There have been endless discussions about who the Dallas Cowboys should select 19th overall in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, but who's to say they keep that draft pick? They do have other options after all.
The Dallas Cowboys can do one of three things April 26 when the first round of the draft finally gets underway: 1) stand pat and draft a player with the 19th selection, 2) trade up for a player they truly covet, and 3) trade down and acquire more draft picks. Today, I want to focus on the third scenario and what could happen if they decided to trade down.
I'm actually a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys trying to find a trade partner and trade down from the 19th pick. I like the idea of drafting as many players in the top 100 as possible, and trading down would allow the Cowboys to do just that. But, the tricky part is finding a team willing to work with them.
Enter the New England Patriots
The New England Patriots seem to be master manipulators when it comes to knowing how to work the NFL Draft. They know how to make trades, whether it is moving up or down in draft, and it usually ends up with them coming out on top.
Here recently, the Patriots have typically traded down to acquire more draft picks, but this year could be different. They have five total draft picks in the top 100 and four of those are in the first two rounds.
There is of course no way to know if they are wanting to trade up, but one thing is for sure, the Dallas Cowboys would surely listen. In fact, they could be perfect trade partners.
There are actually two different trade scenarios the New England Patriots could work out with the Dallas Cowboys to move up to 19th overall.
Scenario 1:
The Patriots would send their first 1st-round draft pick (23rd overall) and their third round draft pick (95th overall) in exchange for the Cowboys pick at 19. According to the NFL Draft Trade Value Chart, the 19th pick is worth 875 points. The Patriots pick at 23 is worth 760 points and the 95th selection is worth 120 points, totaling 880 points. The trade value is nearly equal, only favoring the Cowboys by five measly points.
Scenario 2:
The Patriots would send their second 1st-round draft pick (31st overall) and their second 2nd-rounder (63rd overall) in exchange for the Cowboys pick at 19. Again, don't forget that the Cowboys pick at 19 is worth 875 points. The Patriots pick at 31 is worth 600 points and their pick 63 is worth 276 points, totaling 876 points. That ends up only favoring the Dallas Cowboys by one point.
As you can see, based on the trade value alone, it makes sense for the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots to work together if each team wants to move the opposite direction in the draft. Of course, this is all hypothetical, but at the same time entirely possible.
You see, the Patriots need a new starting left tackle after the departure of Nate Solder. Unfortunately for them, this is a pretty weak LT draft class, which means they may need to move up in the first round in order to find someone capable of starting as a rookie.
They could also be looking to find Tom Brady's eventual replacement. If Lamar Jackson is somehow still sitting there at 19, he could be a player they are interested in moving up for. Josh McDaniels is apparently the next head coach for the Patriots and he's already shown he's willing to move up for an athletic QB (Tim Tebow) when he was with the Denver Broncos.
It doesn't really matter who the New England Patriots want to move up for when it is all said and done though. If the Dallas Cowboys are indeed looking to trade down, the Patriots might be the perfect trade partner. And personally, I'd accept either of the two trade scenarios.
