Is the "Trade for Talent" strategy secretly killing us?

[cmoney23]

2022 Draft - Smith big win - Oline = Ferg and Bland have fallen off a cliff
2023 Draft - pretty much a complete whiff if Overshown can't stay healthy
2024 Draft - Beebe and Guyton - Oline again - Flournoy is decent
2025 Draft - Booker a win - Oline again. EZ and Revel still big questions.

This draft looks right now like a good one, but it's still early and they are just rookies.

That's what's killing us right now - good Oline picks - rest is not good at all

This brings up another thought surrounding this. Do we have a key/core development issue on defense?

I think so.

4 DCs in 4 years is a HUGE problem. They are all running different schemes and are looking for different traits in players. I'm sure CP isn't looking to develop Eberflus's guys, the same way Eberflus wasn't looking to devlop Zimmer's picks.

 

[Majic]

I’ve been thinking and contemplating about how our front office has built the roster over the last few seasons, and I think we need to talk about a worrying trend.

There’s no denying that the front office has shifted its philosophy. We used to be a pure "draft and develop" team that completely avoided external premium talent.

Recently, we’ve used trades as our version of premium free agency—giving up draft picks to bring in bigger names like Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams, Joey Porter Jr. and George Pickens, or even veteran depth like Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks a few years back.

Now, don't get me wrong: acquiring elite talent is always good. But I’m starting to worry that this strategy is quietly depleting our long-term foundation.

Here is why this "one person in, multiple future players out" approach might be hurting us more than we think:

• We are bleeding draft capital: To get these top-tier guys, we are constantly shipping off day-two and day-three draft picks.
• We are losing out on cheap rookie contracts.
• We aren't growing our own talent pool: We have a lot of names at the top, but our depth is entirely made up of bargain-bin, one-year free agents (think Eric Kendricks or Dante Fowler types over the years). Because we keep trading away picks, I'm starting to think we aren't drafting enough young players to actually develop. One veteran trade-in effectively deletes 2 to 3 young, homegrown developmental players from our pipeline.

I've always supported the trades because you are acquiring a "known commodity" vs an unknown prospect, but the more I think about it... Are these trades actually worth the long-term cost to our depth, or are we setting ourselves up for a major crash when the bill comes due?

Curious to hear what you guys think.

The problem is the players we traded for have either not been as good as the front office thought, or we overpaid for them. Or both

 

[big dog cowboy]

Should have blown it up

I love posts like these.

Might as well wish the sun would rise in the west too.

 

[Cowboys5217]

I love posts like these.

Might as well wish the sun would rise in the west too.

I have no control. All I can do is speculate from afar.

 

[ShiningStar]

Jerry also said, i'm a man with a lot of money in my pocket!!! Jerry has also showed you over the last few years that he's not afraid to make trades!! I'm not sure what you're not seeing or just trying to be funny. Jerry has been aggressive, but things haven't worked out well except for Pickens

thats how he markets and keeps the fans guzzling.

sheesh, look at all the evidence

30 years worth, its not hard, most of us graduated, why are you still in the second grade?

 

[StarLord]

I’ve been thinking and contemplating about how our front office has built the roster over the last few seasons, and I think we need to talk about a worrying trend.

There’s no denying that the front office has shifted its philosophy. We used to be a pure "draft and develop" team that completely avoided external premium talent.

Recently, we’ve used trades as our version of premium free agency—giving up draft picks to bring in bigger names like Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams, Joey Porter Jr. and George Pickens, or even veteran depth like Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks a few years back.

Now, don't get me wrong: acquiring elite talent is always good. But I’m starting to worry that this strategy is quietly depleting our long-term foundation.

Here is why this "one person in, multiple future players out" approach might be hurting us more than we think:

• We are bleeding draft capital: To get these top-tier guys, we are constantly shipping off day-two and day-three draft picks.
• We are losing out on cheap rookie contracts.
• We aren't growing our own talent pool: We have a lot of names at the top, but our depth is entirely made up of bargain-bin, one-year free agents (think Eric Kendricks or Dante Fowler types over the years). Because we keep trading away picks, I'm starting to think we aren't drafting enough young players to actually develop. One veteran trade-in effectively deletes 2 to 3 young, homegrown developmental players from our pipeline.

