Cowboys rumors: Trading up for Kyle Pitts (or anyone) isn’t happening
If the Dallas Cowboys are going to make a trade in the 2021 NFL Draft, it won’t be moving up the board for Kyle Pitts.
The Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones are no strangers to making shocking, brash decisions early in the NFL Draft. Just last year, this was the team in dire need of defensive help that couldn’t help but take wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in the first round. And with the No. 10 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft paired with a reported love for Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, the leap wasn’t hard to make.
However, Pitts’ status as a top-tier prospect has only grown over the past few months and, frankly, there is little chance that he falls to the 10th overall pick in the draft. Subsequently, if Jones and the Cowboys loved him that much, they would have to trade up to get him, a move that would trouble any reasonable fan.
Luckily, it doesn’t appear that will be the case. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported recently that, though Dallas is enamored with the tight end, the franchise isn’t looking to trade up higher into the top 10. for Pitts or for anyone. In fact, if they were going to make a move, it would likely be down the draft order.
The Cowboys are approaching the draft smartly, even if the Pitts buzz is eerily familiar.
If Kyle Pitts were to unexpectedly slip to the No. 10 pick, would the defense-needy Cowboys still take him? My guess is they probably would. From all that’s being reported, they value the tight end as one of the best overall prospects in the 2021 draft class, so to get him in that spot would be way too valuable of a selection to pass up, even if doesn’t address the team’s biggest need.
That said, their current approach is the right one and, frankly, is the one that they took with Lamb last year. Dallas didn’t go fishing for the Oklahoma wide receiver. In fact, everything indicates that they believed there was no chance he would be on the board when they made their pick. But when he fell, it was too valuable to not take advantage of.
Next. 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Broncos, Bears trade into top 10. dark
Doing the same with Pitts and any prospect while only being open to trades if it means incurring more draft capital is a wise approach for this team. Talent-wise, it’s obvious the Cowboys aren’t far from competing in the NFC in a big way. But a strong approach to the draft is key and it does appear that they are taking that into this year’s festivities.