Cowboys mock draft shows value of trading down

Rodriguez has a very average size profile, but his athletic versatility has made him a more instinctive linebacker and helps him play decisively. He should immediately compete for a starting role in the NFL. So, to recap, the double trade down here gets the Cowboys an immediate rotational edge rusher and an immediate starter at linebacker, arguably their two biggest needs right now. They also get back the second-rounder they gave up for Williams, add a third-rounder, and move their fifth-round pick up by one spot. That’s a good day at the office.

**Developmental pieces in key spots**

With that second-round pick the Cowboys get back, they take Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds. Another divisive prospect, Ponds’ 5’8” height will have some teams dead-set against taking him. Not too long ago, the Cowboys would’ve been one such team. But Christian Parker has hinted that size isn’t as important to him as football IQ and physicality. And, well, Brugler seems to describe Parker’s kind of guy:

Ponds is undersized (which will be a deal-breaker for some), but he compensates with top-tier speed, instincts and competitive toughness that is ingrained in his DNA. His play style makes it hard to bet against him becoming an inside-outside NFL starter. Will Ponds be an instant starter? Perhaps not, depending on where DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel are at physically. But does he have the traits you want to build on and rely on if you need to? Unequivocally yes. The same can be said for Kamari Ramsey and Markel Bell. A two-year starter at USC, Ramsey moved into a hybrid nickel role this past season. His usage was very similar to what Parker has described as his ideal nickel, too. Ramsey’s production in that role wasn’t necessarily outstanding – there’s a reason he’s available at 75 – but Ramsey was solid and reliable. Ramsey was also the green dot player for the Trojans, exhibiting his command of the defense on the field. Bell, meanwhile, is a fairly raw player with sky high potential. After being a solid swing tackle for several years, Bell became a starting left tackle for Miami and never allowed a sack. However, scouts have identified serious flaws in his technique, which isn’t especially surprising for a one-year starter. Still, his physical traits – he ran a 5.36 40-yard dash at 346 pounds – are enticing. Bell would upgrade the Cowboys’ tackle depth and potentially turn into a starter in a year or two. All in all, the Cowboys can gain a lot of value in this draft by trading down. Obviously, they won’t do that if there’s a blue chip player available at 12, for instance. But if things get wiped out in the first 11 picks, there is no shame in trading back. In fact, it may even be the best case scenario based on the players acquired in this mock draft.