The Dallas Cowboys are heading into another draft with a noticeable gap in their selection sheet. For the third year in a row, the front office's strategic trades have left them with a significant void between picks. This trend of limited draft capital has become a hallmark for the Cowboys, as they watch other teams stockpile their selections.
Historically, the Cowboys have been cautious with their draft assets. While they did part with a first-round pick for Amari Cooper back in 2018, trading away premium draft picks has been a rarity.
In the Jerry Jones era, they've only navigated a draft gap of 70 spots or more three times before this recent streak-in 2010, 2012, and 2014. During those years, the Cowboys were laser-focused on specific targets, opting for quality over quantity.
Back in 2010, this approach paid off handsomely. The Cowboys moved up slightly in the first round to grab wide receiver Dez Bryant and again in the second round for linebacker Sean Lee.
Both became All-Pro stalwarts-Bryant, a touchdown machine, and Lee, a defensive cornerstone with over 800 tackles. It's not often a team rolls the dice twice in one draft and hits the jackpot both times.
However, the 2012 draft serves as a cautionary tale. The Cowboys traded their second-round pick to the Rams to move up for LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. Unfortunately, Claiborne's tenure in Dallas was marred by injuries and inconsistent play, and the team missed out on All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner, who could have been theirs in the second round.
In 2014, the Cowboys didn't shy away from making another bold move. They traded their third-round pick to Washington to climb up in the second round for DeMarcus Lawrence. This decision paid off, as Lawrence became a Pro Bowl pass rusher and a defensive mainstay with over 60 sacks in his career.
The key difference between those past gaps and the current trend is timing. Previously, the Cowboys made draft day trades. Recently, they've entered drafts already missing picks due to prior season trades.
The last couple of years saw the Cowboys part with fourth-round picks for Trey Lance and Jonathan Mingo. Lance hasn't made the expected impact, and Mingo struggled to find his footing in the offense. These moves highlight the risks of trading valuable mid-round picks for players who don't pan out.
This year, the Cowboys are without their second- and third-round picks after acquiring playmaker George Pickens and defensive anchor Quinnen Williams. Both have proven to be worthy investments, bringing immediate improvements to the lineup. Trading for established stars makes it easier to overlook a quiet draft night.
The Cowboys have consistently gambled on trading draft picks for proven veterans or young talents with potential. While these moves sometimes yield All-Pro results, they come at the cost of losing young, affordable depth. It's a delicate balance, but overall, the returns have been promising for Dallas.