Cowboys Insider Highlights Two Major First-Round Trade Scenarios

The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2024 NFL Draft in a unique position after striking out in free agency. 

The Cowboys have the No. 24 overall pick in the first round on Thursday, which isn’t a bad spot to be at, given their host of needs in the trenches and running back. However, there’s a chance that a couple of the players, who they like late in the first round might not be available. 

Therefore, what will Jerry Jones and the Cowboys front office do? Will they stay at No. 24 or try to make a splash since they haven’t lived up to the ‘all-in’ precedent they set at the start of the offseason?

NFL Network’s Jane Slater reported about a couple of scenarios for the first round that the Cowboys could potentially entertain based on people she talked to.

The first scenario is Dallas moving up in the first round for a tackle using 2025 draft capital. But this scenario is predicated on if there’s a run on quarterbacks and Michael Penix gets drafted in the top 10, pushing an offensive tackle down the board.

Cowboys fans would love this scenario as the team desperately needs a left tackle after Tyron Smith left in free agency and signed with the New York Jets. If Dallas were to move up for an offensive tackle, it could be for Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, who could be drafted within the first 20 picks.

The other scenario Slater highlights is the Cowboys trading down for No. 24 if the two offensive linemen they like aren’t available. She also adds Dallas could pick Texas RB Jonathan Brooks and draft two offensive linemen in the second and third rounds.

However, she cautions that the Eagles pose the biggest concern for Brooks as they have the No. 53 overall pick in the draft, while the Cowboys pick at No. 56.

It would be surprising to see the Eagles go with a running back in Round 2, especially after they signed Saquon Barkley to a massive three-year deal in free agency. Dallas could be throwing a smokescreen to get teams off their back since Brooks has been linked to them throughout the draft process.

It will be interesting to see what the Cowboys do on Thursday night, as they’ve dropped the ball thus far in the offseason.

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