Drafting the wrong quarterback prospect can set a franchise back years, and when this mistake occurs, the general manager responsible for the botched pick is seldom given the opportunity to take part in the team's draft process again.
But this leaguewide consensus doesn't mean that quarterback-needy teams positioned high in this year's NFL Draft are under the most pressure to nail their picks. According to CBS Sports NFL analyst Charles Davis, the one team that can ill-afford draft blunders already has its franchise quarterback.
"I'm going to say Dallas, because every year at this time, going into the season, we talk about how good the Cowboys are, we talk about how explosive they can be, we talk about what they can do, can they make their push. And how many years do we not get what we're looking for?" Davis told the Tiki and Tierney show on Monday. "And this is a year where their needs scream on defense -- they just signed [quarterback] Dak Prescott to the big contract, he's coming back off of an injury -- but what happens if one of those big offensive tackles somehow makes it to [the No. 10 pick]? With that offensive line... Tyron Smith -- look, the guy's been a warrior -- but how many times has he been out of the lineup? Zack Martin has battled through a bunch of things, La'el Collins has battled through a bunch of things.
"So, that Dallas offensive line we remember as being a behemoth has not been that. Now, how do they get back into good graces? Well, the defensive side is a big part of it -- that's why Dan Quinn is the new coordinator. But I think there's a ton of pressure there, if you get down to No. 10 and a big offensive lineman's there -- yeah, all of your needs scream on defense and you have a choice of an edge rusher, you have your choice of the best corner -- a lot of things start to happen then."
Although Davis has the Cowboys selecting Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II with the No. 10 overall pick in his most recent mock draft, there's a chance that one of the top-two offensive tackles -- Oregon's Penei Sewell or Northwestern's Rashawn Slater -- will still be on the board.
According to Pro Football Focus' NFL Draft Big Board, the 6-foot-6, 325-pound Sewell is ranked the fourth-overall prospect, while Slater -- who stands in at 6-foot-3 and weighs 305 pounds -- is ranked seven spots lower at No. 11.
If both Sewell and Slater are taken before No. 10, however, it would behoove the Cowboys to draft the best pro-ready defensive player available. In 2020, Dallas' defense allowed 29.6 points and 386 yards per game, which ranked 28th and 23rd in the league, respectively.
The first round of the NFL Draft begins this Thursday, April 29 in Cleveland.
The entire NFL Draft conversation between Davis and Tiki and Tierney can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Tiki and Tierney Show on Twitter @TikiAndTierney and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.