I've always supported the trades because you are acquiring a "known commodity" vs an unknown prospect, but the more I think about it... Are these trades actually worth the long-term cost to our depth, or are we setting ourselves up for a major crash when the bill comes due?

Curious to hear what you guys think.

Don't forget out semi annual trade a 4th away for a former first round back up QB.

 

[Rockport]

I’ve been thinking and contemplating about how our front office has built the roster over the last few seasons, and I think we need to talk about a worrying trend.

There’s no denying that the front office has shifted its philosophy. We used to be a pure "draft and develop" team that completely avoided external premium talent.

Recently, we’ve used trades as our version of premium free agency—giving up draft picks to bring in bigger names like Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams, Joey Porter Jr. and George Pickens, or even veteran depth like Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks a few years back.

Now, don't get me wrong: acquiring elite talent is always good. But I’m starting to worry that this strategy is quietly depleting our long-term foundation.

Here is why this "one person in, multiple future players out" approach might be hurting us more than we think:

• We are bleeding draft capital: To get these top-tier guys, we are constantly shipping off day-two and day-three draft picks.
• We are losing out on cheap rookie contracts.
• We aren't growing our own talent pool: We have a lot of names at the top, but our depth is entirely made up of bargain-bin, one-year free agents (think Eric Kendricks or Dante Fowler types over the years). Because we keep trading away picks, I'm starting to think we aren't drafting enough young players to actually develop. One veteran trade-in effectively deletes 2 to 3 young, homegrown developmental players from our pipeline.

I've always supported the trades because you are acquiring a "known commodity" vs an unknown prospect, but the more I think about it... Are these trades actually worth the long-term cost to our depth, or are we setting ourselves up for a major crash when the bill comes due?

Curious to hear what you guys think.

What I think is winning cures everything.

 

[Rockport]

Jerry told you straight to your face, "I AM NOT INTERESTED'

Than why do you assume Jerry is doing a goal that Jerry told you Jerry does not want?


This is the state of the Cowboy fans. THEY DONT WANT TO ACCEPT THE FACTS.

If I was an owner I wouldn’t let the fans influence my decisions. That’s a ticket to Cleveland status.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Trading for talented players isn’t the issue. The issue is we trade for players that we can mostly find every single offseason in free agency….Gary, Elam, Murray, etc. I have zero issues when this team goes out and gets a Quinnen Williams type who has no shot of ever hitting the open market, even if it is a slight overpay.

Forfeiting draft picks so the cowboys can grab lower level role players just so Jerry jones saves a few bucks in signing bonus money is the major issue. It’s another example of ownership having a primary goal other than winning championships.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I’ve been thinking and contemplating about how our front office has built the roster over the last few seasons, and I think we need to talk about a worrying trend.

There’s no denying that the front office has shifted its philosophy. We used to be a pure "draft and develop" team that completely avoided external premium talent.

Recently, we’ve used trades as our version of premium free agency—giving up draft picks to bring in bigger names like Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams, Joey Porter Jr. and George Pickens, or even veteran depth like Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks a few years back.

Now, don't get me wrong: acquiring elite talent is always good. But I’m starting to worry that this strategy is quietly depleting our long-term foundation.

Here is why this "one person in, multiple future players out" approach might be hurting us more than we think:

• We are bleeding draft capital: To get these top-tier guys, we are constantly shipping off day-two and day-three draft picks.
• We are losing out on cheap rookie contracts.
• We aren't growing our own talent pool: We have a lot of names at the top, but our depth is entirely made up of bargain-bin, one-year free agents (think Eric Kendricks or Dante Fowler types over the years). Because we keep trading away picks, I'm starting to think we aren't drafting enough young players to actually develop. One veteran trade-in effectively deletes 2 to 3 young, homegrown developmental players from our pipeline.

I've always supported the trades because you are acquiring a "known commodity" vs an unknown prospect, but the more I think about it... Are these trades actually worth the long-term cost to our depth, or are we setting ourselves up for a major crash when the bill comes due?

