Cowboys likely will look to deal

Originally Published: April 12, 2005
Scouts Inc.
Every NFL team goes into the draft with a to-do list based on its needs, its draft position and its willingness to trade up or down. Our scouts have been doing their homework and present an early look at the most likely scenarios each team will face on draft day. Below is a breakdown of the NFC East.

Dallas Cowboys | Top 5 needs

The Cowboys have been active and efficient during the free-agency period. With two first-round selections and three selections in the top 42, owner Jerry Jones and head coach Bill Parcells have the ammunition to make a splash on draft weekend, as well.

Jones and Parcells are notorious for making draft-day deals, but if they move anywhere, we expect it will be down. Despite addressing needs with the additions of QB Drew Bledsoe, OG Marco Rivera, NT Jason Ferguson and DC Anthony Henry, the team still needs all the picks it can get to add young playmakers to an aging and thin roster.

The good news is that the team's top four needs were addressed with the aforementioned offseason moves. The bad news, however, is that Dallas still needs a starting right tackle, a rush linebacker to improve the pass-rush, a starting free safety after Darren Woodson's retirement and depth at defensive end in the new 3-4 scheme.

The Cowboys are likely to keep their top pick (No. 11 overall) and use it on the best available pass rusher, which could very well be Maryland DE/OLB Shawne Merriman. If that's the case, we could easily see Dallas trade the No. 20 selection for multiple picks, including the third-rounder the team gave up in a trade with the Texans.


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