The Cowboys earned the fourth overall pick in the draft the hard way, by winning only four games in 2015. They haven’t picked that high since 1991, when they made Russell Maryland the first overall pick. (Before asking aloud, “Who’s Russell Maryland?” Take a look at the rest of the guys taken in the first round that year -- the same year the quarterback with the last name no one knew how to pronounce arrived via round two.)
Surely, the Cowboys would like to get a transcendent player. And it’s no secret that they have developed a strong affinity for Ohio State Ezekiel Elliott.
Some think the ultimate choice will be between Elliott and his former Ohio State teammate, defensive end Joey Bosa. Others think that the Cowboys may try to slide down a few spots and still emerge with their preferred choice.
To do that, they (like anyone else who trades down) would need to find someone who wants to trade up. Some think that, if tackle Laremy Tunseil is still on the board after the third pick, a team that covets him could try to move in front of the Jaguars at No. 5 and the Ravens at No. 6.
If the Cowboys dip, they need to worry about being leapfrogged by a team lower in round one that wants Elliott. In an interview that will be included in Wednesday’s PFT Live, Elliott says he regards his draft range as falling between No. 4 (Cowboys) and No. 13 (Dolphins). At some point, the Dolphins could try to spring past Dallas, if they believe that Elliott will become one of the all-time greats.
For anyone who’s thinking about taking a running back that high, at a time when running backs can be found in any round of the draft and beyond, the team taking the running back needs to be sure that he’s Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Adrian Peterson, Emmitt Smith, or in more general terms the opposite of Trent Richardson.