Dallas Cowboys: Which players should Dallas trade up for during the 2018 NFL draft?

The Dallas Cowboys could look to use one of their 10 picks to trade up in this year’s draft. Here are some players that the Cowboys should target.

There are only a few players heading into the 2018 NFL draft that are absolutely franchise altering stars. The Dallas Cowboys have ten picks in the draft so trading up is not entirely out of the realm of possibility.

There are only a handful of players worth trading up for and we will likely know specifically who they are by the end of the NFL Combine. As of right now, the Cowboys should only look to trade up for franchise player at a position of need.

Positions such as safety, linebacker, and wide receiver could have a higher level of importance if a player the franchise likes, begins to fall.

It would make more sense to trade up into the top 10 rather than just a few picks away from 19 however it will be more expensive than only moving one or two spots. Moving up with this level of aggression is not really in the Dallas Cowboys wheelhouse, however, there are several players in this range that could alter their franchise forever.

Bradley Chubb (NC State) Defensive end: Chubb would immediately address the Dallas Cowboys need at defensive end. Trading up to select the best defensive end in the draft would allow the Cowboys to solidify their pass rush as well as provide added flexibility in terms of contract negotiations with David Irving and Demarcus Lawrence.

This move would have more to do with Irving than anyone else, and would basically like down a star defensive end for the next five years if not longer. He has violent hands and tremendous size so we could be looking at the next star at the position. Adding him would immediately make the Cowboys pass rush more dangerous.

Trading up to get Chubb, however, could be an act of futility. Besides quarterback and offensive lineman, defensive end is the most sought-after position in this draft. It would likely take the Cowboys 19th overall pick, their second round pick, and a 2019 top three pick. Chubb could be worth giving up so much.

Derwin James (Florida State) Strong safety: James is my favorite player in the entire draft. He is agile, hits hard, and is a definite lock at strong safety. The Dallas Cowboys need a new starter at the position and James could immediately become a star. He likes separating opposing players from the football and has fantastic hands.

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One of the bigger bonuses in drafting James is that the Cowboys can finally solidify the secondary. Personally, I think James will fall but he will most likely be taken before the Cowboys are on the clock. Seeing him get selected anywhere between picks 7-10 would make a lot of sense.

If the Dallas Cowboys can somehow get in the mix and slide in towards the end of the top ten, they will likely land a starter or the next player on this list.

Roquan Smith (Georgia) Inside linebacker: This is the guy the Cowboys would most likely trade up for. Smith is projected to be selected right at the end of the top 10. If the Dallas Cowboys can somehow find a way to swap picks with Tampa Bay or Oakland the team could land the best linebacker in the draft.

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If Anthony Hitchens were to move on in free agency and Jaylon Smith switches to strongside linebacker, trading up to get Smith would be in the Cowboys best interest. A lineup with Smith, Lee, and Jaylon would immediately give the Dallas Cowboys one of the best linebacking corps in the NFL.

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