Well, that blew up. First, as he was putting together his most recent NFL mock draft, which was said to be put together using “intel from scouts and coaches,” Bruce Feldman of The Athletic projected a trade by the Dallas Cowboys, moving up from No. 12 to the Cardinals‘ spot at No. 3, with the Cowboys sending along their third-round pick to Arizona and picking David Bailey.
That’s absurd, of course–not so much the picking of Bailey but the notion that the Cardinals would not also demand the No. 20 pick in the draft from the Cowboys in that scenario. Last year, the Browns moved down from No. 2 to No. 5, and got a 2025 second-round pick (No. 36), a 2025 fourth-round pick (No. 126), and a 2026 first-round pick, with a fourth- and sixth-round pick going to Jacksonville.
That was to move down three spots. Here, the Cardinals would be moving down nine spots in a Cowboys swap–it’ll take a lot more than a third-rounder to make that happen. Still, after Feldman’s mock draft, Todd McShay of The Ringer then reported, too, that the Cowboys could move up to take Bailey at No. 3. That’s only driven the rumor farther and wider.
Cowboys Have Plenty of Holes to Fill With NFL Draft Picks
Presuming that it would cost No. 12, No. 20 and a third-rounder, it would be a tough call for the Cowboys. They want a plug-and-play star to come out of this draft, and Bailey not only on fits that bill, but he plays a premium position. He could give Dallas a massive upgrade to the defense on a cost-controlled deal.
But Jeff Cavanaugh of DLLS Cowboys doesn’t like it–not with as many holes as the Cowboys have to fill on the defensive roster. They need more help in the defensive backfield. They need at least two linebackers. And, yes, they still need another edge rusher, and maybe two.
David Bailey Among Top Pass-Rushers in NFL Draft
Cavanaugh was blunt, though, in saying the Cowboys should resist the temptation to go after Bailey, or to consolidate picks when they have so many needs.
Said Cavanaugh: “Should the Dallas Cowboys trade up for Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey? The story is out there because in The Athletic mock draft by Bruce Feldman, the Cowboys moved up to No. 3 to go get David Bailey. The cost for doing that was the Cowboys’ third-round pick, No. 92. Here’s the bad news—the math does not work on that. The math that does work—No. 12 and No. 20 almost gets you there.
“So the real question before us is, would you use both first-round picks to take David Bailey in the first round? And my answer to that is, no thank you. Love the prospect but the Cowboys have too much to do and I think there is a lot of value to be found in this draft, and I cannot use both to go up for a rookie pass-rusher.”
GettyOwner Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys Open to Trades
Still, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has said he will not be afraid to move around in the draft this year. It might make sense to trade down, possibly from No. 20, to get a late first-round pick and a second-rounder. Currently, Dallas has no second-round picks.
“I’ve looked at that mirror a lot, about how to go up and down and trade and do those kinds of things,” Jones said. “And absolutely, we’ll entertain improving or an in-draft read on what gives us a better chance to get another player, and still have our pick in the red meat of top players.
“Now, that has an on-the-board aspect to it, but it’s very doable. And, yes, you should, when you’ve got the kind of assets or the kind of ammunition we’ve got in this draft, you should look at all machinations. It’s one thing to sit here right now, it’s another thing to sit and look at it three hours into the draft and see what you got there. So, all of that is a possibility.”
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