If the Cowboys trade into the back-end of the first round of the draft, these are the potential targets that would tempt them

With the NFL Draft just a bit more than two weeks away, the mocks are coming in hot and speculation is the order of the day. For the Dallas Cowboys, a recent topic has been whether they might choose to cash in some of their ten draft picks to move up in order to get a player they really want, but feel won’t make it to them. Often this kind of conjecture focuses just on moving around in the first round. For Dallas, sitting with the tenth overall pick, that seems highly unlikely. With the expected run on quarterbacks early, there are enough good options that one should be there for them when they go on the clock the first time. It would also be very costly to move higher. No one seems to be worth that this year.

But Todd Archer of ESPN recently wrote about how the Cowboys might tempted to package some picks to get a second bite of the apple in the latter part of the first round. Our Dave Halprin took it another step and looked at just what was feasible. He found two combinations of picks that could jump Dallas back into the latter stages of the first round, one that would get them the 25th overall selection, and another that got them spot 30.

Draft trade charts such as he used are useful guidelines, but not all teams like the same ones, and sometimes they will overpay, or take less than they could possibly get. However, the range of 25 to 30 seems quite workable.

So who might the brain-trust at The Star find worthy of such a move? I did a quick survey of some “big boards” floating around the interwebs, and found some names that kept popping up in that general range, and seemed to be players that the Cowboys could well covet.

CB Caleb Farley

This is a fallback if the Cowboys go another direction at 10. Myriad mocks have them landing Patrick Surtain II, and Jaycee Horn is considered by many to be on the same level. But if Dallas is lured into taking someone else because they fell to them, like TE Kyle Pitts or OTs Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater, they may well have an eye on whether Farley makes it to later in the first round due to his back issues. He may well be worth going after, as many had him CB1 prior to the news about his surgery. Besides, it’s not like Dallas shies away from using high picks on players with significant injury history.

CB Greg Newsome II

CB Asante Samuel Jr.

If Farley is either not there, or the team is not happy about his medicals, these two frequently show up as being available late in the first round. It might depend on how the draft is falling, as the Cowboys might risk seeing if one of them makes it to 44. But if things look a bit risky, this might be a move they would consider to shore up the secondary.

DT Christian Barmore

If Dallas does take Surtain or Horn at 10, then this is an opportunity to get probably the best interior defensive lineman this year. It is the example Archer used in his article. Since some think Barmore is one of the best defenders in this class at any position, it does make some real sense.

LB Nick Bolton

Perhaps the best true inside LB in the draft, he would shore up what is currently a weak part of the roster.

LB/DPR Zaven Collins

He might be very intriguing in Dan Quinn’s offense. He not only is seen as a late-first-round talent as a pass rusher, he is also highly rated for a pure off-ball linebacking role, although that is not seen as strong a position for him. But that flexibility might be just what the team is seeking.

EDGE Azeez Ojulari

EDGE Joseph Ossai

Here are a couple of pass rushers that merit consideration. Both are generally considered late-first/early-second-round prospects.

S Trevon Moehrig

This is one to watch if he is still around at 25, because most draftniks have him rated several spots higher. If he slides a bit, the Cowboys could go after him to further shore up the secondary.

OL Tevin Jenkins

He could be a great pick to bring in as an immediate starter at guard and possible long-term replacement for Tyron Smith. Most boards have him somewhere in that 25 to 30 sweet spot for Dallas.

All of these are players that could be of real value to the Cowboys, but likely will be taken before they go on the clock at 44 in the second round. If Trader Jerry is indeed getting ready to wheel and deal, these are some of the more interesting names that might be targets.