If you told us two days ago that the Dallas Cowboys would end up drafting Caleb Downs, we might have laughed in your face. In our defense, all the reporting suggested that there was no way Downs would make it out of the top five.
The New York Giants' selection of Arvell Reese ignited Downs' fall, and he dropped all the way to No. 11 before Dallas jumped up one spot to grab the former All-American safety.
The Cowboys are already playing with house money. But Jerry Jones' heater continued when he traded with the Philadelphia Eagles. That usually doesn't end well, but Jones did extremely well, sending picks No. 20 and 218 to Philly for Nos. 23, 114, and 137.
So, that's two fourth-round picks and a seventh to move back three spots. Does it hurt that the Eagles selected USC wide receiver Makai Lemon? Slightly, but in trade terms, this is a fleece by Jerry Jones.
Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys fleeced the Eagles in a draft-day trade
So, to recap, the Cowboys came out of Round 1 with Caleb Downs and more draft capital than they entered Thursday night with. Dare we say that Jerry is cooking?
The Cowboys don't have a second-round pick, so picking up two extra fourths is huge. What this draft class lacks in blue-chip talent, it makes up for in depth.
Now saddled with three fourths in addition to pick No. 92 in Round 3, Dallas could add four additional immediate contributors. Or, they could mortgage their collections of fourths to move up into the third round. And if they stay put, they have an excellent history of drafting in Round 4.
The Cowboys got Caleb Downs and fleeced the Eagles. They are one of the biggest winners from Night 1.
Let's hope they keep the momentum going.
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