Dallas dealing for #1 Overall Pick?

[hagansp]

'BOYS TO MAKE A DEAL WITH THE FINS?

ESPN's Chris Mortensen suggested during a special edition of Sunday NFL Countdown that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is eyeing the possibility of swinging a trade with the Dolphins for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft.

Such a deal would allow the 'Boys to bag running back Darren McFadden, who played college football at Jones' alma mater of Arkansas.

Per Mort, any such deal would have to include the rights to Cowboys running back Marion Barber, who is slated to be a restricted free agent. To make it happen, the Cowboys would have to work out a sign-and-trade deal before Barber gets a chance to ink an offer sheet that would force the Cowboys to match the terms or let him go in exchange for compensation. Thus, the safest bet for the 'Boys would be to tender Barber at the highest possible level, which would force any team that signs him to give up a first-round pick and a third-round pick. Those extra picks then could be used to sweeten the pot for the top spot in the draft.

And it's clear that the Cowboys are going to have to find a way to enhance the two first-rounders that they can offer up for the No. 1 pick. Under the revised draft order, the Cowboys pick at No. 22 (from Cleveland) and at No. 28. Under the trade chart, the No. 22 overall pick is worth 780 points and the No. 28 selection is worth 660 points. The No. 1 selection has a value of 3,000 points; thus, the Cowboys would be a whopping 1,560 points short.

Though the trade chart arguably needs to be adjusted to reflect the fact that the enormous financial investment that is now required when using the top pick makes the prospects of a move up even more fraught with risk, the Fins could justify the 1,560-point gap by placing that value on Barber, who coupled with Ronnie Brown could give Miami a deadly one-two punch in the backfield.

Some readers think that the framework for a deal is already in place, and was part of the unspoken understanding that allowed the Dolphins to have their way with the Dallas front office and coaching staff. If that's true it wouldn't surprise us. Jones surely covets McFadden, and our guess is that he is willing to do whatever is necessary to get him.

Profootballtalk.com

[hagansp]

doesn't make sense to me...Dallas is not weak at RB...why deal up to get one...and not address other needs...

[hepcat]

As a Cowboy fan and Arkansas alum myself, I'm all for it.

As to Dallas not being weak at RB, I'm not entirely sold yet on Barber taking a full load for the entire season. Julius Jones is gone (thank god), and McFadden is a beast who could definitely handle a full load.

If you watch McFadden play, he hits opposing defenders rather than letting them hit him. While fun to watch (much like Barber), I don't think that enhances his chances of a long career (see also Earl Campbell--though different body types there). However, he is ony 20 years old, so 4 years younger than Barber and has a much broader skill set than Barber.

Anyway, I'm all for it....let the games begin!

[Scobes]

That'd be a good trade for the Dolphins since they need more than just one piece!

Scobes

[jedijohnson]

I can't get excited about any deal that sends Marion Barber away. He's a proven NFL gamer. McFadden, as great a he was in college, is still a gamble when it come to the pros. The Cowboys have too many needs elsewhere to trade away two first-round draft choices.
That being said...Jerry will do it if that's what he's gotten in his head to do.

[mikesilvia]

Why would they trade for #1? I don't think there is any chance of Miami picking up McFadden with the RB talent they already have.

[hagansp]

gotta find a trading partner...and parcells would probably be a likely canidate...also if you look at it like this...its Miami or St Louis ya gotta work with...Atl could go RB...they passed on Adrian last year can they risk passing on McFadden this year?

St louis needs d help they with Dorsey or Long, i dont see them trading down, they need an impact player

then you got Atlanta who may take him and Dallas if they want him can't risk him being on the board when Atlanta picks.

[Bondsaway]

Thats one of the dumbest rumors I heard. It makes no sense on any side of the fence your sitting on. Dolphins still have brown and possibly williams????? What team would be stupid enough to give Dallas the #1 pick? Remember pats have the first round pick of the 49ers this year!!!!! don't think Belichick will pass on top talent like that if he is there for them!!! Maroney isn't the answer in N.E. But thats why I lov watching the Draft!!!!!

can't wait for April!

[hepcat]

Thats one of the dumbest rumors I heard. It makes no sense on any side of the fence your sitting on. Dolphins still have brown and possibly williams????? What team would be stupid enough to give Dallas the #1 pick? Remember pats have the first round pick of the 49ers this year!!!!! don't think Belichick will pass on top talent like that if he is there for them!!! Maroney isn't the answer in N.E. But thats why I lov watching the Draft!!!!!

can't wait for April!

Why is it dumb? If you haven't noticed, the Dolphins hired away half the Dallas staff, so the connections for a deal are there. Brown is coming off an ACL and he's hardly lived up to his lofty draft status thus far. Ricky Williams---is that a joke? A 31 yo RB (by start of next season) who hasn't played competetively for a long while now....

The Dolphins have a ton of holes and could fill them by trading down. Parcells has a long istory of trading down as well----whether he'd trade for Dallas' two lower first round picks + whatever, well that's the real question.

There's no way McFadden is there at #7, and Belichick hasn't shown in the past he's willing to trade up, so I'm doubting that scenario.

Makes for fun speculation though.

[hagansp]

george i ask you why you think it's dumb?

miami is far from a few pieces away...if jerry feels the cowboys are close and a stud rb is the answer that explains their side...we've seen deals like this give the team trading out amazing value...the dolphins could get the 1st this year, 1st next year, and marian barber...or something to that combination.

i don't get your logic of it being dumb for both teams...for Miami it makes all the sense in the world...if you don't see 1 player here which is going to make you a contenders...(they won 1 game this year) so they are more then that 1 piece away...they now stockpile picks and get more out of it.

i don't get it from the cowboys perspective...but I certainly see why miami would do it.