Now that the big board with the top 175 players is posted, we can start looking at different strategies that the Cowboys can deploy in the draft.
Over the next few weeks, I will look at various scenarios the Cowboys could employ on draft day. These scenarios will look at possible trade partners and strategies and will end in sample mock drafts.
Before getting to the scenarios, let’s review assumptions and points:
- I am a proponent of moving down in the draft, so many of the scenarios will involve the Cowboys moving down. Several of the scenarios involve multiple trades; so yes, a few of these scenarios may be a little unrealistic (but they are fun).
- You have to find partners to trade with. It is a two way street. These scenarios will assume that the Cowboys can find the willing partners they need to execute the trades. For each scenario I will try to find a partner that has a need that they may want to trade up for, we will then analyze the “win” for each team if they make the trade.
- For the sake of consistency, I will use the Draft Value Chart to determine what trades have relatively equal value.
- For each scenario I will provide six sample mock ups of what the Cowboys could do with the final picks. For example, what if the Cowboys go running back first, or what if they go QB, or what if they go DE, etc. etc.
- I will use our big board as well as the boards from several respected scouts to determine which player(s) will be available at a specific draft number. For example, at pick number 15 most big boards/mock drafts say that two QBs will be gone, as will the top running back, so what would the Cowboys do then…..
Specific scenarios are:
- The Cowboys trade down to number 15 in the first. They would pick up the Rams two second round picks, then they would stand pat in the second & third & fourth. That is one trade and they finish with a first, three seconds, a third and two fourths.
- The Cowboys trade back to 15 and pick up the Rams two seconds. Then they trade from 15 to the twenties to pick up another second. They also take their third and one of their seconds to trade up for another first. Then they take one of their seconds and trade down to the late second to pick up a third round pick. That is four trades ending up with the Cowboys having two firsts, three seconds, one third, and two fourths.
- The Cowboys trade down to number 15 in the first to pick up two second round picks. The Cowboys would then trade down one of the seconds to add another third round pick. Finally they would trade their fourths to pick up another third rounder. This would involve three trades and the Cowboys would end up with a first rounder, 3 seconds, 3 thirds
- The Cowboys dropping down to the 10-12 in the first to pick up a second and third, then trading down a second to pick up an additional third. The Cowboys would end up with a first, two seconds, two thirds, two fourths.
- Cowboys dropping down to the 10-12 in the first to pick up a second and third. They would then trade down a second to pick up an additional third. In this scenario they would end up with a first, two seconds, three thirds, two fourths)
- They stay put in the first and trade down in the second to pick up a third and fourth. They would end up with a one, a second, two thirds, and three fourths.
- They stay put in the first and trade down in the second to pick up a third and fourth. They would take two of their fourths to pick up a late third. This would involve two trades and would end up with a one, a second, two thirds, and one fourth.
- Trade down their first to pick up a second and third, then trading up your second and a third to go back up and get a one. In this scenario they would end up with two ones, one second, one third, and two fourths.
- Trade their one down four or five positions to pick up a second. Then trading down your second to pick up another third. In this scenario, they end up with first, two seconds, two thirds, two fourths.
- Trading down in the first to pick up a second and third. Then taking a second and third and trading back up into the first. Let’s also trade back the other second to pick up another third. In this scenario we would wind up with two firsts, a mid-to-late second, two thirds, and two fourths.
- Trading down in the first for a second and third. Then, trading down a second to pick up a third. Then trading a second and third to go back up into the first. Lets also have them take their fourths and trade up to the end of the third. They would up with two firsts, one second, and three thirds
- The Cowboys staying put and not trading up or down.
Okay, so let’s start with the first scenario. In this scenario we are trading down with the Rams and picking up their two seconds. That would mean the Rams would overpay according to the value chart, but we can offset that by swapping out thirds as well. So in the third, the Cowboys would give up the 68th pick for the 77th. In this scenario, the Rams would still overpay, but if they want to come up and get a QB, then they should be willing to do it.
So in this scenario the Cowboys would wind up with the 15, 35, 44, 46, 77, 101, 135, 189, 212, 216, 217. I am also going to assume that the Cowboys will not need that many sixth rounder’s, and will trade the 189 to pick up a 5th round draft pick next year. So let’s eliminate the 189 for now.
