I am exploring the 3 unique trading partners who can provide combinations of picks that simultaneously trade up and trade down. I just completed a mock on The NFL Mock Draft Database website to illustrate the risks and benefits of this move. I made the settings as strict and non random as possible - really a worst case.
I am fast becoming a fan of Mock Draft Database platform. First of all, their player rankings are an aggregate of hundreds of big boards and mocks, weighing most recent entries more. I trust that these are closer to how the NFL would rate these players than on any single platform. One result of averaging opinions is that outlier high-value players that make us feel smart are much harder to come by - drafting is much more challenging.
The Trade
I originally proposed an offer where we would net about 80 trade value points:
- Cowboys Trade Picks 10 and 115 for Dolphins Picks 18 and 36.
But the nflmockdraftdatabase.com platform does not allow anyone to "win" a trade on "Strict" setting. So, I made the following deal:
- Cowboys Trade Picks 10, 75, 115 and a 2022 5th Rounder for Dolphins picks, 18, 36 and 81.
Cowboys Picks Before Trade |
Cowboys Picks After Trade |
Net Change in Draft Slot |
10 |
18 |
-8 |
44 |
36 |
+8 |
75 |
44 |
+31 |
99 |
81 |
+18 |
115 |
99 |
+16 |
138 |
138 |
- |
179 |
179 |
- |
192 |
192 |
- |
227 |
227 |
- |
238 |
238 |
- |
2022 5th |
- |
- 2022 5th |
Rank |
Player |
Position |
15 |
Mac Jones |
QB |
16 |
Jaycee Horn |
CB |
17 |
Kwity Paye |
EDGE |
18 |
Alijah Vera-Tucker |
Guard/OT |
19 |
Gregory Rousseau |
EDGE |
20 |
Jeremiah Owusu Koramoah |
LB |
21 |
Azeez Ojulari |
EDGE |
22 |
Rashod Bateman |
WR |
23 |
Jaelan Phillips |
EDGE |
24 |
Najee Harris |
RB |
25 |
Christian Barmore |
DT |
26 |
Teven Jenkins |
OT |
27 |
Zaven Collins |
LB |
28 |
Trevon Moehrig |
S |
29 |
Kadarius Toney |
WR |
30 |
Samuel Cosmi |
OT |
31 |
Greg Newsome |
CB |
In my mock, Jones, Horn, and Vera-Tucker were gone before pick 18. The rest of the players on the chart are available, so I am choosing between Ojulari and Phillips at EDGE, Jenkins and Cosmi at OT, Barmore at DT, Newsome and Moehrwig.
18. Barmore. Consensus best DT in draft at a position of great need. I wonder how often he could be had if we traded back even further?
36. Ifeatu Melifonwu
44. Richie Grant
81. Brady Christenson. Very solid Under-the-Radar OT
99. Jaelon Darden. Ultra-elusive undersized slot option and deep threat.
138. Jordan Smith. UAB EDGE with real up-side. He is owning up to a past character issue and suspension - was part of 9 -player University of Florida credit scheme and served suspension, went JuCo, then UAB. 6'6" with all kinds of bend.
179. Camryn Bynum. Crap! Waited too long to get another CB. Decent prospect at value.
192. Deommodore Lenoir. Worth it for name value alone! Actually an intriguing athletic specimen.
227. Tre Norwood. Safety depth
238. K.J. Costello. This year's Ben DiNucci
Looking back, I made a mistake in the 1st round....Should have gone Newsome. Then Melifonwu (or Stokes) and Richie Grant (or Jevon Holland) to have one of the best young defensive secondaries in the league. Then Tyler Shelvin at DT pick 99. Best WR available at 179. Live and learn.