Trading up - to have 2 first rounders?

[gocowboysx5]

Hi all - just joined and here is my first new thread.

The Cowboys have a lot of needs, we all know this. We also know that it is hard to find draft picks that can contribute right away, which is especially important for this team given how our core is only getting older. So I want to float an idea and see what people think: I think we should try to get 2 first round picks.

This would depend on how we do in free agency. But I think we need three primary fixes coming out of this offseason: a reliable CB, a reliable pass rusher, and a reliable interior offensive line.

We should be in a position to address one of those three in the first round, with either Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Alabama), Courtney Upshaw (OLB, Alabama), or David DeCastro (G, Stanford) being available at 14. We should draft one of them.

But say we still have a CB/OLB/O-line hole after picking at 14. I think the Cowboys should strongly consider packaging a few picks to get into the 1st round and get another one of these guys. Yes, we have a lot of needs and will need the picks in the later rounds. But we have to balance depth needs with our aim to have guys who can contribute (start!) right away.

Hopefully it doesn't come to this. Ideally, we can address at least two of the above positions in free agency (I'd love to see us get Robert Mathis and convert him to OLB, and get Nicks at Guard). But what do you all think about trading back into the 1st round?

 

[Risen Star]

So we're old and thin and the fix for that is to package picks and have a smaller draft class?

That's what a team does when they are one player away. Not a team that you describe.

 

[tm1119]

So we're old and thin and the fix for that is to package picks and have a smaller draft class?

That's what a team does when they are one player away. Not a team that you describe.

This plus the fact that there are a few guys who will be available in the 2nd round that could cone in and start right away at CB. Whether its Minnifield, Jenkins, Hosely or Gilmore. Not to mention there is Boykin and Hayward possibly in the 3rd who would challenge Scabdrick and at the least replace him in the buckle.

 

[gocowboysx5]

So we're old and thin and the fix for that is to package picks and have a smaller draft class?

That's what a team does when they are one player away. Not a team that you describe.

It's a good point, but I think it speaks to a tension facing the Cowboys: on the one hand, there are so many needs and we are not "one player away." On the other hand, the window of opportunity with Romo, Witten, etc. is closing, and we need to hit some draft home runs to find players who can both contribute and be reliable for years to come.

That's why I think it may be worth losing a 2nd rounder plus another pick - or whatever it may be - since those picks are a bit riskier. It's often hard to tell when/if those players can contribute meaningfully. If I can get both Kirkpatrick and DeCastro - two guys who might be cornerstone's of the team for a decade - then I would probably make the move.

While we are not one player away, we also are not too far from being able to contend again. We know we have the offensive pillars. We need a guy opposite Ware, we need a CB opposite Jenkins (I don't trust Scandrick as a starter) and we need the interior o-line to improve.

 

[Sarge]

Not a fan of trading up, not with this team right now. We need all the picks we can get.... including gaining some by moving DOWN if need be.

 

[JoeCorrado]

It's a good point, but I think it speaks to a tension facing the Cowboys: on the one hand, there are so many needs and we are not "one player away." On the other hand, the window of opportunity with Romo, Witten, etc. is closing, and we need to hit some draft home runs to find players who can both contribute and be reliable for years to come.

That's why I think it may be worth losing a 2nd rounder plus another pick - or whatever it may be - since those picks are a bit riskier.

Patience grasshopper. We have needs that must be addressed this off season - and we will have needs next season as well. To move from the 45th spot back up to say the 20 spot will cost a bundle. Next years first will get you only part way there, along with this years 2nd... not so great looking a deal at this time next year.

Romo, Ware, Witten and others will be better served by taking a more reasoned approach that leaves us able to continue the never ending "process" of improvement next year. Even the Superbowl winner hopes to improve every off season.

 

[ologan]

By the way,thanks for joining the gang! If I didn't tell you before,

 

[Risen Star]

Not a fan of trading up, not with this team right now. We need all the picks we can get.... including gaining some by moving DOWN if need be.

Now that would be the better question. What player or players have to be off the board to make you want to move down? Or what trade down offer would be too tempting to stay at 14?

 

[newlander]

Jerrah the GM and his merry band of yes men are ON IT!........:bang2:

 

[Hailmary]

Not a fan of moving up. If both Decastro and Kirpatrick are gone at 14, I move down and down some more and pick up as many interior olinemen and DBs I can get my hands on in rounds 2 and 3.

 

[gocowboysx5]

Not a fan of moving up. If both Decastro and Kirpatrick are gone at 14, I move down and down some more and pick up as many interior olinemen and DBs I can get my hands on in rounds 2 and 3.

I think I would stay at 14 if Upshaw is there, though.

 

[JBS]

id rather move down at 14 if Kirkpatrick and DeCastro are gone

 

[batman36]

If the player(s) Dallas wants is/are gone at 14, then trade down to 18, see what's there, no? Then to no more than twenty-two. I don't know what those trades would net in picks, but it would sure give the team multiple picks to hopefully add some of the help it needs to improve its lot.

 

[SDogo]

I think I would stay at 14 if Upshaw is there, though.

I would take Barron or Hightower over Upshaw all day and I'm dead set against taking a Safety that high but that's how little I think of Upshaw at the next level.

 

[JBS]

I would take Barron or Hightower over Upshaw all day and I'm dead set against taking a Safety that high but that's how little I think of Upshaw at the next level.

there isnt anyone out there that has Hightower rated higher than Upshaw

 

[tm1119]

I think people are missing the point that if theres no one we want to draft at 14, then who would another team trade up to get?? The only guy I could think of is if a team covets Jonathan Martin as their franchise LT. Other than that there really isnt much at the premium positions teams usually trade up to get.

 

[SDogo]

there isnt anyone out there that has Hightower rated higher than Upshaw

They will......

 

[gocowboysx5]

A corollary to this question is whether we should trade up for a guy like Kirkpatrick if he's still around at 10 but we think he might be drafted just before us. To flip our picks with someone shouldn't cost too much, right?

 

[Risen Star]

A corollary to this question is whether we should trade up for a guy like Kirkpatrick if he's still around at 10 but we think he might be drafted just before us. To flip our picks with someone shouldn't cost too much, right?

We shouldn't trade up for anybody. This team is too thin to be packaging picks like that.

People fall in love with a player and act like it's a one or two player draft. There are a ton of good players available and we need every selection we have.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

We shouldn't trade up for anybody. This team is too thin to be packaging picks like that.

People fall in love with a player and act like it's a one or two player draft. There are a ton of good players available and we need every selection we have.

Agreed.