Jerry Jones open to trading up in NFL draft, but should Dallas Cowboys stay put?

FRISCO, Texas — With regards to the NFL draft and the Dallas Cowboys, it’s all the time clever to heed Jerry Jones’ personal phrases: “Simply because I mentioned it, does not make it so.”

Talking on Wednesday after the Cowboys introduced their first-of-its-kind crypto partnership with Blockchain.com, the proprietor/basic supervisor mentioned he wouldn’t be against shifting up within the upcoming draft. The Cowboys have picks Nos. 24, 56 and No. 88 within the first three rounds.

“I might commerce up since we’re down as little as we’re, in these first two, three rounds, if we had an opportunity to and somebody we actually coveted was sitting on the backside,” Jones mentioned. “If [a Travis] Frederick was sitting down there on the backside and we had been capable of commerce up there and get them.”

Jones was not requested if he may see the Cowboys buying and selling down, however he virtually invariably would have mentioned sure.

Why restrict your alternatives in terms of the draft, proper?

However their free-agency technique would possibly provide up a cause to truly (gulp) preserve these picks. Extra on that later.

Jones has made 72 draft-day trades in his time as proprietor and basic supervisor.

A 12 months in the past, the Cowboys traded down two spots within the first spherical with the Philadelphia Eagles, selecting up an additional third-round choose. They ended up getting linebacker Micah Parsons, who gained defensive rookie of the 12 months, at No. 10 general and defensive finish Chauncey Golston within the third spherical.

The final time the Cowboys moved up within the draft got here in 2020 thanks to a different intra-division commerce with the Eagles. They parted with fifth-round picks in 2020 and 2021 to maneuver into the fourth spherical to take heart Tyler Biadasz, who began each recreation final 12 months.

The final time they made a transfer up within the prime three rounds of the draft was in 2014 after they gave up second- and third-round picks to the Washington Commanders (hey, one other NFC East commerce) to take DeMarcus Lawrence at No. 34 general.

The Frederick commerce Jones referenced got here in 2013 when the Cowboys moved again from No. 18 to No. 31 general after selecting up an additional third-rounder from the San Francisco 49ers. The Cowboys truly obtained fortunate on the Frederick commerce as a result of he was the final offensive lineman they might have used a first-round choice on that 12 months, understanding they needed to fill a gap on their roster early.

A 12 months earlier in 2012, the Cowboys stunned everyone by shifting up from No. 14 to No. 6 to take Morris Claiborne, who was their highest-rated cornerback since Deion Sanders, in keeping with Jones. They gave up their first- and second-round picks to the St. Louis Rams to get Claiborne.

The Cowboys have tried to commerce again into the primary spherical in recent times for gamers. They famously tried to get again into the primary spherical to take Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch in 2016 however had been outbid by the Denver Broncos. Jones was crestfallen over the primary two days of the draft, then the Cowboys lucked their method into Dak Prescott with a fourth-round compensatory choose.

The commerce (or non-trade) outcomes have been nice (not getting Lynch, getting Parsons), good (Lawrence) and unhealthy (Claiborne did not meet expectations), however with 9 picks within the upcoming draft will the Cowboys really be lively?

They could determine to maintain these picks due to the wage cap. The Cowboys are a top-heavy crew in terms of the cap. The highest 10 cap figures account for greater than $123 million of the 2022 cap. Going ahead, Prescott’s cap determine will rise and future restructures is not going to create a ton of house. So will guard Zack Martin’s until he indicators an extension. Even when they transfer on from Ezekiel Elliott after they’re completed with the assured cash portion of his contract, the working again will nonetheless depend loads towards the cap. Identical goes for offensive deal with Tyron Smith.

Then there’s the offers they might need to pay receiver CeeDee Lamb and nook Trevon Diggs after the 2022 season and Parsons after the 2023 season that may make them among the many highest paid at their positions. (Gamers aren’t eligible for extensions till after their third season).

These 4 fifth-round picks the Cowboys have this 12 months come in useful when these minimal salaries are balancing the salary-cap books.

So, yeah, the Cowboys would possibly need to commerce up in a few weeks.

Then once more, they may not.