11 draft-pick trades Cowboys could make and how high they can move

Most of the conversation surrounding Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones’ proclamation that he will go all-in have centered around free agency. By and large, the Cowboys have done a great job over the Will McClay era of finding high-quality players in the first round of the draft and diamonds in the later rounds. But in free agency, Stephen Jones has been frugal ever since they signed Brandon Carr in 2012.

So when faced with another playoff failure, ownership has indicated this will be the year they put maximum effort into capitalizing on the now instead of having an eye towards the future. Naturally, most assume this means going after the big names, and there’s a laundry list of possibles there. But what if all-in meant using their draft capital to get a ready-made impact payer?

That could come in the form of trading away their pick, or multiple picks, on players. In 2023, Dallas gave up Day 3 picks to acquire CB Stephon Gilmore and WR Brandin Cooks. They could look to use their Day 1 and Day 2 picks in 2024 to acquire even bigger talent. Another option would be to use their draft capital to move up for higher yielding lottery tickets.

The prevalent theory when it comes to draft picks is the more the merrier. Hit rates on prospects are better in the top of the first round, but there’s strength in numbers. With both contributors and stars available through all seven rounds, it makes more sense to have as many picks as possible.

But when it comes to immediate bang for the buck, having the highest possible draft picks could be worth the squeeze, in an all-in campaign.

While each team has their own respective trade value charts — there’s a reason why trades that seem lopsided ever happen, because everyone has their own perspective on the value of each slot — there are three industry standard charts to consider from the outside looking in. The first, known as Jimmy Johnson’s chart based on one of his Dallas staffers efforts in the 1990s, still holds a ton of comparative value when looking at recent trades. Then there’s the Rich Hill model which is uses more recent trade data to reach its values.

Finally, the Fitzgerald-Spielberger model focuses on the spending and financial value aspect of each slot.

Here’s a look at what kind of haul Dallas could expect from various bundles of picks, based on all three charts.

Dallas' current haul of 2024 picks

The Cowboys have seven picks in the upcoming draft, but only four of their original seven based on their 2023 finish.

They have two compensatory picks based on free agents lost in 2023 (a third pick for Noah Brown would’ve been earned but it falls outside of the maximum number the league allots each season).

They also have an extra seventh-round pick as part of the trade that netted them Jonathan Hankins in a mid-season trade in 2022.

Dallas has traded away three of their picks to acquire players in previous seasons.

1st Round: No. 24
2nd Round: No. 56
3rd Round: No. 88
* 4th Round: QB Trey Lance (2023 preseason trade)
* 5th Round: CB Eric Scott, Jr. (2023 draft-day trade)
* 5th Round: Comp Pick (Connor McGovern) ~No. 173
* 6th Round: WR Brandin Cooks (2023 offseason trade included 2023 5th)
* 6th Round: Comp Pick (Dalton Schultz) ~No. 213
* 7th Round: No. 231 (Raiders)
7th Round: No. 242

1st Rounder + 2nd Rounder

Jimmy Johnson Chart: 740pts + 340pts = 1080pts | Highest: 1.15 + 5.150
Rich Hill Chart: 237 + 98 = 335 | Highest: 1.14 + 5.149

OTC Chart: 1389 + 960 = 2349 | Value: 1.4

Trade Partner: Indianapolis Colts or New Orleans Saints

1st Rounder + 3rd Rounder

Jimmy Johnson Chart: 740 + 155 = 895 | Highest: 1.19 + 5.177
Rich Hill Chart: 237 + 48 = 285 | Highest: 1.19 + 5.177

OTC Chart: 1389 + 731 = 2120 | Value: 1.6

Trade Partner: Los Angeles Rams

1st Rounder + 2nd Rounder + 3rd Rounder

Jimmy Johnson Chart: 1235 pts | Highest: 1.12 + 5.146
Rich Hill Chart: 383 pts | Highest: 1.10 + 6.187

OTC Chart: 3080 pts | Value: 1.1 + 2025 7th

Trade Partner: Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings or New York Jets

1st Rounder + 2025 1st Rounder

Jimmy Johnson Chart: 1740 pts | Highest: 1.5
Rich Hill Chart: 542 pts | Highest: 1.3

OTC Chart: 2,984 pts | Highest: 1.2 + 6.221

Trade Partner: Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals or New England Patriots

1st Rounder + 2025 2nd Rounder

Jimmy Johnson Chart: 910 pts | Highest: 1.18 + 7.235
Rich Hill Chart: 286 pts | Highest: 1.19 + 6.191

OTC Chart: 1869 pts | Value: 1.10

Trade Partner: Cincinnati Bengals or Los Angeles Rams

1st Rounder + 2nd Rounder + 2025 1st Rounder

Jimmy Johnson Chart: 2080 pts | Highest: 1.4 + 3.66
Rich Hill Chart: 640pts | Highest: 1.3 + 3.68 + 2025 2nd

OTC Chart: 3944pts | Value: 1.1 + 2025 1st

Trade Partners: Arizona Cardinals or New England Patriots

1st Rounder + 2025 1st Rounder + 2026 1st Rounder

Jimmy Johnson Chart: 2490 pts | Highest: 1.3 + 3.68 + 2025 3rd
Rich Hill Chart: 771 pts | Highest: 1.2 + 3.67

OTC Chart: 4180 pts | Value: 1.1 + 2025 1st

Trade Partners: New England Patriots or Washington Commanders

1st Rounder + 2nd Rounder + 2025 1st Rounder + 2025 2nd Rounder

Jimmy Johnson Chart: 2250 pts | Highest: 1.3 + 5.136
Rich Hill Chart: 689 pts | Highest: 1.3 + 2.33

OTC Chart: 4424 pts | Value: 1.1 + 2025 Top 5 pick

Trade Partners: Patriots

2nd Rounder + 3rd Rounder

Jimmy Johnson Chart: 495 pts | Highest: 2.41 + 6.216
Rich Hill Chart: 146 pts | Highest: 2.41

OTC Chart: 1691 pts | Value: 1.14

Trade Partners: Green Bay Packers

2nd Rounder + 5th Rounder

Jimmy Johnson Chart: 362 pts | Highest: 2.54 + 7.228
Rich Hill Chart: 107 pts | Highest: 2.53

OTC Chart: 1348 pts | Value: 1.26

Trade Partners: Cleveland Browns or Philadelphia Eagles

2nd Rounder + 3rd Rounder + 5th Rounder

Jimmy Johnson Chart: 517 pts | Highest: 2.39 + 6.185
Rich Hill Chart: 155 pts | Highest: 2.39

OTC Chart: 2079 pts | Value: 1.6

Trade Partners: New York Giants

Story originally appeared on Cowboys Wire