It’s been a tumultuous offseason for the Dallas Cowboys, who lost their star quarterback in Tony Romo and saw him land with the rival New York Giants. With just three days before they’re on the clock, Jerry Jones is open to trading up or staying put at pick number four in this year’s NFL draft – while also touting that his team are “not going to take any crap” if he doesn’t like where they end up.
Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, has been open to trading up in the NFL draft. But should they stay put?
FRISCO, Texas (KTRK) — It’s always a good idea to remember Jerry Jones’ comments when it comes to the NFL draft and the Dallas Cowboys: “Just because I said it, doesn’t make it so.”
The owner/general manager stated he would not be adverse to moving up in the 2018 draft after the Cowboys unveiled their first-of-its-kind crypto collaboration with Blockchain.com on Wednesday. In the first three rounds, the Cowboys hold the Nos. 24, 56, and 88 choices.
“Given where we’re at, I’d trade up in the first two or three rounds if we had a chance and someone we truly wanted was languishing at the bottom,” Jones said. “If [a Travis] Frederick was down at the bottom and we could trade up and acquire them.”
Jones was not asked whether he thought the Cowboys would trade down, but he would very certainly have replied yes.
Why, when it comes to the draft, should you restrict your options?
However, their free-agent plan may provide a compelling incentive to maintain those choices. I’ll get to it later.
In his career as owner and general manager, Jones has made 72 draft-day transactions.
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In previous years, the Cowboys have sought to acquire players by trading back into the first round. In 2016, they attempted to re-enter the first round in order to choose Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch, but were outbid by the Denver Broncos. Jones was dejected for the first two days of the draft, but the Cowboys lucked out with a fourth-round compensation selection and landed Dak Prescott.
The trade (or non-trade) outcomes have been terrific (not getting Lynch, getting Parsons), decent (Lawrence), and poor (Claiborne didn’t meet expectations), but will the Cowboys be genuinely active with nine selections in the next draft?
Because of the payroll limit, they may elect to retain those choices. When it comes to the salary cap, the Cowboys are a top-heavy club. More than $123 million of the 2022 cap is made up of the top ten cap numbers. Prescott’s cap number will climb in the future, and subsequent restructures will not provide a lot of room. Unless he signs an extension, Zack Martin’s will be guarded as well. Even if they release Ezekiel Elliott when the guaranteed money part of his deal is completed, the running back will still count heavily against the salary cap. Tyron Smith, an offensive lineman, is in the same boat.
Then there are the contracts they want to offer receiver CeeDee Lamb and cornerback Trevon Diggs after the 2022 season, as well as Parsons after the 2023 season, which would put them among the highest-paid players in the league. (Extensions aren’t available until the player’s third season.)
When it comes to balancing the salary-cap books, those four fifth-round selections the Cowboys have this year come in handy.
So, in a couple of weeks, the Cowboys could want to move up.
They may not, on the other hand.
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