Entering the 2018 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys’ priorities should be pretty clear. Upgrading their offensive line, defensive line, wide receivers, and linebackers seem to be the top four items on the draft checklist heading into late April.
For my money, the most important hole to fill early on in the 2018 NFL Draft is their left guard spot. The additions of Marcus Martin and Cameron Fleming boost the depth of the team’s offensive line, but neither should be serious candidates to start all 16 games.
The Cowboys need to address the interior of their offensive line, and finally find that Ronald Leary replacement years later. Others, however, will argue that drafting a defensive playmaker will be of greater importance to the Cowboys going forward, especially if that player can contribute to the front seven.
But, what if the Cowboys could do both? And what if they could do both in the first round?
The Cowboys have 10 picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, and could potentially use these picks for ammunition to move back into the first round after selecting 19th overall. By doing so, the Cowboys could find both a defensive impact player and a starting left guard at the top of the draft.
Let’s play a little hypothetical game.
The Cowboys select Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea 19th overall. They immediately upgrade the interior of their defensive line, and find a 1-technique better than any the Cowboys have employed in quite some time.
A few picks go by and UTEP offensive guard Will Hernandez is still sitting on the board. Based on team needs and how mock drafts have been going, my guess is that you’d need to jump in front of the Atlanta Falcons at 26th overall in order to get the guard of your choice.
Selecting 25th overall are the Tennessee Titans, and based on the draft pick value, their selection is worth 720 points. The Cowboys’ second round pick is worth 400 points, getting them more than halfway there. They could then package some of their later picks together to match the value, or possibly throw in both 50 and 81 to sweeten the deal for the Titans.
This would, in theory, allow them to take both Vita Vea and Will Hernandez in the first round. And it would also, in theory, allow them to compete for a Super Bowl by adding these talented players.
This is just one hypothetical scenario, but the way these mock drafts are tending, it is very possible.
If they could pull that off and come out of the draft with josey Jewell as well id be ecstatic. That would probably be about all the picks we get but that would cover our problem areas from this year besides WR. Looks like we’d have to get a solid WR and Safety next year. I get the feeling that these receivers are going to perform way better this year with the new coach and the competition in the WR room, and of course dak will have more time if Tyrons healthy and we add hernandez. If the draft went this way I really think the only question mark would be if Kris Richard can get our safety positions figured out and get them playing solid. I’d be pumped if they pulled your draft scenario off especially if they figured a way to get Jewell too.
That would be an A+ draft
They could get vita vea rd1 trade back for will hernandez get josey jewell and sign tre boston or kenny vaccaro
The problem with Tre Boston is he wants ET money, which, at least so far, no team is willing to pay.
I don’t hate the idea but it should be fleshed out better with more accurate trade cost numbers.
Author, this is one of the most sound theories I’ve heard. Thank you for displaying a bit of football acumen.
Yeah, VV will probably be a beast in the nfl, and Will H will probably be one too. This scenario has one glaring problem; the DL is already fairly deep in the Cowboys organization and the LB Corp is very thin. Lee gets hurts every year. Smith is still unknown, so this area should be a much much bigger concern…. Just saying…
How about the Cowboys trade their pick to the Pats for their two picks? Maybe the pats want a WR from Alabama.
If they can pull this off awesome, I sincerely doubt it. All this talk of Dallas being loaded with compensation picks is BS…they are all last pick in 4th round and below…they are throw away
The 4 compensatory picks are worth 88 points depending on what trade value chart you use. The Dallas 2nd round pick, plus all the comp picks, doesn’t get you close to any other 1st round pick. It would take all of the above – your 2nd(400 pts.), 3rd(185 pts.), 4th(62 pts.) and 3 comps(74 pts.), which puts Dallas at 721 pts. for the 25th pick. Basically, you are saying let’s shoot it all for a Guard. Sorry, but there are other needs to be addressed and that won’t happen when all you have left are a 6th and 7th round pick.
Dropping two top 100 picks to get Will Hernandez is a pretty steep price I think. Aren’t there any guards that may be available at 50 that aren’t that far below Hernandez? For Instance, is Billy Price that much of a downgrade from Hernandez that you’d essentially drop your 3rd rd pick (equivalently) to take Hernandez?
That would be great if they could do it.
As far as the TE thing goes i think Rico is going to be a good one.
Unfortunately the only way we get VV is trading up. He’s not falling to us.
Great if it COULD happen. However I am beginning to believe Vea won’t be there for Dallas to pick at 19. Now if you want to trade back to 23-26 pick Hernandez and pick up a extra second that you use to move back into the first for say Payne I would be fine with that