Dallas Cowboys: Smart To Avoid Adrian Peterson Trade

Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Stephen Jones is denying any interest in trading picks for a chance at Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson, per Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News.

This of course is only a hypothetical situation, as since Peterson is under contract a direct comment about a trade could be considered tampering. But even given the chance at a similar type of move, Jones flat-out stated they would not have any real interest in giving up valuable picks for a franchise running back.

“I don’t see that happening,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM). “I think draft picks are so important for us. That’s where your value is in this salary cap era. I see us using all of our picks and hopefully do it in a good, wise way. Hopefully when the draft is all said and done, we’ll have really improved our football team.” Jones went on to say: “I don’t see us using any picks to trade for veteran ballplayers,” per Machota.

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While this isn’t exactly a surprise it should be welcome news to Cowboys fans everywhere. The team showed last year for the first time in a long time they are better off playing with “homegrown” talent then to bring in a free agent star from another team. Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, Tyron Smith and Sean Lee are all household names in Dallas, and they are all Cowboys draft picks or at least guys that have only played for the Cowboys. Even the recently-departed DeMarco Murray was a draft choice, and in 2014 the team that Jerry built made a run that came up just shy of at least an NFC Championship Game appearance. Why change the formula now, even if it means missing out on a likely future Hall of Fame running back in Peterson.

Nov 2, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones smiles prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Cowboys have finally figured out that drafting well and keeping the core of those drafts on the team with extensions is the best way to compete in the modern cap-strapped NFL. Dallas would have to throw away at least their first- and second-round pick in this draft, and maybe more, to get a sniff at Peterson. With all the help on defense that they need, this could cripple any real chance at repeating 2014’s success. What further complicates the issue is the fact that running backs in the NFL carry a fairly short shelf life when it comes to big production, and can be found in later rounds in drafts that are deeper than they’ve ever been in the history of the NFL.

"“I don’t see us using any picks to trade for veteran ballplayers.”-Stephen Jones (Jon Machota, Dallas Morning News)"

In terms of predicting when Peterson might start to fall off of the cliff, it is hard to say. There is evidence, however, that the combination of a running back with at least 3,000 career touches and at least 30 years old is where many guys hit the wall, per Pro Football Focus. Peterson is 30 as of last month, and he has racked up 2,377 touches (per ProFootballReference.com). That doesn’t leave a lot of 250-300 carry seasons left, and the Cowboys could be trading a few years of prominence from the running back spot for another seven or eight years via the draft. When you look at the risk/reward for a trade like this, it just doesn’t pan out well for the Cowboys.

Jones and the rest of the Cowboys management sees plenty of potential in this draft at multiple positions, including the running back position. Whether they go first, second or even third round, they can grab a guy that can succeed when paired with the offensive line and quarterback they already have. They don’t need a Pro Bowl roster to get back to the playoffs, and it’s refreshing that Dallas publicly acknowledges this.

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