Dallas Cowboys: Shane Ray Could Fall Into Their Lap

Missouri defensive end Shane Ray committed a fairly huge error when he was stopped is Missouri this week and cited for possession of marijuana, per a report from ESPN.com. The citation means two things:

For one, it means he will already be on the NFL’s radar in terms of the substance abuse program per ESPN.com. Two, with this happening right before the draft his top ten draft stock will likely plummet.

But just how far will it drop? Most NFL experts agreed that he was one of the best pass rushing talents in the draft, and there are plenty of teams that would have loved to take him in the 1st round. But the risk is there now in terms of future suspensions, and that could cause a fall to later rounds.

One of the teams that might still want to grab him in the first round is the Dallas Cowboys. They have some immediate and real pass rushing needs with the likely long-term suspension of Greg Hardy that was announced this past week. Hardy was someone the Cowboys were hoping could make an impact from day one, and with him possibly being gone until Week 11, barring an appeal, Dallas’ draft plan could have been altered drastically. Now the news of Ray’s drug possession comes out, and with it the strong likelihood of Ray being available when the Cowboys pick 27th. Will the Cowboys pull the trigger on him even though he, like Hardy, is a risk to miss time?

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The fact of the matter is that Dallas might not have a choice. They are desperate for someone who can create consistent pressure on the opposing team’s quarterback, and can’t afford to take any steps back on defense in 2015. Who on the teams roster today can be relied upon to be that guy game in and game out? Probably nobody, and with Ray now likely available without the Cowboys having to trade up, and at a cheaper price contract-wise at 27th overall, there can’t be any hesitation when Dallas’ turn to pick in the 1st round comes up.

Sure, now that Ray will be a part of the NFL’s substance abuse program, he becomes a huge red flag for teams that might desire his services. With the recent history of guys like Josh Gordon no one wants to pay someone millions of dollars and end up with a player who doesn’t see the field on Sundays. Any team with a decent pass rushing group probably would not take the chance with Ray, unless he fell into the second- or third-round, which many draft experts think is a distinct possibility. But the Cowboys were 28th in the NFL in sacks last year, and that just won’t cut it in 2015 if they want to have a real shot at a Super Bowl run.

To his credit, Ray has already come out and apologized for what he did, and whether that apology was agent driven or his own idea, it is a good thing he isn’t looking for excuses for his behavior that he knows couldn’t have come at a worse time. Dallas needs to figure out whether he is sincere in his words or throwing those words out in an attempt at damage control. Regardless, the Cowboys and Ray both have their own problems, and they may be the answer to each other’s issues on Thursday.

Next: Cowboys take a troubled corner?

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