"It wasn't sexy. And it can hardly be considered a "wow" pick.And there's no doubt owner Jerry Jones tried to get cute, waiting to the last second in hopes of getting a blockbuster offer to trade down.In the end, the Dallas Cowboys simply did the smart thing, choosing Southern California tackle Tyron Smith with the ninth overall pick in 2011 NFL Draft, while breaking a 30-year drought.The 6-foot-5, 307-pound Smith is the first offensive lineman picked in the first round by the Cowboys since Howard Richards in 1981.Smith, 20, who is young, athletic and ranked as the best offensive tackle in the draft, is expected to immediately replace Marc Colombo at right tackle and will pair with Doug Free to anchor the Cowboys' offensive line for years to come.The confident Smith said his career will be the "wow" factor Jones has always coveted."I think I have the potential to be a Pro Bowler and be Hall of Famer," Smith said. "I'm willing to take the challenge and work hard for it.""We didn't want to risk losing him," Jones said of not trading down. "I gave myself a test and that was can I live with the missed opportunity of a trade more than the decision of losing him. I can live with the missed opportunity. I couldn't live with losing him."" Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/04/28/3036053/shunning-offers-to-trade-down.html
