The Dallas Cowboys have their way of doing things when it comes to team building. They aren’t going to spend money on big impact free agents, and they choose to build with a draft-and-develop strategy, signing bargain free agents and making smart trades for veterans. It hasn’t led to championship rosters, but it isn’t changing anytime soon with Jerry and Stephen Jones in charge.
Dallas has to take that into account as the draft approaches. The picks they make could depend on factors other than who the best player is when they are picking. Attempts to move up or back, which positions they target, and when, could all be dictated by factors beyond who is the best player left on their board.
Corners who could start as rookies stretch further than other defensive positions
When the Cowboys select at No. 12, a tie-breaking factor in their decision-making could be position depth at their need positions. At No. 92, drafted cornerbacks have a higher probability to start than defensive ends and pass rushers. Players like Texas corner Malik Muhammad or Duke’s Chandler Rivers could be starters as rookies, and they could be the pick at 92. Linebacker depth guys who need to develop and situational defensive ends were the options at those positions. Dallas could look ahead to that and choose defensive ends and linebackers early, while waiting on cornerbacks.
Available veteran defensive trade targets could influence how the Cowboys draft in the first round
The Cowboys have three major holes in their defense. They must get a defensive back to fill out their unit, a starting linebacker, and a defensive end with pass-rush upside. They could plan to attack two of these at picks 12 and 20 and use pick 92 as trade bait to fill the final need.
Looking at players Dallas has been linked to, defensive ends and linebackers are the positions being asked about. Players like Minnesota Vikings edge Jonathan Greenard and Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks led the way in veteran trade rumors. Dallas could look to lean towards Ohio State safety Caleb Downs or Tennessee corner Colton Hood and then trade for the position they don’t fill with their second draft selection. If Dallas drafts edge Ahkeem Mesidor from Miami(FL), they would then offer a pick for Brooks.
Dallas sees the 20th pick as too valuable to use in a trade-up scenario
There’s chatter around the league that Dallas could move up for Texas Tech edge David Bailey or one of the three Ohio State stars. Another belief is that the Cowboys won’t relinquish the No. 20 pick to make that move up.
That second pick in the first round could be a prime spot for another team to move up for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, or one of the receivers or offensive linemen still available. Dallas doesn’t pick between 20 and 92 currently, and the Cowboys could look to change that by moving back from 20 and adding another top-100 selection to their arsenal, one who could challenge for a starting role on a rebuilding defense.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcast
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys have crucial decisions to make; trade, stay put, or bail?
Reporting by Mike Crum, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
