Jerry Jones discusses possibility of Cowboys trading up in 2022 NFL Draft

Barring trades, the Dallas Cowboys have nine picks in the 2022 NFL Draft this month. They have one pick in each of the first four rounds, four picks in the fifth round and one sixth-round selection. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones discussed the possibility of the team trading up for the right fit if necessary. With the 24th selection, several of their top choices may be off the table by the time they’re on the clock.

“I would trade up this draft and just going in, as much as you can say about it until you see what’s there on the other line but yeah, I would trade up since we’re down as low as we are in those first two-three rounds,” Jones said, via The Athletics’ Jon Machota. “If we had a chance to and someone we really coveted was sitting down.”

The Cowboys owner also referenced a move they made in the 2013 NFL Draft. Holding the No. 18 pick and hoping to nab offensive lineman Travis Frederick, Dallas traded down with San Francisco to No. 31 overall. They got a third-round pick in exchange from the 49ers and Frederick went on to play for seven seasons. After pick No. 24, Dallas has the 56th- and 88th-overall selections.

Jones discussed the draft on Wednesday after an event for the announcement of a new partnership for the organization. The Cowboys partnered with Blockchain.com to create the first-ever deal between an NFL team and a cryptocurrency platform.

Ideal top two picks for the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys return a lot of talent from the 2021 season. However, the right picks in this year’s NFL Draft could be the difference between an early playoff exit and a Super Bowl. This week, NFL.com shared their “ideal” top two draft picks for every team in the league. Draft analyst Chad Reuter wrote that he believes the Cowboys are best off if they take one offensive lineman and a defensive end with their first and second-round picks.

Although the Cowboys have hosted a couple of first-round wide receiver prospects for meetings, Reuter opts for Texas A&M offensive lineman Kenyon Green at No. 24 overall. Green could slot in at left guard or right tackle. Those are two spots that are up in the air after Dallas’s offseason moves.

“With Dallas allowing Connor Williams to leave via free agency, Green steps directly into the left guard spot — or, potentially, at right tackle, which was also left vacant by the release of La’el Collins, depending upon how the rest of the draft plays out,” Reuter wrote.

Thirty-two picks later at No. 56, the Dallas Cowboys could draft Oklahoma Sooners star edge rusher Nik Bonitto.

“Signing Dante Fowler helps the team’s pass rush a bit, but the Cowboys must covet Bonitto’s get-off and wanton disregard for ball-carriers,” Reuter wrote. “They probably want a receiver in the first two rounds, but the competition will be fierce at that position, so a trade up from this later slot might be required to select one of value.”