Curious to hear what you guys think.

They’ve done better in trades these last 2 years than they’ve done in the previous drafts prior. I wish I can go back and trade our 2023 picks for vets.

 

[gimmesix]

I’ve been thinking and contemplating about how our front office has built the roster over the last few seasons, and I think we need to talk about a worrying trend.

There’s no denying that the front office has shifted its philosophy. We used to be a pure "draft and develop" team that completely avoided external premium talent.

Recently, we’ve used trades as our version of premium free agency—giving up draft picks to bring in bigger names like Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams, Joey Porter Jr. and George Pickens, or even veteran depth like Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks a few years back.

Now, don't get me wrong: acquiring elite talent is always good. But I’m starting to worry that this strategy is quietly depleting our long-term foundation.

Here is why this "one person in, multiple future players out" approach might be hurting us more than we think:

• We are bleeding draft capital: To get these top-tier guys, we are constantly shipping off day-two and day-three draft picks.
• We are losing out on cheap rookie contracts.
• We aren't growing our own talent pool: We have a lot of names at the top, but our depth is entirely made up of bargain-bin, one-year free agents (think Eric Kendricks or Dante Fowler types over the years). Because we keep trading away picks, I'm starting to think we aren't drafting enough young players to actually develop. One veteran trade-in effectively deletes 2 to 3 young, homegrown developmental players from our pipeline.

I've always supported the trades because you are acquiring a "known commodity" vs an unknown prospect, but the more I think about it... Are these trades actually worth the long-term cost to our depth, or are we setting ourselves up for a major crash when the bill comes due?

Curious to hear what you guys think.

We were already dead. That we're trying something different, anything different to resuscitate us should be viewed as a good thing. If it fails, can we really be any worse off than we've been the last 30 years?

 

[Frosty]

2022 Draft - Smith big win - Oline = Ferg and Bland have fallen off a cliff
2023 Draft - pretty much a complete whiff if Overshown can't stay healthy
2024 Draft - Beebe and Guyton - Oline again - Flournoy is decent
2025 Draft - Booker a win - Oline again. EZ and Revel still big questions.

This draft looks right now like a good one, but it's still early and they are just rookies.

That's what's killing us right now - good Oline picks - rest is not good at all

Dont forget they drafted CD Lamb as well....but I get what you're saying and I been saying for years Will McClay and his team of scouts cant scout and draft defense...it's hot mess....

 

[gimmesix]

They’ve done better in trades these last 2 years than they’ve done in the previous drafts prior. I wish I can go back and trade our 2023 picks for vets.

The previous strategy, other than the occasional wild hair, was to trade late-round picks for veteran starters. Teams aren't stupid, they are not going to trade quality players for third-day picks. They are going to trade the old, the lame, the never-wases, the backups they were forced to start because they didn't have better.

 

[JBS]

What’s your excuse for when we didn’t trade for anybody, used our draft capital, and still sucked?

 

[exciter]

I’ve been thinking and contemplating about how our front office has built the roster over the last few seasons, and I think we need to talk about a worrying trend.

There’s no denying that the front office has shifted its philosophy. We used to be a pure "draft and develop" team that completely avoided external premium talent.

Recently, we’ve used trades as our version of premium free agency—giving up draft picks to bring in bigger names like Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams, Joey Porter Jr. and George Pickens, or even veteran depth like Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks a few years back.

Now, don't get me wrong: acquiring elite talent is always good. But I’m starting to worry that this strategy is quietly depleting our long-term foundation.

Here is why this "one person in, multiple future players out" approach might be hurting us more than we think:

• We are bleeding draft capital: To get these top-tier guys, we are constantly shipping off day-two and day-three draft picks.
• We are losing out on cheap rookie contracts.
• We aren't growing our own talent pool: We have a lot of names at the top, but our depth is entirely made up of bargain-bin, one-year free agents (think Eric Kendricks or Dante Fowler types over the years). Because we keep trading away picks, I'm starting to think we aren't drafting enough young players to actually develop. One veteran trade-in effectively deletes 2 to 3 young, homegrown developmental players from our pipeline.

