B+
Mark Maske, The Washington Post: The Cowboys clearly are convinced that Elliott is a special running back and his presence will allow them to recreate what they had two seasons ago with DeMarco Murray. But productive NFL runners can be drafted long after the fourth overall selection. If Jalen Ramsey ends up being great, the Cowboys could regret not taking advantage of the gift they were given when he fell to them. Grade: B.
Todd Archer, ESPN: You can quibble with taking a running back this high, but clearly the Cowboys think Elliott will be special and be even more special behind their offensive line. The Cowboys had eight rushing touchdowns last season and were led by Joseph Randle's four. He played in only four games. Elliott had 44 touchdowns in three seasons at Ohio State. This move is an attempt to recapture the magic of 2014 with DeMarco Murray. Grade: Thumbs up
Todd McShay, ESPN: Of the 31 players drafted on Thursday, Elliott has a chance to make the biggest impact as a rookie. A Day 1 starter and a true three-down back, Elliott is the best blocking RB I've ever studied. That should help keep QB Tony Romoupright after he broke his collarbone twice last season. Remember: The Cowboys went 12-4 in 2014 relying on a dominant run game and an elite offensive line to take pressure off Romo. Elliott has the skill set to help Dallas return to that form. Grade: No. 1 out of his best picks in the first round
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