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Dallas Cowboys: Why Trading Back is an Extremely Viable Option

By Reid Hanson

Dec 3, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley (9) is pressured by Wisconsin Badgers linebacker T.J. Watt (42) in the first half during the Big Ten Championship college football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley (9) is pressured by Wisconsin Badgers linebacker T.J. Watt (42) in the first half during the Big Ten Championship college football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dallas Cowboys are in the perfect spot at No. 28. Here’s why they may be open to trading back in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The Dallas Cowboys have a long history of getting cute in the wheeling and dealing aspect of the NFL Draft. And while all of their movement may cause panic attacks for fans, they’ve usually turned out pretty well for the franchise as a whole.

The past couple seasons the Dallas Cowboys have largely just made their selection at their assigned place. But this season may be much different. Here’s why…

At pick No. 28 the Dallas Cowboys have the pleasure of sitting in a very advantageous position. At the bottom of the 1st round, teams will be eager to move up and may be willing to give up a bounty to get the deal done.

Fifth Year Option

As many of you know, first round picks come with fifth year options. The fifth year guarantees the team can retain their pick for relatively cheap. For players yet to hit their stride, it allows the club one more year of assessment before investing big or cutting loose.

Fifth year options are handy for any position but they are of particular interest to teams looking to add a quarterback.

if the situation falls correctly, the Dallas Cowboys may be able to net a king’s ransom to move back just a few spots.

The way the 2017 NFL draft is mocking, is most of the teams picking in the top-10 are leaning towards positions other than quarterback.

For teams like the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, and New York Jets passing on a QB in the first means they’ll be desperate to add one in the second.

As a result, teams will likely be eager to leap-frog one another in order to get their hands on a worthy signal caller to build around. Dallas would offer that lily pad.

It’s likely at least two of those teams will be without a QB as the draft reaches Dallas at pick 28. Driven to beat the other teams to the punch and eager to collect that fifth year option, teams will be willing to pay over market value.

Draft Value

The famous Draft Trade Chart is the standard by which trades are weighed. Each draft spot is given a point value and in a trade, incoming picks should be able to total the value of the outgoing pick.

No 28 is valued at 660.

660 isn’t the end-all be-all compensation but rather a guideline. Sometimes teams get more and sometimes they get less. If the Dallas Cowboys trade back they’ll be able to get more. Much more.

San Francisco may want to jump the Browns and move up. Their 34th pick would be worth 560 so they would have to pony up another 100 points to just meet the value of pick 28.

It is not out of the realm of possibility to think the Cowboys could get their 3rd rounder as well, considering the 49ers wouldn’t just be getting a pick but also a fifth year on the contract.

It may cost 260 points on draft day but it has the potential to save them tens of millions down the road. That’s why first round picks are now worth more than what the draft trade chart indicates.

More from Cowboys Draft

How the Draft Unfolds

How the draft unfolds is key. Two things must happen for this to even be a conversation:

  1. The Dallas Cowboys’ favorite targets must be off the board
  2. At least one of the top-3 quarterbacks must be remaining

For me, I value Derek Burnett, TJ Watt, Kevin King, and Taco Charlton more than the rest (I actually value about 15 players but they aren’t realistic possibilities to fall). If all four are gone when I go on the clock at 28, I’m looking to deal.

As long as the Dallas Cowboys don’t move too far back, they should be able to get a top-notch edge rusher (Tak McKinley or Charles Harris) or potential #1 cornerback (Tre’Davious White, Teez Tabor, Quincy Wilson, Adoree Jackson).

And most importantly they’ll net another top-100 pick (something I’d insist upon) which should translate into a starting quality player.

Next: Mock Draft: Cowboys Overhaul the Secondary

I’m not advocating moving back at all costs. I’m saying if the situation falls correctly, the Dallas Cowboys may be able to net a king’s ransom to move back just a few spots. Draft trades aren’t for the faint of heart but the Dallas Cowboys should be savvy enough to come out winners if the situation arises.

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