I've always supported the trades because you are acquiring a "known commodity" vs an unknown prospect, but the more I think about it... Are these trades actually worth the long-term cost to our depth, or are we setting ourselves up for a major crash when the bill comes due?

Curious to hear what you guys think.

The bill is going to come due regardless.
There's this season and next and then it's trade what you can and start over!

 

[Relayer]

I’ve been thinking and contemplating about how our front office has built the roster over the last few seasons, and I think we need to talk about a worrying trend.

There’s no denying that the front office has shifted its philosophy. We used to be a pure "draft and develop" team that completely avoided external premium talent.

Recently, we’ve used trades as our version of premium free agency—giving up draft picks to bring in bigger names like Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams, Joey Porter Jr. and George Pickens, or even veteran depth like Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks a few years back.

Now, don't get me wrong: acquiring elite talent is always good. But I’m starting to worry that this strategy is quietly depleting our long-term foundation.

Here is why this "one person in, multiple future players out" approach might be hurting us more than we think:

• We are bleeding draft capital: To get these top-tier guys, we are constantly shipping off day-two and day-three draft picks.
• We are losing out on cheap rookie contracts.
• We aren't growing our own talent pool: We have a lot of names at the top, but our depth is entirely made up of bargain-bin, one-year free agents (think Eric Kendricks or Dante Fowler types over the years). Because we keep trading away picks, I'm starting to think we aren't drafting enough young players to actually develop. One veteran trade-in effectively deletes 2 to 3 young, homegrown developmental players from our pipeline.

I've always supported the trades because you are acquiring a "known commodity" vs an unknown prospect, but the more I think about it... Are these trades actually worth the long-term cost to our depth, or are we setting ourselves up for a major crash when the bill comes due?

Curious to hear what you guys think.

Define secretly.

 

[805BoysInBlue]

You've been thinking about it or you heard it this morning on the radio? They brought this up.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The previous strategy, other than the occasional wild hair, was to trade late-round picks for veteran starters. Teams aren't stupid, they are not going to trade quality players for third-day picks. They are going to trade the old, the lame, the never-wases, the backups they were forced to start because they didn't have better.

They fared well in some of them. Cooks and Gilmore specifically. Amari is another one. I think you have to trade for the ascending player on proven guy. The hungry guy. Those Kenneth Murray and Peyton Turner types aren’t it.

 

[Acceptablename]

I’ve been thinking and contemplating about how our front office has built the roster over the last few seasons, and I think we need to talk about a worrying trend.

There’s no denying that the front office has shifted its philosophy. We used to be a pure "draft and develop" team that completely avoided external premium talent.

Recently, we’ve used trades as our version of premium free agency—giving up draft picks to bring in bigger names like Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams, Joey Porter Jr. and George Pickens, or even veteran depth like Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks a few years back.

Now, don't get me wrong: acquiring elite talent is always good. But I’m starting to worry that this strategy is quietly depleting our long-term foundation.

Here is why this "one person in, multiple future players out" approach might be hurting us more than we think:

• We are bleeding draft capital: To get these top-tier guys, we are constantly shipping off day-two and day-three draft picks.
• We are losing out on cheap rookie contracts.
• We aren't growing our own talent pool: We have a lot of names at the top, but our depth is entirely made up of bargain-bin, one-year free agents (think Eric Kendricks or Dante Fowler types over the years). Because we keep trading away picks, I'm starting to think we aren't drafting enough young players to actually develop. One veteran trade-in effectively deletes 2 to 3 young, homegrown developmental players from our pipeline.

I've always supported the trades because you are acquiring a "known commodity" vs an unknown prospect, but the more I think about it... Are these trades actually worth the long-term cost to our depth, or are we setting ourselves up for a major crash when the bill comes due?

Curious to hear what you guys think.

It works for some teams. Rams,Eagles

 

[Coogiguy03]

thats how he markets and keeps the fans guzzling.

sheesh, look at all the evidence

30 years worth, its not hard, most of us graduated, why are you still in the second grade?

Because you're my inspiration when you dropped out in kindergarten!!