Here are some possible drafts under this scenario. The rest of the draft is set up with the first pick. So who will be available at 15 that the Cowboys can take? It is a long shot but it is possible that either Lawson, Wentz, Lawson, Treadwell, or Elliott will be available. Rankins would be a an good alternative too.
| Draft Pick | Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 | Option 4 | Dream Option | Dream 2 |
| 15 | Wentz or Goff (QB) | Shaq Lawson (DE) | Treadwell (WR) | Rankins (DT3) | Zeke Elliott (RB) | Ryan Kelly (C/G) |
| 35 | Ogbah or Dodd (DE) | Doctson or Fuller (WR) | Ogbah or Dodd (DE) | Doctson or Fuller (WR) | Noah Spence (DE) | Ogbah or Dodd (DE) |
| 44 | Jonathan Bullard (DT3 | Chris Jones (DT3) | Johnathan
Bullard (DT3) |
Derrick Henry (RB) | Doctson or Fuller (WR) | Jonathan Bullard (DT3) |
| 46 | Artie Burns (CB) | Austin Johnson (DT1) | Artie Burns (CB) | Artie Burns (CB) | Artie Burns (CB) | Artie Burns (CB) |
| 77 | Dion Jones (LB) | Westerman (G/C) | Jordan Howard (RB) | Dion Jones (LB) | Chris Jones (DT) | Kenneth Dixon (RB) |
| 101 | CJ Proisse (RB) | CJ Proisse (RB) | Cardale Jones (QB) | Ronald Blair (DE) | Jack Allen (C/G) | Kenny Lawler (WR) |
| 135 | Max Tuerk (C/G) | Daniel Lasco (RB) | Max Tuerk (C/G) | Max Tuerk (C/G) | Ronald Blair (DE) | Cardale Jones (QB) |
| 212 | Dan Vitale (FB) | Brandon Allen (QB) | Brandon Allen (QB) | Brandon Allen (QB | Brandon Allen (QB) | Lawrence-Stample(DT1) |
| 216 | Lawrence-Stample(DT1) | Dan Vitale (FB) | Dan Vitale (FB) | Dan Vitale (FB) | Dan Vitale (FB) | Dan Vitale (FB) |
| 217 | David Morgan II (TE) | Austin Blythe (C/G) | David Morgan II (TE) | David Morgan II (TE) | David Morgan II (TE) | David Morgan II (TE) |
Everyone has their favorite picks they want the Cowboys to grab, so I am sure you will have one of the options you like better than the others. They are all good options, it just depends on your preference for your pet player. But the options are all good.
The Cowboys get a QB in the first option, then come back with their seconds and third to address defense.
In the second option, the best DE falls to them. They draft a 10 year starter (barring injury), they go on to use three of the first four picks to address the D-line. They also get a starting caliber receiver with the first of the second round picks.
In the third option, the Cowboys get the best receiver in the draft. Then with the three seconds they strengthen the defense before getting their QB and RB in the third and early fourth.
With the fourth option, the Cowboys get a starting caliber three that can also help at the one. Then they address the receiver and running back positions before coming back to help the defense. It would be gambling a lot that Ronald Blair could contribute. Under this scenario, I would assume they would bring in another vet DE for insurance.
Under the dream option, some players fall a little so the Cowboys pick up the best running back (Zeke) and the best rusher (Spence). Either Doctson or Fuller falls to the mid-second (probably Fuller), then they get a solid, athletic corner in Burns and a very disruptive three technique in Jones (my pet cat). The Cowboys then draft a future starting center and they get a DE who could contribute (Blair). They then address blocking TE, FB, and QB to groom.
In dream option two, I wanted to do something different. Why not draft the best center/guard in the draft? After next year he would be the starter. Then you come back and get your DE, DT and CB in the second. In the third, you get your running back and a receiver with some upside. At the end of the fourth you get the QB with as much upside as anyone.
You can debate which option you would like, but the point is that by trading down the Cowboys can get a group of good players that would add depth and talent to the team.
Until the next scenario, I hope you enjoy discussing the Cowboys options.
I’m getting dizzy!
I’m getting dizzy@
I understand. Probably too much info
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