Could Cowboys execs recent comments imply a trade down in 2022 NFL Draft?

The 2022 NFL Draft is finally here. In the days and weeks leading up to the draft, it’s normal to see tons of rumors and speculation going around about what the Dallas Cowboys may or may not be doing in this year’s draft. Not only is it hard to decipher what rumors to trust, but it’s also hard to keep up with the vague and confusing comments made by Stephen and Jerry Jones.

Two weeks ago, Jerry Jones said he was absolutely open to trading up in the draft. Last week, Stephen Jones said he didn’t think trading up was a good idea. There have been reports about the team possibly trading up for Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux. It’s hard to keep up. However, in a pre-draft press conference on Tuesday, some of the comments made by both Jerry and Stephen seemed to imply that the Joneses could now be interested in trading down.

First, the Cowboys’ GM told reporters that it “would be madness” to not consider trades in the draft. The difference in this quote from his previous ones is that he didn’t talk definitively about trading up. He mentioned being open to trades of any kind.

After that, the Cowboys EVP told reporters that the front office seems to feel that this draft class is heaviest with talent in the middle of the draft. If they feel that way, could they be interested in trading down to get more mid-round picks?

Cowboys say they only have 14-16 players with first-round grades, potentially implying shying away from trading up in the draft

Just like everyone else, this is all speculation. But, it is speculation that comes from direct quotes from Cowboys ownership. Stephen Jones made a point to say that he thinks the 2022 draft class is light on talent in Rounds 1 and 2, but power packed in rounds three through five. Could Dallas then use their second rounder to make sure they secure a favored first-rounder from a limited pool? Sure … but … there’s also the alternative.

If he and his father are on the same page about the middle rounds, why would they trade up? Or, is Stephen just blowing smoke and trying to confuse us?

The most surprising part was when the Cowboys’ EVP said that the team currently only has14-16 players graded as first-round-worthy picks. That is incredibly low. Typically a team will have around 30 players deemed as first-rounders. Again, it’s important to remember that you have to take everything the Joneses say with a grain of salt. Stephen also said that the Cowboys have “no musts” heading into the draft, even though they have several pressing positional gaps to fill.

Thankfully, we don’t have to continue to try and predict the future for much longer. In a few short hours, we will see what the Dallas front office decides to do.