Will The Cowboys Trade Out Of 2016 NFL Draft’s First Round?
By Luke Roling
It has been an awfully busy news week at Valley Ranch, headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys franchise. Rookies are reporting to camp, troubled pass rusher, Greg Hardy, was spotted putting in some conditioning work, and through pulling out all the stops, owner/general manager, Jerry Jones, inked a potential top 10 pick, offensive tackle La’el Collins, to an undrafted free agent contract.
Collins joins cornerback/free safety Byron Jones and defensive end, Randy Gregory, as three 2015 draft selections with a first round grade by draft expert, CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler.
Despite the media clutter, Jones made headlines during an interview with a local Dallas radio station, KRLD-FM 105.3, when the omnipresent owner exclaimed that it 2016 would be a good time to trade away the team’s first round pick in 2016, since the Cowboys essentially stole two additional first-rounders.
In his own words, Jones said of the trade possibility,
"“I’d be reluctant to, but certainly if the right situation came along that could improve us now with where we are with Romo in his career and where we are with what we put together. It’s a good time to go for it.”"
Wait. What?
Jones is often painted as the NFL’s equivalent to marketing pariah, P.T. Barnum. He has a reputation for choosing sizzle over steak, choosing flash over substance and leaving all Dallas fans to look like the “sucker.”
In recent memory, Jones has been far closer to a poised executive than a snake-oil salesman. Excluding the unproven 2015 draft class, four of the last five first round selections have panned out as All-Pro starters, three of which serving on the offensive line. Folks, this simply is not the Crazy Uncle Jerry we once knew. Heck, the man one 2014 NFL Executive of the Year.
Which gets me to the long and short of it; will Jerry Jones trade away the Cowboys’ first round pick in 2016? Not a chance.
Why won’t Jones entertain such an offer? It would pain him to do so. On sitting in the War Room without a pick, Jones shared,
"“…it’s a bitter pill to swallow. I‘ve done that two time and I’m telling you, that hurts bad the next draft day.”"
The two instances that the Dallas patriarch refers to include the trades for wide receivers Joey Galloway and Roy Williams. Each trade blew up in the face of the Dallas front office as Galloway went on to nab just 12 touchdowns and 2,341 yards over four years. Williams, not to be outdone, produced only 13 touchdowns and 33.1 yards per game with a star on his helmet.
By the way, who warrants such a high trade price? Minnesota Vikings disgruntled, yet uniquely talented back, Adrian Peterson? At age 30, Peterson is now over-the-hill for an NFL running back. Even for a rusher who is one of the best to ever play his position, three to four years of exceptional production is not nearly enough to justify dealing a first rounder– even when selecting at the end of the round.
Don’t worry fans. Without anyone worthy of the selection and new-look Jerry Jones running the show, 2016’s first rounder is in safe hands. Can’t trust ol’ Jerry quite yet? Take a note from his son, executive vice president, Stephen Jones:
"“…it’s something that we really don’t want to go out there and not really value our draft picks and it would have to be something very unique to make us want to give up a draft pick.”"
The team is safe; their 2016 first round selection is safe. Stop the speculation, exhale, and get ready, Cowboys fans– players are taking the field.