{"id":873728,"date":"2026-04-24T18:48:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T18:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/873728\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T18:48:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T18:48:18","slug":"cowboys-may-be-plotting-big-day-2-draft-move-after-caleb-downs-stunner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/873728\/","title":{"rendered":"Cowboys may be plotting big Day 2 draft move after Caleb Downs stunner"},"content":{"rendered":"

Were the Dallas Cowboys the biggest winners from Day 1 of the NFL Draft<\/a>? Peter Schrager seems to think so, as he waved the white flag in real time when Dallas selected Caleb Downs with the No. 11 pick after trading up one spot with the Miami Dolphins.<\/p>\n

The term “steal” is used with reckless abandon on draft night, but it absolutely fits in Downs’ case. Positional value should be thrown out the window with a player like Downs. He’s one of the better players in the draft (No. 2 on FanSided’s big board<\/a>), and a natural leader. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s OK to go bananas, but the job isn\u2019t done. The Cowboys still have a glaring need at linebacker and don\u2019t pick again until No. 92 overall in Round 3. While they could simply take the best LB on their board, Nick Harris of the Star-Telegram believes multiple outcomes are in play<\/a>. <\/p>\n

“Getting the sense there\u2019s multiple contingency plans in place for linebacker for the Cowboys. Could go a few different ways directions.<\/p>\n

Trade up into day 2 for one? Take one at No. 92? Trade for one post-draft? Free agent? We\u2019ll see.”<\/p>\n

The Dallas Cowboys may get aggressive to fill their linebacker void <\/p>\n

The Cowboys have been adamant that they don’t want to pay a premium this weekend. It’s why they held their ground at No. 12 until Downs was at their fingertips<\/a>. Any big trade-up would have required giving up pick No. 20, which was a non-starter. <\/p>\n

However, they may be more incentivized to do so after trading back with the Philadelphia Eagles and picking up two additional fourth-round picks. Packaging No. 92 with two fourths could be enough to leap into Round 2, or the early part of Round 3. <\/p>\n

That could put them in range for Missouri’s Josiah Trotter (a 30-visit with Dallas), Cincinnati’s Jake Golday, or maybe even Texas’ Anthony Hill Jr. if he slides. <\/p>\n

What if the Cowboys punt on a linebacker altogether and trade for a veteran after the draft? Their interest in Dolphins All-Pro Jordyn Brooks is well-documented, and they’re less than 24 hours removed from doing business with Miami’s new general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan. <\/p>\n

Signing a free agent is another option, as Harris noted. <\/p>\n

The ageless Bobby Wagner is still looking for a home. If you told us that Dallas drafted one of Trotter, Golday, or Hill and signed Wagner next week, that would be a remarkable outcome. <\/p>\n

Suddenly, we’d be looking at a room of Wagner, DeMarvion Overshown, and a second or third-round pick. Not a world-beater by any means, but talented enough to do some damage, which is all you can ask for given the current state of the position. <\/p>\n

Either way, linebacker is going to be addressed. It may happen in just a few hours, or in the coming days if the board doesn’t break as kindly as it did on Day 1. <\/p>\n

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