The Cowboys were handed a gift from the offensive football gods in the form of CeeDee Lamb on Thursday evening. Expected to be long gone by the time Dallas got on the clock, the Oklahoma receiver should ascend Dallas’ offense to the stratosphere in 2020. When considering the marked improvement made by handing the reigns to Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator is going to be combined with Mike McCarthy’s West Coast Offense, the sky seems to be the limit for the group of weapons at Dak Prescott’s disposal.
Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and now Lamb should be hands down the best four-pack in the NFL. When throwing in Tony Pollard’s versatility and Blake Jarwin’s upside, a giddy feeling washes over Cowboys Nation as fans try to figure out the best way to tweet 40-burger in regard to future scoreboards.
With the myriad of defensive players still on the board, it’s not likely the Cowboys want to pull the trigger and sacrifice a deeper draft haul to target just one player. Still, there’s an outside chance if a guy they have rated highly makes his way toward the 40s.
Stephen Jones admitted there’s still one or two players who have a first-round grade on their board.
Cowboys VP Stephen Jones on @1053thefan said there’s still a player or two remaining in this draft that Dallas has a first-round grade on. But it sounds like there’s little to no chance of the Cowboys trading up to get one of those players
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 24, 2020
Knowing who the team had interest in predraft, here are the guesses as to players the team might sacrifice some draft capital for to bring into the fold.
CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama
Diggs has everything a team like Dallas would look for in a boundary corner and potential CB1. With Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis on expiring deals, Dallas certainly needs to bring in another corner and Diggs would fit the mold of what Mike Nolan is looking for.
Diggs has some of the largest hands (9 3/8″) and longest wingspans (78 3/8″) in the entire draft at the position. Stefon Diggs younger brother was a two-way player entering college, so he has the requisite ball skills to be a turnover producer at the next level, leaving Tuscaloosa with three interceptions in 2019.
Diggs is No. 23 in our Cowboys-centric big board.
Safety Xavier McKinney, Alabama
Diggs defensive backfield mate would probably a bigger trade-up consideration if Dallas weren’t so allergic to caring about the safety position. Our No. 20-ranked prospect was seen as a mid-first round player to many prognosticators entering the weekend. He is highly versatile, able to play centerfield, in the box or slot corner.
He forced 10 turnovers the last two years with five interceptions and five forced fumbles. He’s a sound open-field tackler and willing, and clearly has the big-game pedigree that will keep him from skrinking to the occasion.
The desire to go grab McKinney for the gold price is that there will likely be impact safeties at No. 51 available for the iron price in LSU’s Grant Delpit or Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield. The NFL is disregarding safeties for the second draft in a row after Nasir Adderley, Taylor Rapp and Juan Thornhill all dropped to the 60s last year. If similar happens, Dallas should just wait if safety is their target.
DE/LB Zack Baun, Wisconsin
If Lamb didn’t fall into their lap, Dallas was all set to draft K’Lavon Chaisson at No. 17. They want an edge rusher to play opposite DeMarcus Lawrence and Baun would certainly be a great addition; he can’t even be called a consolation prize as he has Round-1 talent.
The Wisconsin linebacker is the poster child for the designated pass rusher role Stephen Jones relayed about Nolan’s plans on defense. A stand-up pass rusher who is able to play essentially 3-4 linebacker for a 40-front. This kind of versatility is what Baun could bring.
He’s not the best edge rusher on the board, but he is perfect for that role if the team envisions someone other than, or in addition to, Jaylon Smith filling it.
Trade Value
Dallas’ remaining picks are worth as follows:
No. 51 – 390 points
No. 82 – 180 points
No. 123 – 49 points
No. 165 – 24.6 points
No. 179 – 18.6 points
Here’s a look at the trade value chart. Their second and third-round picks could move them up to No. 34. Their second and fourth rounders would move then up to No. 46. Adding their fifth rounder could jump Chicago if a target gets very close.
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