What?
First year following the league?
It’s happened quite often in the past. It will almost never happen now. First and second round draft picks represent the opportunity to add talent at comparatively reasonable compensation. Escalating salaries for QBs, WRs, and Edge Rushers make those draft picks more valuable than in the past. Trading them for a player that will require a huge contract is taking one step forward and one step back. Multiple firsts? Can the Cowboys afford to do that? Neither can other teams.
Every team has their first in 2025 and 2026. 29 teams have a second in 2025. All 32 have their second rounder in 2026. Those teams in the last three years that gave up significant draft capital in trade regret those deals. Some GMs learn slow, but they learn. And more than ever the draft itself is a show. A team without its first and second is out of the show. Owners are in no itching hurry to deny their team’s fans that excitement. And a trade that a team made to give up any early round pick(s) is scrutinized more than ever.
Having to pay Parsons what he’ll be demanding and giving up valuable draft capital for the chance to do it is not how to build a competitive roster. Micah might garner a couple of third rounders. Might. He’s a Cowboys player for life, like the team’s very expensive injured QB and very expensive pouting WR.