All options are open for Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys in first round of NFL Draft
Consider the Dallas Cowboys to be open for business come the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday night.
After not making many moves to improve the roster in free agency — and even taking a step back in talent due some key departures — the draft represents the best opportunity for the Cowboys to make an immediate upgrade. And starts with using their first selection, the 24th pick on a player or by trading up or trading back to gather more picks.
“It’d be maddening to not consider anything,” said team owner Jerry Jones. “Trading can be a big part of things. I would not not-consider anything. There is nothing dangerous about thinking crazy things. We should be thinking out of the box. We should be contrarians.”
What is certain is that Cowboys won’t be sitting still, just watching and waiting even if they don’t make a move.
Jones said he will be on the phone, chumming it up and talking over possibilities during what could be a volatile first round with so much uncertainty surrounding the plans of the teams in front of them.
Jones said the Cowboys learned first hand in the 2021 NFL Draft that they have to be ready for anything. Their plans of drafting a cornerback, either Patrick Surtain or Jaycee Horn, with the 10th pick blew up in smoke when both were taken before the Cowboys got on the board.
They simply traded back two spots and took linebacker Micah Parsons, who became the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
“You have to see which way the thing was going,” Jones said. “We had no idea Micah Parsons was going to be there last year when we started that draft. We all had our eye on corners. The bad thing would have to have not been flexible or willing to do something that really hadn’t gone to bed the night before thinking about. Flexibility. We have it here. The way to be ready for it is to be prepared.”
The Cowboys have done their mock drafts and have gone over countless scenarios about trading up, trading back and standing pat.
Making the situation even more of a mystery is the unusual thinness at the top of the draft. The Cowboys only have 14-16 players rated as first-round picks on their board, which could make them more inclined to move up from 24 to get a coveted player.
It may be what they have to do get a true difference maker.
“You got all these teams in front of you and you’re not sure what they’re going to do and how they have these players evaluated,” vice president Stephen Jones said. “It’s a mixed bag in terms of who might do what and who might take what. You really have to go through a lot of options. You do have to get prepared like that and then certainly you have to see what you’re gonna be giving up [to move up]. So there is a lot of work, a lot of work left to be done but at the end of the day I think the players are there that can really improve our team.”
Just who that might be remains to be seen.
Potential future Cowboys to watch
▪ Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State _ This purely a trade option as Olave should be gone well before the Cowboys pick. This smooth route runner would be the perfect to replace the-departed Amari Cooper in the Cowboys lineup.
▪ Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia _ Another dream option who might be too tempting to pass up if he’s available. The massive Davis has exceptionally rare athleticism and skills for his size and gives the Cowboys a beast to anchor the middle of the defense.
▪ Zion Johnson, G, Boston College _ Johnson is the best interior offensive lineman in the draft. He would be a walk-in starter at left guard and hold down the position for the next 10 years.
▪ Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M _ Like Johnson, Green is a need pick at left guard following the departure of Connor Williams. Green can play guard and tackle. But his primary position is guard and he would be a walk-in starter.
▪ Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah _ Lloyd is a three-down linebacker with the skill set that compliments Parsons. He is a tackling machine, who can rush and cover. He would allow Parsons to line up all over the field.
▪ Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas _ Burks could be the next Deebo Samuel. He is a big, physical big threat on the outside who can also line up in the backfield. Plus, he also would finally quench Jerry Jones’ thirst for drafting a fellow Razorback.
Dallas Cowboys NFL Draft schedule
| Round | Pick | Day |
| 1 | 24 | Thursday |
| 2 | 56 | Friday |
| 3 | 88 | Friday |
| 4 | 129 | Saturday |
| 5 | 155 | Saturday |
| 5 | 167 | Saturday |
| 5 | 176 | Saturday |
| 5 | 178 | Saturday |
| 6 | 193 | Saturday |
Day 1 begins at 7 p.m.; Day 2 begins at 6 p.m.; Day 3 begins at 11 a.m.
