Cowboys Top 3 'All-In' Moves, Via Dallas News: Judging 'Trade Up, Be Bold, Get Radical'

Cowboys Top 3 'All-In' Moves, Via Dallas News: Judging 'Trade Up, Be Bold, Get Radical'

FRISCO - Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones quite likely knew exactly what he was doing with his now-famous "all-in'' guarantee. It's just powerful enough to resonate, to be "above the fold,'' as Jerry likes to put it - meaning it's important enough to be stacked at the top of the way a newspaper is laid out, and therefore to be buzzed about by Cowboys Nation ...

But it's just vague enough to make it impossible to pin down Jones regarding the specifics of what it means. And therefore, the promise might never be truly broken because we never really knew what the promise was.

Our Dallas News colleague Calvin Watkins, to his credit, isn't letting Jerry off the hook so easily, however.

Watkins writes, "If the Cowboys want to go 'all in,' it would mean radical moves to a roster ... (It would) mean bold moves in free agency where you worry about the salary cap later ... It would also mean drafting a quarterback when you already have one.''

Watkins cites Kansas City drafting quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the first round in 2017 even though former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith was already on the roster.

"Going 'all-in' means that,'' he continues. "You don’t worry about the salary cap. You create competition. You make bold moves in the draft for players projected to have an instant impact. Everyone is on edge with the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl title.''

Watkins nails it here - at least in regard to how conventional wisdom defines "all in.'' And he takes a step beyond, offering three specifics, which give us food for thought ... 

1 - Upgrade the defensive line: "You want to go 'all in,' then sign the Chiefs’ (defensive tackle) Chris Jones. .. Or sign Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter. ... (And) When it comes to improving the run defense, Grover Stewart (6-4, 314 pounds) is someone to look at.''

OUR REACTION: Jones would be the prize of free agency; he might cost $30 million APY. Hunter is a four-time Pro Bowler who PFF says is about to get a contract of three years worth $65 million ($21.67 million per year). The Colts' Stewart is projected by one outlet to be a three-year, $43.5 million deal.

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Hunter, it's worth noting, it a "Mike Zimmer guy.'' ... So much so that when Zimmer got hired here as the new defensive coordinator, Hunter put in a call to Micah Parsons with an endorsement.

2 - Draft a running back: Watkins calls the Derrick Henry-to-the-Cowboys idea "nonsense'' and suggests a completely different angle.

"How about going the Rams’ and Lions’ route of finding smaller, younger backs in the draft?'' he writes, citing the the Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs and the Rams' Kyren Williams. "Here’s a secret: These players are sprite-like and under six feet. You don’t need a big bruising back for the red zone on rushing plays. How about players with a nose for the end zone and an offensive line with physicality near the goal line?''

OUR REACTION: We've been told it is Dallas' intent to draft a back and not to spend big money on one. So we're on the same page with Watkins there. But intentionally drafting an undersized "sprite-like'' guy? Nope. We're never doing that on purpose.

3 - Draft a starter for the offensive line: Writes Watkins: "The Cowboys (drafting at No. 24 in Round 1) should get one of the better tackles in the draft in Joe Alt (Notre Dame), Olu Fashanu (Penn State) or Alabama’s JC Latham.''

Or, he adds, "If the goal is moving Tyler Smith to tackle, interior linemen Troy Fautanu (Washington), Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon) or Graham Barton (Duke) are worth moving up to select.''

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OUR REACTION: The Cowboys have a terrific history of drafting standout linemen high. We don't have a position preference, and maybe Dallas shouldn't, either. But "draft a starter''? That one we completely agree with, and something that could've been achieved last year if not for "reaches'' in Rounds 1 and 2.

Where we applaud Watkins' thoughts here: Outside of maybe the Chris Jones suggestion, there is nothing particularly "pipe-dreamy'' here. These goals are achievable ... if Jerry's Cowboys are truly "all in.''