2020 NFL Draft: Potential trade-up targets for the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have some key players to re-sign so most of their upgrades should come via the draft. Here are some players they can target via trade-up in the 2020 NFL Draft.

There have been reports that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants to make a splash in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The only thing that comes to mind would be a trade up to the top half of the draft to target a high profile prospect. To make it more fun I listed three trade-up targets for the first three rounds.

The Dallas Cowboys have free agents of their own they’ll like to re-sign, namely Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper, which will eat up most of their cap space. They have a bunch of holes on the defensive side of the ball specifically cornerback, safety, interior lineman and edge rusher. In order to fill those holes, they’ll have to look to the draft.

Without wasting any more time, here are the trade-up targets for the Dallas Cowboys:

First Round

This is a pipe dream for the Dallas Cowboys and their fans, but there is uncertainty how far Jeff Okudah could fall if Detroit trades out of the third pick. There has been a bunch of talk that Jerry Jones wants to make a splash and trading up ten plus spots for the best cornerback in the draft would big a huge splash.

Jerry has done this before trading up eight spots back in 2012 for LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. They probably had buyers remorse since he never did pan out for them. It didn’t help either that Stephon Gilmore was selected four picks later by Buffalo.

Okudah though is one of the best cornerback prospects to come out in recent memory. He’s as close as a perfect prospect as it gets. He has solid size which will allow him to hang with stronger receivers at the next level. He has the speed and quickness to blanket his man as well as consistent hands to break up passes.

Okudah could be the ultimate prospect to help a fringe playoff team like the Dallas Cowboys. They have a huge hole at cornerback with the expected departure of Byron Jones, so they’ll need a guy who can step in right away. Okudah will have no problem doing so.

Another prospect that the Dallas Cowboys would likely have to trade up for is South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw. They have a couple of spots to be filled on their line with Maliek Collins being an unrestricted free agent and there’s a question whether they’ll tender Antwaun Woods.

Kinlaw’s stock has been all over the place, but some believe he will be a top ten pick. He certainly has top ten talent with raw physical tools. He can beat guys with his brute strength and heavy hands, but he’ll need to be coached up well in order to reach his full potential.

If Dallas finds a way to keep Collins, they’ll have a very intimidating duo in the middle of their defense. Kinlaw also posted six sacks this past season for the Gamecocks, so he does have raw pass-rush potential.

I know most of you will say C.J Henderson will be there when the Dallas Cowboys pick at 17, and I agree, but there could be teams like Philadelphia who are in need of corner help that can trade up in front of them for his services. Henderson is my number two cornerback and he could step right in for the Cowboys with little to no growing pains.

Henderson is not only is a tremendous player, but he’s a great leader and person. For a team like Dallas who tends to be in the news for the wrong reasons having a guy with strong leadership qualities at such a young age could be very good for their image.

As for the player, Henderson has a long frame and arms that will frustrate receivers. Due to his long arms, he can easily make plays on the ball while avoiding penalties. He has great makeup speed to stick with his man. He’ll need to add some weight to his frame, but he’ll only be 22-years-old at the start of the season so he has time to build up strength.