Feldman had the Cowboys trading up to the No. 3 pick to select Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey. In that scenario, he had Dallas sending the 12th and 92nd picks to the Arizona Cardinals. It would probably take more to execute that trade. If Dallas is in love with Bailey on that level, it would likely take the 12th and 20th picks to make that kind of jump. The combination of Nos. 12 and 92 probably would only get Dallas up to the ninth pick, which is still an interesting possibility if a player they really like starts to fall.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Cowboys didn\u2019t get Maxx Crosby and still could use more juice attacking offenses,\u201d Feldman wrote. \u201cThey would love for (Ohio State edge\/LB Arvell Reese) to fall here, but Bailey is another true difference-maker in a draft that isn\u2019t all that deep with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer was asked about the possibility of Dallas trading up in the draft at the league meetings last week, he responded: \u201cAbsolutely. Jerry is never afraid of making deals.\u201d<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no question Dallas would love an immediate impact edge rusher like Bailey to complement what they have with Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Sam Williams, Tyrus Wheat and others. The position group needs help. And it\u2019s very unlikely that Bailey would fall anywhere near the 12th pick. If new defensive coordinator Christian Parker believes Bailey is a future Pro Bowl edge rusher and the Cardinals are interested in moving back, it\u2019s not a bad idea. But do the Cowboys feel that strongly about Bailey?<\/p>\n
Help is needed all over a defense that was arguably the NFL\u2019s worst last season. Most believe both first-round picks will be spent on that side of the ball. It seems more likely that the Cowboys want to come away with two Day 1 starters than just one.<\/p>\n
Mock draft No. 2<\/p>\n
Vic Tafur also had the Cowboys trading up to the third pick in his recent mock draft. But instead of going defense, Dallas picked Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one is talking about how undervalued the running back position is when a polished prospect like Love pops up,\u201d Tafur wrote<\/a>. \u201cLooking at those odds again, Love is plus-145 to go third in the draft \u2014 as opposed to minus-145 at No. 4 \u2014 and a 20-1 shot to be drafted by the Cowboys, per BetMGM.\u201d<\/p>\n This would be a stunning move for several reasons. First, the Cowboys return most of the pieces from last year\u2019s offense, which was already one of the best in the league. The reason they missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season was that the defense was probably the worst in franchise history. There\u2019s no reason to think the offense won\u2019t still be at the top of the league in Schottenheimer\u2019s second season calling plays. Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Javonte Williams and Jake Ferguson are all still in place.<\/p>\n But the defense must close the gap. Not enough was done in free agency to say that has come close to happening. A good argument can be made that the Cowboys should spend all of their draft picks on defense. Trading their two premium picks only to get better on offense seems like a good way to miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season.<\/p>\n
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