Draft History: 1997

IRVING – The Cowboys targeted LSU tight end David LaFleur as the player they coveted most in Saturday's 62nd annual NFL draft.

Then they made sure the 6-7, 272-pounder from Westlake, La., didn't get away.

The Cowboys traded Philadelphia its first- (25th overall) and fifth-round picks in this year's draft and a third-round pick in 1998 for the Eagles' first-round pick, the 22nd selection overall.

Of the four players quarterback Troy Aikman worked out with that were expected to be chosen in the first round, three had already been selected when the Cowboys made the trade.

"You can speculate all you want that we didn't have to trade up," owner Jerry Jones said. "But we didn't want to take any chances that David LaFleur was going to end up somewhere else.

"This was a case of drafting for need but also getting the best football player on the board when we moved up and made the pick."

The Cowboys will have five selections on Sunday, when the final four rounds of the draft will be conducted.

After drafting LaFleur, the Cowboys addressed their needs at linebacker, cornerback and offensive line.

The Cowboys traded their second-round pick to Detroit for the Lions' third- and fourth-round picks. That gave the Cowboys three selections in the third round.

The Cowboys then drafted Appalachian State linebacker Dexter Coakley (5-10, 215), Wyoming tackle Steve Scifres (6-4, 300) and Oregon cornerback Kenny Wheaton (5-10, 190).

"We wanted a tight end, a linebacker and a cornerback and that's what we got," Switzer said. "We needed a linebacker because of the players we've lost, and we needed a cornerback because of the Deion Sanders situation.

"We didn't plan on drafting Scifres, but our scouts had him rated as the best available player at the time."

The Cowboys had LaFleur rated as the 10th best player in the draft. That's why he became the first tight end selected by the Cowboys in the first round since Billy Joe DuPree in 1973. Fittingly, he will wear DuPree's No. 89.

LaFleur's selection marked a shift in philosophy for the Cowboys, who had traded out of the first round in three of the past four seasons. The Cowboys have preferred spending money on free agents with proven track records instead of unproven rookies.

The Cowboys expect LaFleur to contribute heavily as a rookie.

"We cannot afford to have a player in the first round with the salary cap and the system that we're in today that doesn't make an impact ," Jones said.

Although most draft experts had California tight end Tony Gonzalez ranked as the draft's top tight end, the Cowboys had LaFleur rated higher.

Gonzalez, who played in a passing offense, is faster and a better receiver, but LaFleur is a much better blocker and his huge frame gives Aikman a big target on third down.

LaFleur caught only 71 passes in 41 games at LSU, but he played in a running offense. As a senior, LaFleur caught 30 passes for 439 yards and three touchdowns.

In January, tight ends coach Robert Ford spent three days scouting LaFleur at the Senior Bowl. Last month, Aikman worked out with LaFleur and gave his athleticism and receiving abilities high praise.

Coach Barry Switzer said LaFleur's blocking and receiving skills will give the Cowboys flexibility on first and second down. His talents also will allow the Cowboys to use more two-tight end formations.

Selecting LaFleur gives more credence to the possibility that tight end Jay Novacek, who missed last season with a degenerative back condition, will retire before training camp.

It also invites questions about Eric Bjornson's role next season. Bjornson has shown flashes of talent, but has been bothered by injuries in each of his first two seasons.

At 6-4, 235 pounds, Switzer said Bjornson is too fragile to participate in 60 plays per week. With LaFleur and blocking tight end Kendell Watkins, who missed last season with a knee injury, Bjornson will be limited to about 30 plays per game.

"I believe this pick makes Eric Bjornson a better football player because he is basically a wide receiver playing tight end," Switzer said."