DMN: Dallas could move up for Calvin
Cowboys not opposed to draft move
Trading up is possible, but Jones thinks team will be fine at No. 22
09:08 PM CDT on Monday, April 23, 2007
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News
cwatkins@dallasnews.com
IRVING – The last time the Cowboys traded up in the first round of the NFL Draft was 1999, when it moved from No. 22 to No. 20 to select defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban.
When the 2007 draft starts Saturday, there is a remote chance that owner/general manager Jerry Jones will do it again.
Jones said during a Monday afternoon news conference at Valley Ranch that the team will not part with anyone on its current roster to move up from the No. 22 pick.
If the Cowboys move up, it would be for a potential star such as Calvin Johnson, the wide receiver from Georgia Tech, who is considered the top player in the draft, or a running back such as Adrian Peterson from Oklahoma.
Overall, Jones said there are probably four offensive and three or four defensive players worth trading up for. But it might be too risky.
"It's hard to do that and it's hard to really give up [draft picks]," Jones said. "I wouldn't want to go as far as to get into next year's picks. I wouldn't do that this year. I just wouldn't do it."
The Cowboys believe an impact player will be available in the lower half of the first round.
If the right deal is presented, however, Dallas would move up.
"It would help if we had two No. 1s to get that job done like we had [in 2005]," Jones said. "We do have our bases covered, so if there were a player we could reach – big if, big if – that could come in and make the obvious impact, then that should be a consideration."
Jones acknowledged that he was talking out of both sides of his mouth.
It's not unusual at this time of year because most owners and general managers as active in the draft as Jones have to keep their options open.
"When you have your bases covered in your mind, that allows you to think like this," Jones said. "It allows you to think going up, it allows you to think about doing something and really putting yourself in a position for next year's picks."
Dallas has the flexibility of having 10 picks in the draft if it wants to move up. It appears the Cowboys are looking to keep everyone and focusing on defense in the first round.
Jones was asked about several defensive players during his hour-long news conference, and he said a defensive back could come in and get significant playing time in the nickel defense.
Jones said this is a deep draft for wide receivers, and a quality wideout could be had in Round 2, and a quarterback could be taken by the end of the first day.
"Receiver is a tough job to come in right off the bat and start in the NFL," Jones said. "It is one of the toughest positions to start in your first year."
Then again, everything Jones said Monday could change within the next 48 or 72 hours.
"I think legitimately most of these clubs don't know exactly how it might fall for them," he said. "So they don't want to create a situation where someone will trade up ahead of them."
Trading up is possible, but Jones thinks team will be fine at No. 22
09:08 PM CDT on Monday, April 23, 2007
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News
cwatkins@dallasnews.com
IRVING – The last time the Cowboys traded up in the first round of the NFL Draft was 1999, when it moved from No. 22 to No. 20 to select defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban.
When the 2007 draft starts Saturday, there is a remote chance that owner/general manager Jerry Jones will do it again.
Jones said during a Monday afternoon news conference at Valley Ranch that the team will not part with anyone on its current roster to move up from the No. 22 pick.
If the Cowboys move up, it would be for a potential star such as Calvin Johnson, the wide receiver from Georgia Tech, who is considered the top player in the draft, or a running back such as Adrian Peterson from Oklahoma.
Overall, Jones said there are probably four offensive and three or four defensive players worth trading up for. But it might be too risky.
"It's hard to do that and it's hard to really give up [draft picks]," Jones said. "I wouldn't want to go as far as to get into next year's picks. I wouldn't do that this year. I just wouldn't do it."
The Cowboys believe an impact player will be available in the lower half of the first round.
If the right deal is presented, however, Dallas would move up.
"It would help if we had two No. 1s to get that job done like we had [in 2005]," Jones said. "We do have our bases covered, so if there were a player we could reach – big if, big if – that could come in and make the obvious impact, then that should be a consideration."
Jones acknowledged that he was talking out of both sides of his mouth.
It's not unusual at this time of year because most owners and general managers as active in the draft as Jones have to keep their options open.
"When you have your bases covered in your mind, that allows you to think like this," Jones said. "It allows you to think going up, it allows you to think about doing something and really putting yourself in a position for next year's picks."
Dallas has the flexibility of having 10 picks in the draft if it wants to move up. It appears the Cowboys are looking to keep everyone and focusing on defense in the first round.
Jones was asked about several defensive players during his hour-long news conference, and he said a defensive back could come in and get significant playing time in the nickel defense.
Jones said this is a deep draft for wide receivers, and a quality wideout could be had in Round 2, and a quarterback could be taken by the end of the first day.
"Receiver is a tough job to come in right off the bat and start in the NFL," Jones said. "It is one of the toughest positions to start in your first year."
Then again, everything Jones said Monday could change within the next 48 or 72 hours.
"I think legitimately most of these clubs don't know exactly how it might fall for them," he said. "So they don't want to create a situation where someone will trade up ahead of them."
posted by The Gryphon at 8:07 PM
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