This is the eighth of a ten part series looking at trade scenarios for the Cowboys. For each scenario, we look at possible trades and then explore possible mock drafts that could occur from the results of the trade(s).
For scenario eight, we should look at the Cowboys staying put at the fourth pick. This is even more important to do since Jalen Ramsey may drop. So what will they do if they just stay put and let the draft come to them?
Their strategy may be to draft a star or impact player at four, but since they still have a lot of holes to fill they may want to try trading down their second and/or third rounder to get an extra pick in the top 100. In this article, let’s look how they may accomplish this.
The Cowboys second round pick is worth 580 points according to the draft value chart. I am assuming Dallas would want to stay in the top 45, and they will want at least a third rounder for it. So who has enough picks that they would be willing to give up a third rounder to move up? There could be several, but Tennessee and their newly acquired picks makes a lot of sense. So for this scenario we will assume a trade with Tennessee.
- The Cowboys trade the 34th and receive back the 43rd and the 76th.
In this scenario the Boys would wind up with the 4th, 45th, 67th, 76th, 101st, 135th, 189th, 212th, 216th, and 217th. In this scenario they have 5 of the top 67 picks. A pretty good haul.
Here are many possible draft combinations under this scenario:
| Pick | Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 | Option 4 | Dream 1 | Dream 2 |
| 4 | Jalen Ramsey (DB) |
Carson Wentz (QB) |
Myles Jack (OT) |
Joey Bosa (DE) |
Jalen Ramsey (DB) |
Myles Jack (LB) |
| 43 | Chris Jones (DT) |
Su’a Cravens (OLB) |
Artie Burns (CB) |
Kendall Fuller (CB) |
Jonathan Bullard (DT) |
Artie Burns (CB) |
| 67 | Carl Nassib (DE) |
Xavier Howard (CB) |
Nick Martin (C/G) |
Dion Jones (C/G) |
Devontae Booker (RB) |
Kenneth Dixon (RB) |
| 76 | Christian Hackenberg (QB) |
Braxton Miller (WR) |
Jeremy Cash (S) |
Sheldon Day (DT3) |
Xavien Howard (CB) |
Charles Tapper (DE) |
| 101 | CJ Prosise (RB) |
Kenyon Drake (RB) |
Bronson Kaufusi (DE) |
Alex Collins (RB) |
Jordan Jenkins (LB/DE) |
Adolphus Washington (DT) |
| 135 | Malcolm Mitchell (WR) |
Ronald Blair (DE) |
Tyler Ervin (RB) |
Dak Prescott (QB) |
Malcolm Mitchell (WR) |
Jalen Smith (LB) |
| 189 | Jatavious Brown (ILB) |
Tyron Holmes (DE) |
Jacoby Brissett (QB) |
DJ Reader (DT) |
Eric Striker (Will LB) |
Tyrone Holmes (DE) |
| 212 | Tyvis Powell (S) |
Tyvis Powell (S) |
Tyvis Powell (S) |
Keith Marshall (RB) |
Joe Thuney (OL) |
Tyvis Powell (S) |
| 216 | Derek Watt (FB) |
Derek Watt (FB) |
Derek Watt (FB) |
Derek Watt (FB) |
Derek Watt (FB) |
Derek Watt (FB) |
| 217 | Lawrence Thomas (DE) |
Jared Norris (LB) |
Keith Marshall (RB) |
Kevin Hogan (QB) |
Jacoby Brissett (QB) |
Brandon Allen (QB) |
This is not my favorite scenario personally. While the Cowboys could wind up with a quality QB or an impact player in Ramsey, Jack, or Tunsil, they wind up losing the opportunity to acquire a couple more starting quality players.
Having said that, if Dallas can get a star quality player and still have three more players within the top 76 players, that is not too bad of a scenario. If the Cowboys stay at #4 and are able to get the top QB, or Ramsey or Jack then I would stay put. Otherwise I would trade down.
As for trading the 34th for the 43rd and 76th, I am undecided if I would make the trade. You lose a chance at a top caliber player at #34, but the quality of the 43rd player is not too far of a drop from the talent of the 34th player. If you gain the 76th to go along with the 43rd then it’s worth trading down. However, they may need to give up the 101st too. If so, that swings my thinking back to keeping the 34th.
Now if they traded their sixth rounder rather than the fourth rounder, then I think I would definitely make the deal, most likely regardless of the players available at 34. In that situation, to stay at 34 there would have to be a player who dropped down the board and the team coveted to say no. Unless that happened I would trade the 34th and 189th for the 43rd and 76th.
Cowboys Mock Draft Scenario #1
In the mock drafts above, you are still able to fill most of your needs while keeping the 4th. In the main (first) mock, in the first two rounds the Cowboys get Ramsey and a disruptive 3 technique (Jones).
With the two third rounders, Dallas would get a solid rotational DE (Nassib) and a QB to groom (Hackenberg). Hackenberg is not my favorite, in fact I would stay away from him until the sixth, but they would get value based on the expert’s grades. With the first pick in the fourth, they pick up CJ Prosise, a RB that can be a weapon as a third down back. With the last pick in the fourth they would grab Jatavious Brown, a hard hitting LB who can also cover.
Cowboys Mock Draft Scenario #2
In the second mock, you get the QB of the future (they would hope) with Carson Wentz. With their second round pick, they would get a freak athlete in Su’a Cravens.
In the third round they pick up Xavien Howard, a tough, physical corner and Braxton Miller, a pure athlete and would give you all kinds of options on offense.
With the first pick in the fourth they grab Drake at running back. He is an elusive third down back that can also play slot. The next two picks, Ronald Blair and Tyron Holmes, give you two rotational DEs that can get after the QB.
If Ramsey and the QBs go in the first three picks, then either Laremy Tunsil or Myles Jack will fall to the Cowboys. Would they pull the trigger on one of them? I doubt it. I think they would look for a trade in that case. But if they did go with one of them, my guess is it would be Jack. He will be a difference maker and playmaker they need on defense.
Cowboys Mock Draft Scenario #3
In the third mock the Cowboys select Jack in the first, then they get a tall athletic corner with Burns. They then draft a long term guard and center who happens to be the brother of their all-star guard.
Cash is the hardest hitting player in the draft. He is a missile at the line of scrimmage. Bronson Kaufusi should be a solid rotational DE and Tyler Ervin is a third down back who is extremely elusive. Then the Cowboys would get a strong arm QB to develop with Jacoby Brisset.
Cowboys Mock Draft Scenario #4
In the fourth mock, Dallas goes with need, not necessarily the best player. Bosa should be a solid hard charging DE who can step in immediately. In the second round they get a solid corner/safety in Kendall Fuller. I am not as high on Fuller as others, but he does offer flexibility.
In the third round they add two athletic defenders in Dion Jones and Sheldon Day. Jones is one of my “undervalued” players. Day would be a good pass rushing three tech, who can also play some DE.
In the fourth round, the Cowboys would pick up a hard downfield runner in Alex Collins and a developmental QB in Dak Prescott. Prescott could help them in short down packages right away.
Cowboys Mock Draft Dream Scenarios
As for the dream scenarios, well they may be too good to be true. But it’s good to hope. One or two of the payers could drop down and make the draft even more interesting.
Watch out for Eric Striker. He is fun to watch on a blitz. He would have gone higher in the draft if he would have run better at the combine. He would be interesting to get in the sixth if he makes it that far down.
Let us know what you think about this scenario and the mocks.
Which do you like? What is your dream mock given this scenario? Give us your thoughts.
