Hypothetically, What Would it Cost Cowboys to Trade for TE Kyle Pitts?

Hypothetically, What Would it Cost the Cowboys to Trade up for TE Kyle Pitts?

Rumors began to circulate yesterday Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones is infatuated with former Florida TE Kyle Pitts. The infatuation is certainly understandable considering the caliber of player Pitts is expected to be, but for Mr. Jones to express his potential interest publicly caused Cowboys Nation to erupt.

As you can imagine, Dallas Cowboys fans flooded social media speculating as to what Jerry Jones should and might do. Logically everybody understands Kyle Pitts will be long gone by the time the Cowboys are on the clock with the 10th overall pick in the first-round, so that led to the speculation Dallas could be looking to trade up.

Whether it’s just speculation or not, you can’t ever rule out anything when it comes to Jerry Jones. If he truly wants to put a star on Kyle Pitts helmet in 2021 and beyond he’s going to have to move up from #10 to make it happen. So, how far would the Cowboys have to move up and what would it take to facilitate such a trade?

The team that makes the most sense to trade up with would be the Atlanta Falcons. They currently hold the fourth overall pick and are the first team most likely not to draft a quarterback early. If you’re doing the math that’s a six spot jump from 10 to 4, which on paper doesn’t seem like that much. However, when it comes to pick value it is.

According to Drafttek’s 2021 Trade Value Chart, Atlanta’s Pick #4 is worth 1800 points and Dallas’ Pick #10 is valued at 1300 points. That means the Cowboys would need to make up the 500 point difference with extra draft capital or throw in a player for more compensation. For arguments sake we will stick with the extra draft capital for today.

As things stand right now the Dallas Cowboys hold picks 10, 44, 75, 99, 115, 138, 179, 192, 227, and 238. The value of each pick obviously varies, but for the Cowboys to come up with a combined 1800 points to match Atlanta’s #4 pick they’d have to give up 10 (1300), 44 (460), and 138 (37) at the very least and even that is slightly less than equal value.

Considering the Dallas Cowboys more than likely won’t be the only team trying to trade up the Falcons can sit back and wait for the best offer. That could create a bidding war, one in which that could get pretty expensive. Dallas would more than likely have to up their offer that included three of their four Top 100 picks such as 10+44+99 (1864) and even that might not be enough.

Is Kyle Pitts really worth that kind of draft capital? Would Jerry Jones actually get in a bidding war to acquire his services?

There’s obviously no way of answering these questions right now with any kind of certainty. Jerry Jones is the kind of owner who would make such a move to land a player he truly covets. However, the draft capital it would take to facilitate such a trade might be a tough pill to swallow for most fans. Sadly, only time will tell how this plays out.

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Brian Martin

Level C2/C3 quadriplegic. College graduate with a bachelors degree in sports and health sciences-concentration sports management. Sports enthusiast. Dallas Cowboys fanatic. Lover of life with a glass half-full point of view.

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66 Comments

BL 5 years ago

Well Jerry Jones is a moron so I honestly think and am afraid this is a very real possibility. We don't just need cb help either. Safety has and still is a major hole. If we don't go defense at #10 we're going to once again be the laughing stock of this draft. I'm a cowboys fan always have been but this is just getting more and more ridiculous the older Jones gets.
MarcusJ 5 years ago

Brian, I'm curious about an idea that seems almost too logical to me...If Pitts does happen to fall into Dallas' lap at pick #10, why wouldn't Dallas immediately start calling every team with remaining first rd picks, and offering Michael Gallup and another pick to jump back into rd 1 to get an impact CB or DT? Heck, Farley, Barmore, Moehrig, or even Horn may still be attainable.
1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  I'm not against trading back into the 1st, but I'd much rather load up on extra picks in the Top 100. I don't know if there's that big of a gap between a CB or DT you can get in the latter part of the 1st or one you can get by staying put at 44. Right now though anything is on the table. It all depends on how things fall on Draft Day.
Jasper J 5 years ago

