Draft History: 1995

IRVING – It took more than seven hours for the Cowboys to get started in Saturday's draft. So it should come as no surprise that none of the selections they made project as instant starters.

Dallas traded out of the first round, then moved down again in the second before grabbing Alabama running back Sherman Williams with the 46th overall pick. They added to the offense with their next two second-round choices, 305-pound tight end Kendell Watkins of Mississippi State and tackle Shane Hannah of Michigan State. The Cowboys plan to move Hannah to guard this year and Watkins to guard or center in the near future.

But Williams was the featured selection for Dallas Saturday despite the fact that the club hopes his playing time will be limited the next few years.

"We got the running back we wanted," said coach Barry Switzer. "We didn't bring him in here to beat out Emmitt Smith. But we had problems last year when he was hurt."

The Cowboys have not re-signed Blair Thomas who they feel is limited and lacks explosion. He's likely to go elsewhere now. Lincoln Coleman was the only backup tailback under contract for 1995 but he's a long shot to make the team.

"We really did something unique in my mind," owner Jerry Jones said. "We left ourselves able to compete for the Super Bowl if for any reason Emmitt Smith went down."

Williams was the No. 5 all-time rusher at Alabama, the No. 1 all-time high school rusher in the state at Class 5A. Despite being even smaller than Smith - 5-73/4, 189 - Williams was extremely productive. He finished his career on an incredible high, rushing for 166 yards and catching eight passes for 155 in the Tide's 24-17 win over Ohio State in the Citrus Bowl.

Jones said that despite the team's focus on trades Saturday, Williams and Watkins were targets all along. Watkins is a truly different type of player, being a 305-pound tight end.

"He's not going to go out and catch 50 passes for us next year," tight ends coach Robert Ford said. "If he gets 10 or 12, we've done good."

In fact, Watkins caught just 11 passes in his college career. The Cowboys think he will replace Scott Galbraith as the blocking tight end this season. Galbraith is a free agent unlikely to be resigned. Later, Watkins projects as a guard or center.

"For an average blocking tight end, that would be a difficult move," said offensive line coach Hudson Houck. "This man is not an average blocker. He's unbelievable."

Hannah played left tackle at Michigan State and weighed 360 pounds. The Cowboys would like to see him in the 340 range when he competes at right guard this summer. Hannah will battle Ron Stone for that position while Larry Allen stays outside at right tackle due to Erik Williams' knee and off-the-field problems.

"He will fit in well at what we ask our guards to do," said Houck, who noted that many other clubs did not regard Hannah so highly. "We're not in other draft rooms, but from publications we see, we probably liked him better than most teams. But you have to look at what fits your offense. San Francisco (which uses smaller, quicker linemen) would not be interested in him. But he's extremely strong at the point of attack."

The Cowboys finished their draft for the day with the choice of Bowling Green's Charlie Williams. He played wide receiver in college but projects as a defensive back and special teams player in the NFL.

In Sunday's continuation of the draft, the Cowboys have three fourth-round picks, two choices in the fifth and one in the seventh.