No. 13 Minnesota Eliminates No. 4 UCLA To Join Oklahoma In Final Four
Minnesota takes down UCLA to join Oklahoma in NCAA Gymnastics Final Four!
The Dallas Cowboys are currently the top team expected to trade up in the NFL Draft, with a clear target in mind. Speculation surrounds their potential move from the No. 12 slot, excluding Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza.
Cowboys Rank As No. 1 Bet To Trade Up, And NFL Draft Target Is Clear
FRISCO - We are now being bombarded by national media people connecting the Dallas Cowboys to an assortment of "reports'' about what they "could'' do in this NFL Draft.
And swallowed with a pound of salt, I get it: Yes, the Cowboys "could'' trade up from slot No. 12 in Round 1 for almost anybody except Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza.
Wait, I take that back; there remain enough days to go before the draft for "Cowboys Could Trade Up For Mendoza'' to be somebody's bogus headline, too.
But based on the Cowboys info that I've collected?
There is one player who has separated himself from his positional peers to be a most worthy target.
And based on the comments of respected colleague Ian Rapoport, there is a legit chance that Dallas is the one team prepped to pull off a blockbuster.
On a recent edition of "The Insiders'' on NFL Network, Rapoport discussed the idea of trading up in the draft and pondered which NFL team is most likely to do so.
Rapoport was quite thoughtful in his answer, careful to specify that his response isn't about "clickbait'' but rather about his sincere and educated opinion.
âThis is not clickbait,'' he said. "This is not so everybody will click on this and go, 'Wait, what?!' But the Cowboys are my team most likely to trade up. Again. This is not for clickbait.
"This is real.â
I will note here: Ian has a gigantic social media following and earns a handsome salary with his employer. He doesn't need "clickbait.''
He added, âI expect (Dallas) to be at least in the mix potentially for coming up for a pass rusher or other top defensive player.â
The Cowboys are seen as the top team likely to trade up due to their strategic needs and potential targets.
The Cowboys have a clear target in mind, although reports suggest they are unlikely to pursue Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza.
The Cowboys currently hold the No. 12 slot in the first round of the NFL Draft.
National media reports and the evolving draft landscape could influence the Cowboys' decision to trade up for a specific player.
Minnesota takes down UCLA to join Oklahoma in NCAA Gymnastics Final Four!
John Leonard signs one-year extension with the Detroit Red Wings!
Hunter Goodman powers Rockies to a 3-2 win over Astros, ending a six-game skid.
Dudinha discusses her strong start with San Diego Wave and dreams of the 2027 Women's World Cup.
Steve Kerr praises Stephen Curry's incredible performance against the Clippers
Padres beat Mariners 5-2, marking their eighth straight win!
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
Rueben Bain Controversy: Cowboys Target Fatal Car Crash Involvement Reported As NFL Draft Approaches
"Rap Sheet'' added, âThe Cowboys right now are sitting at 12. So you look at the landscape there. You have several teams who would potentially be open to moving back. Might the Cowboys jump up a little bit to get a key defensive piece in an offseason when it has all about fixing that defense?''
In short, I'm going to say that the odds favor the Cowboys as being that team.
Rapoport tossed out a handful of names, but I continue to focus on one. Dallas has great affection for the Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and could certainly use a top-notch pass-rusher.
Mock Draft Reveals Common Cowboys Theme: Who's Top-Ranked Cornerback?
But the name that's created a buzz here inside The Star is that of Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.
And why? Among the biggest reasons, as I understand it: There are a bunch of quality EDGE guys. There are a bunch of quality corners. There are even other first-round safeties.
But this needy Cowboys defense as of today is saddled with a gaping hole at linebacker and in terms of talent and promise, there is a chasm between the other good linebackers and Styles.
So Ian is onto something when he puts his bet on Dallas being the move-up team.
And I'm going to stick with my "something'' in the belief that Styles would be the most justifiable trade-up target.