None of the free agents signed are difference makers except for Neal IF he is healthy and can stay healthy. In no way do they give the freedom to not attempt upgrades via the draft. SuperBowl requires a complete team play with multiple playmakers not just all serviceable rotational fill ins. Yes, take Pitts at 10 if he accidentally falls. Definitely do not trade up to get him. Never trade Gallup. Extend him today for 3 to 5 yrs to stabilize WR. He will be more expensive next year of course.
1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  The FA signings free the Cowboys up not to have to reach for a position in the draft. That gives him the freedom to pretty much do what they want IMO. Also, I don't think the Cowboys have the money to extend Gallup right now and his asking price when he becomes a free agent will likely be out of their price range as well. To me, I'd consider trading him for the right price because of that.
Eric 5 years ago

4 is way too high. You keep saying after FA we’re fine on defense, we’re not. We’re not good in the DL, on the back end, or in the LBs. We’re terrible across the board. I’m 100% for pitts at ten, bc it’s crazy value. Trading to 4 isn’t an option, and the defense needs help at every single position
1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  I don't think the defense is fine, but I do think they've filled holes and upgraded via free agency. Of course, the majority of those players signed one-year contracts so it's more of a Band-Aid fix than a long-term solution. Regardless though, without very many glaring "needs" I think the Cowboys may feel as if they are free to be as aggressive or not on Draft Day.
Gary b 5 years ago

My thing is CB has a big learning curve. Jeff Okudah was selected #5 overall in 2019, and he wasn't good last year at all . And he was rated higher then either Horn or Surtain. CBs generally take a few years to hone their craft and be difference makers, if they do reach that level. I would rather take Parsons who has pro bowler written all over him and get BA CB with our second pick. I'm hesitant to burn the #10 on a CB. We have the draft capital to move up down and still get a nearly comparable CB with our second pick.
ThrowuptheX88 5 years ago

And if you trade down and Pitts goes insane with his team , and our picks don't , we'll look like fools
ThrowuptheX88 5 years ago

Look , the only player on D in this Draft that's close to a sure thing is LB Micah Parsons imo , EVERYONE ELSE IS QUESTIONABLE ON D , SURTAIN IS 100% A QUESTION MARK , stop trying to build up the guy , you ppl sound like the ppl out there thinking 49ers are gonna take Mac Jones , it's a JOKE TO THINK SURTAIN IS FOR CERTAIN A "SHUTDOWN CORNER" Bottom line , Kyle Pitts is 1 of 5 imo that are surefire hits , Lawrence , Sewell , Chase , and Slater are my other sure hits , if Pitts falls to 10 , I'm jumping all over it , as far as trade up , I would only do it if we got a trade in the works to get a 2nd rounder out of Gallup , otherwise , I wouldn't do it
James A. Howerton II 5 years ago

The thing Brian forgets to mention is that going into the last month of last season, we OWNED the 4th Pick. Anyone thinking that we were going to beat teams like Kansas City, Green Bay or Tampa, just to name a few, was a fool. Our outside shot at a SB ended with Dak's injury. Why in the world wouldn't Jerry just tell McCarthy, "Don't worry about the record this year. We'll just get the highest Draft Picks we can so we can bulk up the OL and start building our Defense." But instead we're talking about TRADING UP FROM THE 10TH SPOT FOR A PLAYER WHO'S NOT A QB. RIDICULOUS!!!!
1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  James, you're absolutely right. If the Cowboys would have tanked the season after Prescott's injury they would be sitting in the #4 spot instead of Atlanta. And, I think all of this trade talk for Kyle Pitts is just that… Talk. I think it's nothing more than the Cowboys doing their due diligence and seeing what it might take to trade up for a player they truly covet. It's just part of the draft process.
Travis D Diggs 5 years ago

Sooo trade your defensive draft capitol to get more offense. Sounds very Jerry like. Having the #1 offense with a horrible defense doesn't make you better. Being a cowboy fan all my life makes me question my own decision making sometimes
1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  This could be Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys doing their due diligence. Finding out what it might take to trade up for a player like Kyle Pitts is just part of the draft process. I wouldn't be surprised if they've called just about every team in front of them to see what it might take to move up.
Cwbysfan 1967 5 years ago

