There's something to be said about what the Dallas Cowboys have accomplished this offseason, but there is ample room for improvement despite their uptick in aggression.
The Cowboys have plenty of ammunition to revamp the roster in the draft, but they are setting themselves up to draft for need, not the best player available, by not signing more starting-caliber players.
Being that most of Dallas' moves have been of the defensive variety, it's widely expected they'll target an offensive player with the No. 12 overall pick. With a glaring need at cornerback and Michigan talent Will Johnson considered a first-round lock, though, that is no guarantee.
With no fourth-round pick and in a class that only has a select number of first-round grades, many fans want to see the front office trade down from No. 12 and net an extra day two pick. That is easier said than done, but ESPN senior NFL writer Bill Barnwell seems to have identified Dallas' ideal trade partner.
Cowboys have an obvious trade partner in the 2025 NFL Draft
Barnwell did a deep dive on teams that should move up or down in the draft.
New column ($): Identifying the teams that should be most interested in trading up or down during the NFL Draft https://t.co/BtlstxvEnC
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) March 24, 2025
Barnwell circled the 49ers, who pick right before the Cowboys at No. 11, as a team that might benefit from trading back. He also thinks the Seahawks should consider moving up from the 18th selection. That makes Seattle the perfect trade partner for Dallas.
In Chad Reuter's last mock draft for NFL.com, Dallas moved back to pick No. 20 in a trade with the Broncos.
They got an additional second-rounder (pick No. 51), which allowed them to take Texas nose tackle Alfred Collins after selecting Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson with the 44th pick. They drafted Buckeyes receiver Emeka Egbuka with the 20th pick, so they filled three of their biggest holes by the end of the second round.
The Cowboys could get a similar haul from Seattle for the 18th pick.
We fired up Pro Football Focus' mock draft simulator and offered the Seahawks the 12th and 149th picks for the 18th and 50th selections, which was accepted. That resulted in a haul of Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, Ohio state RB Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss receiver Tre Harris and Florida State defensive tackle Joshua Farmer in the first three rounds.
There's no telling how the board will fall next month, but you have a good idea of what players will be available for Dallas if they move back several picks. The Seahawks own two picks in the second round, so it might be easier than expected to pry pick No. 50.
Regardless, the real value in this draft is in the second, third and fourth rounds. Unless Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan or someone of that ilk falls to No. 12, it makes all the sense in the world for the Cowboys to trade down in round one.