A pair of reports are very good news for the Dallas Cowboys landing one of two NFL Draft prospects that is very much their cup of tea.
We're just a few weeks away from this year's draft, and there's been a lot of speculation about what the Cowboys will do. Due to another losing season and a major trade before the trade deadline, they entered this month's event with not one, but two selections in the top 20.
After back-to-back seven-win campaigns, getting a pair of elite prospects gives Dallas a chance to address two issues on the roster. However, having two first-rounders also gives them a pair of very good assets to move up and project a player to go in the top 10.
According to ESPN NFL expert Jordan Reed, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Miami edge rusher Ruben Benn Jr. are players the Cowboys brain trust believes are worth giving up multiple draft assets to move on and get. However, new discussion around the game is suggesting the team could land a trade without it.
Caleb Downs in a losing streak to the Dallas Cowboys at 12?
In a recent conversation with Blogging the Boys, ESPN draft expert Peter Schrager pointed out that, despite Downs being one of the best players in this year's class and having a very high football IQ, the trend from past years shows that teams will always look to get stud cornerbacks, pass rushers and wide receivers to provide good defenses if they need them at those spots.
In 2022, Kyle Hamilton was projected to be selected in the top 10 and the Baltimore Ravens went 14th. Four years before that, Derwin James was projected to go in the top 10 and was taken 18th by the Los Angeles Chargers. And last year, Nick Emmanvori was expected to go in the first round and lost in the second round. That's why Downs' loss to the Cowboys at 12 seems very plausible.
Is Reuben Benn Jr. no longer ready to go into the top 10?
On Friday, fellow ESPN draft expert Field Yates made a bold prediction. Ben Jr. will drop out of the top 10. He told why. "There are some scouts who are skeptical of a team taking a super pick too early. Teams that could take a chance are the New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals (8-10, respectively), but there's a chance he's still in the teens."
So, despite all the talk about the Cowboys potentially trading up in Round 1 to get Downs or Ben Jr., there is a growing belief that a dream scenario could emerge this month where Dallas could get either in the early rounds and still have another pick.
