Cowboys fielding trade calls for first-round picks; Can a defender fall to 12?
While the Dallas Cowboys pre-draft press conference on Wednesday made headlines for a former president interrupting halfway through and big George Pickens news hitting the air, there was significant draft talk discussed by the panel of head coach Brian Schottenheimer, vice president of player personnel Will McClay, owner Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones as well.
Holding picks No. 12 and No. 20 in the first round on Thursday night, more parity in the first round than we’ve seen in recent years directly impacts how things could shake out for Dallas in the draft in what is a critical weekend early in Schottenheimer’s tenure as head coach.
Let’s dive into some of the draft-specific notes that came out of the hour-long press conference.
Cowboys fielding trade calls for first-round picks
As the draft approaches, the chatter around the Cowboys trading up or down from their slated first-round selections has heated up. And while Stephen Jones said on Wednesday that he doesn’t foresee the team trading up into the top five, Jerry Jones did say that they have already begun fielding calls about opportunities to move around on Thursday night.
“There’s always the occasional call that we have interest in,” Jerry Jones said. “But nothing concrete ... Certainly, the availability of having those two picks in the first round gives more credence to some options here.”
Having the two first-round picks has opened up the possibilities to make more aggressive moves, if the board falls in that direction, but the Cowboys do seem content with staying put if needed as well.
“We’re in a position that we can do some things,” Jerry Jones said. “Flexibility that allows if that opportunity were there. We could do a now thing. Regarding the financials of it, we would probably have more flexibility than we did in years past.”
While trading back from No. 12 is a possibility, the potential of a slide back from No. 20 might have more suitors. With only one pick on day two in the draft heading in, an opportunity to acquire more capital could entice Dallas.
“You could improve your team moving back because you can get more players,” Stephen Jones said. “Sometimes, more is better than one. Obviously, we look at both and the value it takes to move up and the value we get from moving back. That’s true every year.”
The Cowboys have mentioned that they prefer to work draft trades after the draft has already started in order to get a better deal. The expectation is that they will do the same heading into Thursday night.
Can a premier defender fall to No. 12?
The hope, if the Cowboys stick with the No. 12 overall pick, is that a premier defender will slip to their spot to make it an easy selection for everyone in the draft room.
That list includes Ohio State pass rusher Arvell Reese, Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey, LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Miami pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr., although Bain could be passed up on for measurement concerns.
Are the Cowboys confident that the board could fall just right?
“That remains to be seen,” Stephen Jones said. “I wish I had a crystal ball.”
If it doesn’t, Jones once again mentioned that offense is still on the table, as receivers Jordyn Tyson out of Arizona State and Carnell Tate out of Ohio State could be options.
“If we get an impact offensive player that’s special, then that’s great, too,” Jones said. “I think we’ll look at all of our options at that point. That remains to be seen.”
How veteran trade targets could impact draft thinking
If the Cowboys don’t come away with a starting-quality middle linebacker in the draft, then things are going to get a bit dicey. However, the front office emphasized on Wednesday that they are already having discussions with teams about veteran targets to trade for post-draft.
Could linebacker be that position for a player such as Miami’s Jordyn Brooks?
“We’re talking currently to teams about veteran players that could certainly help us in situations that we weren’t able to necessarily get accomplished in free agency,” Stephen Jones said. “I think we did a lot to improve our football team, but we didn’t check every box. Obviously, we have quite a few needs, and we didn’t check every box, but we continue to have those [talks]. Player acquisition is not going to be over after the draft either.”
The same conversation could be had for another pass rusher if things don’t fall their way in that department either in the draft. A potential re-visit on a deal for Maxx Crosby or a pursuit of the rumored-to-be-on-the-block Nick Herbig could provide a big bolster to Dallas’ pass rush efforts.
Christian Parker holding influence in first draft in Dallas
When the Cowboys hired new defensive coordinator Christian Parker earlier this offseason, a lot of trust was put into him for how he was going to construct his unit.
It started in free agency by pursuing safety Jalen Thompson and signing him to what could end up being a record free agent signing for the Cowboys in franchise history if all incentives are met. Adding other talents like safety P.J. Locke and cornerback Cobie Durant and trading for outside linebacker Rashan Gary all fed into Parker’s vision as well.
And in the draft, it will be no different.
Parker has taken on a big role in draft preparations as the Cowboys hope to add two starting-quality talents to his defense on Thursday night, and potentially a third on Friday night.
“He’s done a great job of telling us what he’s looking for and how he’s going to use it,” McClay said. “It increases the vision of how we see players. As scouts, we go out and look for traits, and then we have to figure out how those traits fit. It’s the communication, it’s the way we do things that gives us an opportunity to figure out the value for what fits us and what he’s looking for.”
Even with it being his first year as a defensive coordinator in the NFL and his first time calling plays, the trust put into Parker emanates through the building, and it truly manifests with the selections that are made this weekend.
“We’ve spent extra time going through the philosophical approach of what he’s trying to get done on defense,” Jerry Jones said. “Schotty as been outstanding for him in pointing out these defensive coaches, to these scouts and to me, truly, of what you’re trying to accomplish. Where can we not have All-Pro players but get by with lesser players in the philosophy of the defense? It was very educational as for the promise or perspective of what we’re trying to be on defense.”