Forget the front four. Get some real linebackers. Dallas is handicapped. The linebackers really suck. Watch the huge ground gains. Vander Esch is always hurt and out. Smith cannot run laterally and every team knows it. Smith cannot read offenses without VE’s call. The worst linebacker corps I have ever seen in Dallas. All the good LBs always leave for bigger money and better teams BUT Jones keeps awarding the worst players with large cash like Smith, DLaw and Mr RB Ohio State. Let’s face it, the defense sucks. As far as the latest news..... about Elliott changing his number, it should be ZERO to match his play.
1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  Aren't you full of sunshine and rainbows today LOL. I don't think things are as bad as you make them sound, but the Cowboys could definitely stand up to upgrade their defense at several positions.
Phil cox 5 years ago

We DO NOT need another TE!!! Why pass on a shutdown corner like PSII who will immediately start & fill a GLARING hole??? Look at the one of a kind, great HOF TE, Jason Whitten...how many playoff games did he "take" us to???
1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  Who says Patrick Surtain II is a "shutdown" corner? I think he's really going to struggle against the speedier/shifty WRs at the next level because he doesn't have the best short area quickness. Plus, I think it would be unwise to pass up on arguably the second-ranked prospect in the entire draft class and a generational type of player.
Gary b 5 years ago

Too many hypotheticals to lend much credence to this possibility. No way I trade up for an offensive player though. In fact If he's there at #10 would consider trading down with another team that is lusting for him, the same as if a QB falls to them. If the offer isn't sweet enuf then maybe take him. If not we can use the move down pick in the 15-20 range to get in my order of preference 1.Parsons 2. Surtain 3. Horn 4. Slater 5 Moehrig One of those is likely to be available. The draft capital we get back could then be used to barter back into bottom of the 1st or top of the 2nd to get another player at a needed position. To me we are in a good bartering position at #10 and possessing so much draft capital. Let's hope a player drops that a team behind us really wants.
1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  Gary, the only way I would trade up for Kyle Pitts is if he slides to Miami at 6 or Detroit at 7. And, I would absolutely draft him at 10 if I were the Cowboys. He's hands-down the best non-QB in the entire draft class and an argument could be made he's the best. The Cowboys would still have nine draft picks to use towards upgrading the defense and the rest of the roster.
Cowboys fan 5 years ago

That's too much draft capital to give up just to move up 6 spots!! And we need too much help on the defensive side to be throwing those kinda picks away for just one offensive player!! And I don't wanna hear that our free agent signings free us up to do just about anything in the draft cause it don't!! The free agents we signed are a bunch of nobodies!! Kazee, Neal and Ty are pretty good, but they are not good enough to where we can overlook that position in the draft!! Not to mention the fact that they are only signed on for 1 year!! So again, our free agent signings does NOT free us up to draft any player in the draft!! We still have all of those positions to fill!!
1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  As far as the 2021 season is concerned the Cowboys pretty much have all of their starting positions filled. Yes, there are a lot of players on one-year contracts, but at least for this season there covered. This is when the long term/short-term view comes into play. Do the Cowboys try to capitalize on a supposedly "Super Bowl window" and go all in or do they set themselves up for the long-term? 9 times out of 10 setting yourself up for the long-term is the best course to take, however, we are talking about Jerry Jones here and he's a complete wildcard. You never know what he's going to do.
MarcusJ 5 years ago

I can't believe no one else saw this... 1800 - 1300 = 500 (NOT 600) The article's math is all wrong
1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  Sorry… Typo. Thanks for letting me know though.
redsoxu571 5 years ago

