Cowboys’ Stephen Jones on why trades in first round could happen during draft
As the NFL draft approaches on April 22, the likelihood of the Dallas Cowboys trading out of their No. 12 selection has picked up steam in media circles and respected mock drafters -- specifically around the possibility of trading into the top 10.
On Tuesday afternoon, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones was asked on 105.3 The Fan about the likelihood of trades next week in the first round around the league, and it offered some insight into how the Cowboys are thinking going into next week.
“Next week, people finalize their boards and have their strategy sessions,” Jones said. “I’m a big believer that most of these trades happen as you’re on the board. Players fall off that you wanted, and then you’re willing to come out. Players are staying on the board that you thought might not be there, and then you’re attempting to move up a little bit.”
As the Cowboys have shown multiple times in the last decade, they have proved to be more comfortable by waiting to make movement in the first round until the draft has already started. As the board re-shapes with each pick, so does trade value.
“You might not be willing to give up what it costs to move way up in the draft,” Jones said. “But if a player starts to fall, then you get a little thought that maybe we could move up, and it wouldn’t cost as much, and we would still get the guy that we think is the best player for us at a particular position for where we’re going to pick.”
With two first-round selections at No. 12 and No. 20, the likelihood of the Cowboys trading up or down from one of those picks is teetering toward high. However, it would have to depend on certain players falling to their selection for either their comfort or for the strong desire of another team to move into the Cowboys’ selection.
A factor in how they think around possible trades could be how many players the Cowboys view as first rounders. Jones said that this year, that number is a bit lower than usual.
“It’s still a little early,” he said. “Usually, we’re in that 16-to-22 range. I don’t know that we’ll get there this year in terms of the 20s, but we’re grinding out right now, and we haven’t put the final grades on anything.”
