Cowboys pre-draft Q and A: Trading Picks and Biggest Needs

The 2017 NFL Draft is tomorrow and the Cowboys are looking to make some noise. The staff at Sport DFW are answering some pre-draft questions…

In Part 2 of 3 the Sport DFW staff addresses the Cowboys third biggest need and also how they feel about trading up or down in the draft.

Besides defensive back and pass-rusher, what’s the most important position for the Cowboys to address?

Stephen Francis: I’d love to see the Cowboys go get an underrated sleeper at wide receiver. Dez Bryant is undoubtedly our best guy for pass catching and Jason Witten makes a perfect safety valve.

While Terence Williams and Cole Beasley are great at what they do, this offense would be nearly impossible to stop with one burner of a deep threat at wide receiver. In the mid-to-late rounds, the Cowboys need to be willing to take a chance on the fastest, most explosive receiver they can find at that time.

Dink Kearney: The other most important position is tight end. Jason Witten is getting older, and the Cowboys need to find his replacement right now, preferably this draft. James Hanna stays hurt, Geoff Swaim missed most of the season with an injury, and there is practice player Rico Gathers. Someone has to step up and show they can be Witten’s replacement.

I say the Cowboys should select Ashland University tight end Adam Shaheen. Standing ‘6-7 and weighing 277, Shaheen’s highlight reel looks like a giant playing with little boys. He’s very athletic, has good hands, footwork, and knows how to get good separation. He’s a day one starter. Shaheen is worth a 3-4 round pick. If he’s there, the Cowboys should take him, and they’ll have Witten’s replacement. This talented player is too valuable to pass up, regardless of the defensive needs.

Reid Hanson: I thought it would be WR but then the Cowboys re-signed Terrance Williams. And while I previously stated drafting a TE early isn’t a terrible idea since the right guy can give the Cowboys an enormous advantage, I don’t think the Cowboys will be doing it after all. The three biggest difference makers at TE are O.J. Howard, David Njoku, and Adam Shaheen. All three are being talked about absolutely EVERYWHERE across the NFL right now and I’d be shocked if any of them make it out of the second round.

I see offensive tackle as the third greatest need this offseason. Maintaining dominance on offense is as important (if not more) as any upgrade to the defense. I don’t feel great about Chaz Green and Byron Bell and if the Cowboys aren’t going to move La’el Collins, they need to pick someone relatively high.

How do you feel about trading up and/or trading down?

Dink Kearney: I’m all for trading up and trading down if the Cowboys can select a dynamic player that can be an immediate impact. If we trade up for a player that we didn’t think would be sitting there, go for it, especially if it’s that missing “war daddy”. The Cowboys can’t go wrong with trading up or down. It’s a win-win scenario as long they select the right player.

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Stephen Francis: I really don’t believe trading up is necessary at this point and I’m not opposed to trading down. There is so much top-heavy talent this year, particularly at defensive end and on the edge that the Cowboys would be crazy to turn down a pass rusher early on. But that doesn’t mean they should trade up.

I believe pass rusher should be their first focus in the early rounds and they should just stick with getting the one that lands in their lap with that number one pick.

The draft is also littered with cornerbacks that could immediately start on the sides or in the nickel slot at the very least and make an impact.

Because of this, trading down makes a little more sense in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft.

Moving down about ten spots or so to pick up another draft pick to get an extra guy at a position needing depth like tight end or wide receiver could be huge. It could be the difference between a good draft and a great one for the Cowboys.

Reid Hanson: I wouldn’t trade up for anyone in the first but I’d consider it later in the draft if the perfect player fell. I think the Cowboys will get an excellent chance to move back to the top of the second round and could get enormous returns as a result. But I’d only do that if they move back no more than 10 spots and get an extra top-100 pick in return.

Next: More is expected of this Dallas Cowboy

In Part 3 of 3 the Sport DFW staff makes their bold predictions for the Cowboys draft

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