Oy, I appreciate the thoughtful presentation of trade up math, but this is a classic case of taking a clickbait report and running with it. Yes, things can be rules out with Jerry Jones. For nearly a decade, and more so with each passing year, the team has let the draft come to it. Trading up is a rare beast for the current front office, especially this kind of move. That, and the team needs picks to go to defense - it could even justify putting pick 10 into the offense, but not that plus multiple other picks. And read between the lines about the rumor. There was no public statement, just a comment made by a beat guy. And it isn't hard to see the kernel of truth behind the clickbait: Jones thinks that Pitts is awesome, but that's it. He probably thinks that Trevor Lawrence is awesome too, but isn't going to be making a deal to take the QB for obvious reasons. Infatuation doesn't mean that the owner is going to bend over to take the player - that is how the beat guy was able to make it sound as if Dallas would "target" Pitts without actually lying. But...the insinuation is still very dishonest. Ye have been warned!
1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  If the Cowboys trade up for one player this year Kyle Pitts is going to be the guy. And as far as this article being "clickbait" that couldn't be any further from the truth. I was merely adding factual information to a reported rumor from a reliable source.
ThrowuptheX88 5 years ago

Eli Apple was selected 10th overall to Giants cuz they needed a corner , and that didn't work out , what's to say Horn/Surtain wouldn't be different ?
1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  And that's not forget so was Morris Claiborne and he was expected to be a Deion Sanders-like CB.
ThrowuptheX88 5 years ago

Surtain/Horn are not for certain "Shut down Corners" we think they will , but is that cuz we need shut down Corners or cuz they're that good ?
1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  I've said this before, but where would Surtain or Horn rank amongst CBs in the last few drafts? Would they be considered Top 10 picks still? I have my doubts, but this year that's likely where they'll be selected.
jason baugh 5 years ago

ive always been a you get a generational type of dude any chance you get . But , this is different . Cowboys are loaded at the skill positions . including 2 very good TE's . And on top of that , you'll have a chance at a future all-pro o-lineman or a shut down corner . C'mon man !!! Theres no way !!! right ????
1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  Right now the Cowboys look to be loaded at the skill position, but after 2021 they will have just 2 WRs (Cooper, Lamb) under contract and 1 TE (Jarwin). You always have to draft with the future in mind and that could be their way of thinking in regards to Kyle Pitts. With three weeks until the draft anything and everything is on the table.
Dave SC58 5 years ago

I hope they don't waste picks on a trade like that. The Cowboys are in a great position right now. Get a good CB with the first pick, then a Safety or DT with the second pick. The third pack should net them a good DE or LB. If they can accomplish that, they are in good shape to go out and get BPA or use picks as trade bait the rest of the draft.
1. ThrowuptheX88 5 years ago
  
  Yeah I somewhat agree Brian that change of scheme and DC will help , ppl forget , our D was actually playing a lot better mid to late in season That said I question how great of a DC is DQ Idk if he's a really good DC , or another McCarthy The only reason McCarthy got another HC job is cuz of what he did in the past with A-Rod at the helm , btw any offense will look good with A-Rod , i hated the McCarthy hiring last year , and i still hate it Now the only reason DQ getting a DC job is cuz he had the LOB , and Wagner , Wright , Avril , ALL in their prime , so how good of a DC is he ? With that kind of talent on D , pretty much anybody will look good as DC with that , so for me , idk about DQ I'm pretty sure he's a upgrade over Nolan , but idk how much of an upgrade he is
  1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
    
    I really don't know how good of a DC Dan Quinn will be either, but I know returning to his 4-3 scheme is what's best for Dallas' defense. Because of that alone I have faith they will be better defensively this season.
2. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  I think everything's on the table right now, including possibly trading up for Kyle Pitts.
Robert 5 years ago

Cowboys have not really done much in free agency as far as signing difference makers with the possible exception of Neal. Cowboys had the worst defense in their history and ranked 28 of 32 teams and second to last in points given up last year. In short, the Cowboys defense was pathetic last year. You need to build a team through the draft and you need to be good on both sides of the ball. To give up possibly your top 4 draft picks for Pitts who is a great player would be insanity.
1. Brian Martin Author 5 years ago
  
  Change in coordinator and scheme will fix a lot of Dallas' defensive problems from last year. And, a lot of the free agents they brought in are upgrades. With the Cowboys firepower on offense they just need a middle of the road defense. Having said that though I'm not against trying to upgrade the defensive side of ball through the draft. However, I wouldn't pass up on the opportunity to make the offense even better either.