The NFL draft is just days away now, and for the Dallas Cowboys, the lingering expectation is that they will come away with at least two impact players with the two first-round picks they currently have, at No. 12 and No. 20. The problem for Dallas, though is that the impact defenders are likely to go in the first handful of picks, leaving the Cowboys scrambling for a less-certain star with the first selection.
And by the time the Cowboys get to their pick at No. 20, they’re likely to be looking at a player–especially a linebacker–they could scoop up in the second round. Except they don’t have a second-round pick.
For NFL draft guru Dane Brugler of The Athletic, there is a solution out there that has been making the round all the way back to the NFL combine–a significant draft-day trade with the Cleveland Browns that could help out both teams.
Cowboys Swap No. 12 & 20 to Move Up in NFL Draft
The Browns have picks No. 6, No. 24 and No. 39 in the second round, and the No. 6 pick does not necessarily suit them–there are most defensive players at the top of this draft, and Cleveland has one of the best defensive units in the NFL. They’d prefer to move down and take receivers and offensive linemen. Enter the Cowboys.
Dallas can move up to the sixth spot, by trading away No. 12 and No. 20, giving the Browns three first-rounders to bolster their offense. The Browns send out their second-rounder to Dallas and, it seems, everyone wins.
Cowboys Could Land Potential Defensive Star
Here’s Brugler’s explanation of the Browns-Cowboys swap, which is gaining momentum as a piece of speculation, if not as an actual talking point between the franchises.
Said Brugler on the “Reception Perception” podcast with Matt Harmon: “I did have picks 12 and 20 going to the Browns at 6, for picks 6 and 39. For the Cowboys, I think it makes sense because they’re going up to 6, to get—they’re not going to wait until 12 and hope the guy they want falls to them. They’re going up to 6 to get him. And it costs you both first-round picks but you go back into the second round now because they currently don’t have a second-round pick. So I think the player you can get at 20 is not all that different from the player you can get at 39. …
“This is a team with a win-now window and I won’t be surprised if they get aggressive, whether it’s Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, one of these pass-rushers, whoever it may be. I won’t be surprised at all if they are a little aggressive to make sure they go get him.”
NFL Draft Will Have Solid Options in Second Round
Assuming that Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 to the Raiders, the Cowboys at No. 6 would be guaranteed one of Arvell Reese, David Bailey, Rueben Bain, Sonny Styles or Caleb Downs. They could get their choice of more than one of those if an offensive player or two comes off the board before No. 6.
With the second-round pick, the Cowboys could add one of the linebackers they’re known to be eyeing–Jacob Rodriguez of Texas Tech, CJ Allen of Georgia, Anthony Hill of Texas–or address another spot on the defense. Brugler has them taking Arizona corner Treydan Stukes at 39.
The Browns will be able to rebuild their offense. The Cowboys can rebuild their defense. Everyone, it seems, wins.
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