The 2008 NFL Draft is history with the Dallas Cowboys picking up much needed secondary help, as well as a playmaker in the backfield. Along the way Jerry Jones was Jerry Jones in that he frustrated fans with trade after trade — and reaching for players several rounds too early.

In round One, the Cowboys selected Felix Jones from Arkansas. This was no surprise to most people except for those that held-out hope that somehow Darren McFadden would slip into Dallas' lap. Unfortunately, McFadden went to the Oakland Raiders with the #4 overall selection and with Jones sitting there at #22 the temptation was too great to resist. What posed somewhat of dilemma was the fact that Rashard Mendenhall, the Big Ten Player of the Year, was still available at #22. Given Jerry Jones' roots I suspect the debate was minimal and the Cowboys selected Felix Jones with Mendenhall going to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the very next selection at #23. Forever these two will be linked in the eyes of Dallas fans and it will be interesting to see if in fact the 'Boys made the right choice. I happen to think they did because Felix Jones has rare speed and should be a very good compliment to Marion Barber. He can catch out of the backfield, is a threat to score every from anywhere on the field, and will contribute right away as a kickoff returner. That gives him a slight edge in my opinion.

In the SEC, it was he who led the conference in yards per carry, not McFadden. Jones also is a good blocker and led the conference in kickoff returns. So clearly, it's the kicking game where he will make the biggest initial impact as it was an area in which Dallas needed much improvement. Marion Barber is still the heart and soul of a punishing ground game, but Jones will provide a dynamic change of pace. Once comfortable in the playbook, Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett should use able to use him in a variety of way to keep the defense off-balance. Screen passes, reverses, and the short dump-off will be exciting with a chance to score on any play.

Overall, Felix Jones is a solid selection at a need position. He is obviously an improvement over Julius Jones who last year was a cloud of thunder for two yards before he was dropped like a rock. Now in Seattle, Julius Jones was questionable from the start and over time it became very clear that the Dallas Cowboys' decision to pass on RB Steven Jackson was a huge mistake. One can only hope they learned from that mistake and  Rashard Mendenhall will not haunt Dallas for the next decade.

Grade: A

In the second round the Dallas Cowboys selected Cornerback Michael Jenkins from South Florida. He was the fourth Cornerback selected in the first round, #25, and he was selected after the Dallas Cowboys traded with the Seattle Seahawks. I personally held out hope for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, but Jenkins was the #1 rated Cornerback on many boards, so it's tough to question the pick. That's especially true after watching team after team target Jacques Reeves last season. With the addition of Jenkins the Cowboys finally have the talent available to absorb an injury in the secondary without imploding. The only negative was the fact Dallas used draft selections to move up, however, it is unlikely Jenkins woulds have been available at #28, so this was a good case of getting the player you like for minimal cost.

Jenkins is 5' 10½ and weighs 193 pounds — and he ran a smoking 4.38 in the forty-yard dash. That's pure speed and speed kills. There were many Tampa Bay fans that were upset when the Bucs passed on Jenkins, instead taking Kansas Cornerback Aqib Talib. What I find interesting as well is the fact that Jenkins was wearing a Dallas Cowboys shirt this spring while attending USF spring practices. It's always nice to draft a player under those circumstances. He joins Anthony Henry, also from South Florida, in a secondary that on paper looks to be one of the very best in the NFL.

Grade: A-

In the second round the draft took an unexpected turn when the 'Boys selected Texas A&M Tight End Martellus Bennett. Wow! This just one day after trading Anthony Fasano and Akin Aolyle to the Miami Dolphins for a fourth-round selection. Well, I sort of expected a tight end to be drafted but not this high. Nevertheless, he's a big body with skill whom The Sporting news compared to Jason Witten. That's a good enough endorsement for me and there is no doubt the Dallas offense uses two tight end sets a great deal. He should be a very useful weapon in the Red Zone and once he catches the ball will be a load to stop given that he is 6' 6' and 260 pounds! A solid selection once the shock dissipated. Bennett entered the draft as a Junior since a new coaching staff was brought into Texas A&M. He received pre-draft advice that he would be a high selection and that indeed was the case. Still, the Cowboys are getting the best blocking/catching combo tight end in the draft — and a player who may very well have went much higher next season.

Grade B+

 Tashard Choice, a Running Back from Georgia Tech was selected in round four as the overall #121 selection. This was after a wild ride where Jerry Jones traded the Cowboys third-round selection (#92 overall) and then continued trading down until Tashard Choice was selected. The Cowboys went 61 total draft picks from the time they selected Martellus Bennett to the time Choice was selected. U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E! Evidently, there was not one player between #62 and #121 that struck Dallas as necessary so fans were left stunned, angry, and many just flat-out disappointed. Day two of the draft was a roller coaster ride with Dallas drafting six players, adding Pacman Jones through trade, and adding a 2009 third and fourth round draft selection. Wheeling and dealing is in Jerry Jones' blood, but Dallas has a long history of trading down for average value in return. Then, because they trade down, other teams draft players that would help the team. Even worse, Dallas usually trades back up — quickly minimizing further the value they received in the initial trade. I firmly believe a player like wide receiver Mario Manningham would have helped more in the third round, but time will tell. He was drafted by the New York Giants two slots after Dallas #95 overall pick. Nevertheless, I digress. Tashard Choice is a quality player and the running back position is a real team strength now. Perhaps the additional draft picks will be useful in a trade for a veteran wide receiver, but it was a wild ride nonetheless. Julius Jones and Tyson Thompson are out with Felix Jones and Tashard Choice in. That is definitely an improvement and it will keep Marion Barber fresh into the fourth quarter of games.

Grade: B- (May go up/down depending on what the 'Boys do with the 2009 3rd and 4th round selections)

In the fifth-round of the draft Dallas selected Cornerback Orlando Scandrick from Boise State. Another Junior, Scandrick is a bit raw but is blazing fast as he runs the forty-yard dash is 4.3 seconds. Still, he's 5' 10" and weighs 195 pounds. That is solid and he is terrific in run support. He's a developmental project, but anyone who saw Jacques Reeves continually targeted last season can't complain about building the talent level in the secondary. Scandrick, Jenkins, and even Pacman Jones who should be considered a fourth-round pick will all improve the defense and special teams in 2009 and beyond. Mel Kiper had Scandrick going in the second round, so to get him in the fifth-round is value.

Grade: B (Hey it's the 5th round)

After all the trading up/down Dallas ended up with just one more player. They chose Middle Tennessee State DE/OLB Erik Walden. Please, join me as I say "Huh?". Using the first selection in Round Six is two rounds two early in my opinion, but given the fact it was the last 'Boys pick I guess they had to reach.  A run-stuffing plugger was more in need given the fact that Jason Ferguson was traded (for this selection) and Tank Johnson is a mistake away from the unemployment line. Truly, would you rather have Jason Ferguson or Erik Walden today?

Grade: D

The draft started out on a high note — as it should with two first-round selections. The second day was unsettling with all the trades, but trading always carries risk/rewards that are an unknown until a few years later. Overall, the talent level improved with this draft and I'm convinced Dallas will acquire a big-time receiver before the 2008-09 season. That, a run-stuffing monster in the middle of the defense, and a young quarterback to groom is all that is missing from a stacked Dallas Cowboys roster.

Overall Draft Grade: B+