3 Prospects the Cowboys Should Trade Up for in NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys had one of the most underwhelming free agency periods of any team in the NFL. While their fans were hoping for upgrades in various positions, they instead lost several key starters and fan favorites. Now the Cowboys have more questions than they had the moment their 2023 campaign ended.

Just like the other 31 teams, the Cowboys have turned their attention to the NFL Draft. They will need to nail their draft decisions to salvage this disastrous offseason. They will be relying on their three draft picks in the first three rounds: no. 24, no. 56, and no. 87. They have an additional four picks in later rounds that they can use to take flyers on lower-level prospects or package them in deals to move up higher in earlier rounds.

The most pressing need for the Cowboys is to draft a replacement for their departed veterans. This includes OT Tyron Smith, RB Tony Pollard, C Tyler Biadasz, and defensive ends Dante Fowler and Dorance Armstrong.

If Dallas sees an opportunity to move up in the draft to select one of their top targets, they should absolutely do so. Here are three candidates for which it would be wise to trade up.

Jonathon Brooks, RB

Running back was a position of need for the Cowboys when they were entering 2023. After an underwhelming season from their running back rotation, this need has only exacerbated. Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn are the lead rushers on the depth chart but the Cowboys are hard-pressed to find an upgrade there.

Who better than a hometown hero?

The Texas native Jonathon Brooks had an excellent junior year with the Longhorns, rushing for 1,139 yards on 187 attempts, averaging over 6 yards per carry. He added ten rushing scores and a receiving touchdown in 11 games.

Brooks is yet to turn 21 and he is one of the youngest prospects in the draft. NFL.com's Chad Reuter mocked Brooks to the Cowboys as a first-round pick in his latest mock draft, likening his game to former star rusher Todd Gurley.

It is difficult to see Dallas, or any team for that matter, drafting Brooks or another running back with their first-round pick. However, if he is still available in the second or third round before it's the Cowboys' turn, it would make a ton of sense to try to trade up to make sure to land him.