Everyone is waiting to see how Jerry Jones manages to steal the spotlight back from the Dallas Mavericks after they traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Maybe the Dallas Cowboys' owner actually has the self awareness to lay low, but we have a paper trail of evidence that proves Jones isn't capable of tolerating another entity in the Dallas Fort Worth area stealing headlines away from his pride and joy.
Well, the door swung wide open on Monday for Jones to make a seismic splash when Browns superstar Myles Garrett formally requested a trade. The Browns have recently been adamant that they will not trade Garrett nor take any phone calls.
That would be franchise malpractice. Garrett is the best defensive player in the world and arguably already has a Hall of Fame resume after just eight years in the league. It goes without saying Garrett would fetch an incredible haul for the rebuilding Browns.
We know Jerry loves to pinch pennies, but the latest buzz suggests Garrett would be affordable relative to expectation. One NFL general manager thinks a first- and second-round pick could get the job done, according to The Athletic's Diannia Russini. That, or a first, two third-round picks and a player. The GM is bracing for the three first-round picks conversation, but thinks it is complete nonsense. There are differing opinions about Garrett's trade cost, however. According to Fox Sports insider Jordan Schultz, another high-level NFL executive would trade "two first-round picks and more" to acquire the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. It's clear that Garrett's value around the league varies. Let's assume that Russini's intel is more accurate. The Cowboys can absolutely afford that haul: a first, two thirds and a player. That is if Jerry Jones is serious about competing for a Super Bowl.
While Dallas' entire roster-building philosophy revolves around the NFL Draft, players of Garrett's caliber hardly ever become available. It's worth noting, too, that the normally home-run hitting Cowboys have a spotty drafting record in recent years.
Their last two first-round picks - Mazi Smith and Tyler Guyton - have not lived up to their first-round billing. The 2023 draft class as a whole looks like a dude aside from DeMarvion Overshown. While Overshown has an All-Pro ceiling, he's had two major knee injuries in as many years.
In the last four years, Dallas has drafted only four surefire studs - Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, Tyler Smith and Osa Odighizuwa. Overshown arguably belongs in that conversation, but we need to see how he looks after his latest knee surgery.
Between Luke Schoonmaker, Kelvin Joseph, Viliami Fehoko, Sam Williams, Jalen Tolbert, Nahshon Wright, Jabril Cox and Josh Ball, we're talking about seven players drafted within the first four rounds since 2021 that either have completely busted or are fringe role players.
The lesson? The Joneses shouldn't be reluctant to part with draft capital. Their unwillingness to spend in free agency has played a role in their draft-oriented blueprint, but it is time to veer away from that, at least for the time being, and swing for the fences.
If they don't, Garrett probably ends up in Philly, Washington or Detroit.