We are just eight days from the Dallas Cowboys draft class forming, and the front office seems to be finalizing its plan. On Tuesday, Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan that while the team isn’t likely to move up the board, he “could see” a trade down occurring.
Fans have speculated for months about this option, as Dallas’s lack of quality draft capital presents a major problem for the roster.
They currently hold the 12th, 44th, and 76th picks, but due to Jonathan Mingo’s in-season trade, they do not pick again until the 149th selection. It’s the second straight year that they don’t have a fourth-round pick.
Stephen Jones on @1053thefan Fan on the upcoming draft: “I don’t necessarily see us moving up based on way the board is coming together but could see a situation where we move down.”
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) April 15, 2025
With a near-top ten selection in hand, the Cowboys could potentially get a haul to slide down the board, especially if a quarterback like Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart gets there.
Here, we’ll look at a few top trade options for the Cowboys and the one guy who stands out as a target if they do drop in the first round.
Potential Partners: Who Might Dallas Deal With?
If the Cowboys draft did start with a trade, it would be the second time in four years that they went that route in the first round.
In 2021, Dallas acquired the 12th pick from the Eagles, who used the 10th pick on Pro Bowl wide receiver DeVonta Smith, while the Cowboys picked Micah Parsons, and in 2024 they slid down to acquire Tyler Guyton at 29 and Cooper Bebee at 73.
The #Lions have traded up with the #Cowboys and selected #Bama CB Terrion Arnold. He goes No. 24.
Dallas gets: 29th pick & 73rd pick in exchange for 24th pick & 2025 7th round pick
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 26, 2024
Clearly, there is recent precedent for a Cowboys trade-down.
They have shown a willingness to move back if it means extra draft capital, and they need that now more than ever. If they start answering calls again this year, there are two teams that make a ton of sense.
First is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who currently hold the 21st and 83rd picks in the top-100. That isn’t much draft capital to begin with, but they may be willing to shed that and a future pick for a franchise quarterback.
If Sanders or Dart make it to the Cowboys pick, they might just call the Steelers up.
https://twitter.com/brgridiron/status/1909725559409787389
Aside from a quarterback-needy team, the Seattle Seahawks, who hold a staggering five top-100 selections, could become aggressive with their slew of picks.
Dallas could net two picks in the first 50, and then some, if they sought a trade with Seattle’s front office.
Potential Target: Dallas’ Top Trade-Down Option
If the first Cowboys draft pick isn’t at 12, it likely takes them out of the running for both Tetairoa McMillan and Matthew Golden. Those two are the consensus top wide receivers in the class, and Dallas has shown significant interest in both.
However, they have also been interested in Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, the third or fourth wide receiver in the class depending on who you ask.
Egbuka, 22, would be a bit of a reach at 12, but if Dallas were instead picking at 18, 21, or any other place in that range, he would be a perfect target.
In fact, I think if Dallas does move down, it is with Egbuka in mind.
Of the Cowboys’ 30 facility visits, 14 have been reported:
Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson
Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka
Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins
Texas OL Kelvin Banks
Texas DT Alfred Collins
Texas S Andrew Mukuba
Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten
Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen…— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) April 4, 2025
The team brought him in on a top-30 visit, which is always a strong indicator when it comes to the Cowboys draft plan, and his prowess on the outside or in the slot would mold perfectly with All-Pro CeeDee Lamb.
His athleticism, production, leadership, and fit with Dallas all check out, and his draft stock range is exactly where they would end up if they slid down the board.
If the Cowboys came out of next week’s draft with Emeka Egbuka at WR2, and a collection of additional Day 2 picks, it would be a huge win. There are great options at 12, but this roster needs serious fixing, and that kind of haul would do the trick.
