Dallas and St. Louis have exchanged former first rounders, with the Cowboys sending former Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter to the Rams in exchange for former Florida State tackle Alex Barron.

The writing was on the wall for Carpenter when the Cowboys took Penn State linebacker Sean Lee in the second round of this year’s draft. With five players-Bradie James, Keith Brooking, Jason Williams, Carpenter and Lee-in contention for two starting spots in the base 3-4 defense and another in the nickel defense.

Somebody had to go, and the Cowboys made the right pick.

The Rams also had an abundance after the draft as Rodger Saffold looks set to take over for Barron.

Carpenter still had some value in him. He’s a first-round pick that never really panned out in Dallas, possibly because he wasn’t cut out for the position that Bill Parcells picked him for. He was a Parcells guy. He might work better as a 4-3 outside linebacker.

Barron has some value, too. He’s a left tackle prospect that hasn’t lived up to his hype yet. Cowboy fans won’t like hearing that he’s got false start problems. He also tends to hold often as he led the league with five holding calls last season. But who can blame him? Cardinal sin number one for an offensive lineman is letting your quarterback take big shots. I’m willing to be Barron took at least one trying to protect an aging Marc Bulger. I’m ok with that.

Barron represents the greater value for the Cowboys than Carpenter did. They needed depth at both tackle positions and Barron will provide that. He might end up pushing Doug Free at the left tackle spot, but Free will enter training camp as the favorite to win the starting job.

The deal is a win-win for both teams. They turned depth at a position where they were comfortable and turned it into depth at a position where there was a need. Nice deal for both teams.