Roger Goodell's Indecision on Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory Could Screw Cowboys Over in NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys lost a talented linebacker in Robert Quinn to the Chicago Bears this offseason. That loss has already made pass-rusher a focus in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Dallas still has talent at the position, but the uncertainty has been ramped up tremendously in recent weeks. Two players in Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory who seemed destined to get reprieves remain suspended one week out from the 2020 NFL Draft, and whether one or both of them will be reinstated in 2020 will determine the team's draft plans.

To the surprise of no one, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is dragging his feet and won't make a decision on either before the draft.

Gregory has dealt with suspensions for much of his NFL career and missed the entire 2019 season with a ban of indefinite length. Smith has not even played in a game since 2015 with his own indefinite ban, but was shockingly signed by Dallas this offseason.

Now, the team has to decide whether to use one or more key picks on a pass-rusher, or to simply hope the two suspended players are ultimately reinstated. That's been a losing strategy time and again in recent years, though.

The safe move would be to just draft the best players available according to need. Relying on two players facing indefinite suspensions is never a great strategy, and the fact both are not yet reinstated should further drive that point home to Jerry Jones. Still, Goodell is putting the team in a tough spot for no logical reason. He should have some time to offer up a simple yes or no for both Gregory and Smith. That is, in fact, his job.