Realistic Draft Trade Possibilities for the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys rarely stay put throughout an entire NFL draft. They love to wheel and deal to manipulate the draft in their favor. Whether it is trading up for a player they covet or trading back to add more impact players, the Cowboys are always looking to get value throughout the draft. 

In fact, since Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys in 1989, they have been extremely active in the trade market during the draft, especially in the first round. In the 26 drafts since Jones took ownership, the Cowboys have traded out of their first-round pick 20 times, or 76.9 percent of the time.  

Therefore, you can expect that the Cowboys will make at least one trade at some point during the 2015 NFL draft. The Cowboys could trade up to get a player falling or they could trade back so that they can fill multiple needs that they couldn't before. 

Now, let's take a look at five realistic trade options for the Cowboys in the 2015 NFL draft. 

(Note: For this article, we are going to use the NFL draft pick calculator to determine what each team will have to give up in a trade. It can be found here.)

Trade Back from No. 27 with the Tennessee Titans

LM Otero/Associated Press

If the Cowboys don't feel there is a player left on the board at the No. 27 pick, they could opt to trade back. One team who could be a good option is the Tennessee Titans if they don't select a quarterback with their first pick. 

One quarterback they may covet could be Baylor's Bryce Petty, who may throw the prettiest ball in the draft. The reason the Titans may want to jump into the first is so they could have the fifth-year option that only first-round picks get put into their contracts. The Cowboys would likely get the Titans' second- and fourth-round picks in return for No. 27 overall.

With these two selections the Cowboys could get any running back they want not gamed Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon. Furthermore, they could get another impact player in the fourth round. In this area they could potentially get a developmental tackle or a linebacker with special teams ability. 

This draft is very deep from the second to fourth round; therefore, it would be smart for the Cowboys to acquire as many picks in that area as they could. It would allow them to get great value and also get impact players who can make a difference immediately. 

Trade Back from No. 27 with the Oakland Raiders

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Another trade down candidate for the Cowboys could be the Oakland Raiders. Just like the Titans, the fifth-year option is a huge bargaining chip the Cowboys could use as leverage in a trade down with a team like the Raiders. 

In this case, the Raiders could trade up to target a wide receiver if they end up going a different route with their first pick. A player such as Dorial Green-Beckham seems the sort of receiver who could be worthy of a trade up by the Raiders. 

Just like with the Titans, the Cowboys would likely receive the Raiders' second- and fourth-round picks, which would allow them to have a bevy of selections in the sweet spot in this year's draft. The Cowboys could target a falling pass-rusher, such as Shane Ray, in the second round or they could opt to go another route. Ray could fall due a citation for possession of marijuana, as reported by Brandon Kiley of KTGR in Columbia. 

The extra fourth-round pick could also allow them to select a quarterback of the future, such as Chris Bonner or Garrett Grayson, with the former being a much better option. It would be tough for the Cowboys front office to not have a pick on the first day of the draft, but it could allow them to get players at less cost, which improves their value. 

Trade No. 60 and No. 91 to Move Up in 2nd Round

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Last year, the Cowboys knew they needed an impact pass-rusher and there weren't many players left who could fill that role. Therefore, the Cowboys traded their second- and third-round picks to move up and select Demarcus Lawrence. 

The Cowboys could trade up with teams such as the Atlanta Falcons or Chicago Bears if they see a player they highly value who fills a big need. 

In this case, that player would likely play at either running back or cornerback, as those are the two biggest needs for the Cowboys at the moment. They could look to trade up for a running back such as Tevin Coleman or Duke Johnson, or a cornerback such as Jalen Collins. 

When the Cowboys are infatuated with a player they aren't opposed to paying a steep price to go get him. This type of trade wouldn't be the best from a value perspective, but it would allow them to get a player they covet at a need who could make an immediate impact for the Cowboys this year. 

Trade No. 27 and No. 91 to the Cincinnati Bengals for No. 21

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Another option the Cowboys have in the first round is to trade up for a player they covet who is falling in the draft. One team who could be a partner for the Cowboys is the Cincinnati Bengals. 

The Cowboys would have to give up their first- and third-round picks to get No. 21 from the Bengals, but it would allow them to get a player they rate very highly. 

For this to happen, a player who the Cowboys didn't think would be available would have to significantly drop. Some of these types of players could be Alvin "Bud" Dupree, Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon, Kevin Johnson or Randy Gregory. 

All of these players are blue-chip prospects who for one reason or another could fall in this draft. They all have the talent to be immediate starters and be an improvement over who the Cowboys currently have on the roster.

Dupree or Gregory would give the Cowboys a dynamic pass-rusher who would get significant playing time while Greg Hardy is out. 

Gurley or Gordon would give the Cowboys a "bell cow" running back who could carry the load and be extremely productive throughout their career, while Johnson would give the Cowboys another fantastic cornerback to go opposite of Orlando Scandrick. 

Trade Back from No. 27 for a 2016 First-Round Pick

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

One of the more intriguing options for the Cowboys is to trade back from No. 27 for a mid-round pick and a 2016 first-round pick. This would be disappointing for fans hoping to get an impact first-round player this year, but it could represent an opportunity to get a much better talent next year. 

This option could give the Cowboys the resources necessary to get a great quarterback prospect who could take over for Tony Romo once he retires. Romo only has a couple of years left, so the Cowboys really need to start allocating significant resources to finding a quarterback of the future and next year's draft seems like a great opportunity to do so. 

Some quarterbacks who could potentially be targets for the Cowboys include Penn State's Christian Hackenberg, California's Jared Goff or USC's Cody Kessler. It's still extremely early, but all three of these players appear to have the potential to develop into great professional quarterbacks. 

Even if the Cowboys don't want a quarterback, they could potentially get a dynamic player at another position, such as Ohio State's Joey Bosa or Mississippi's Robert Nkemdiche, depending on where their 2016 first-round pick ends up at.

This type of trade would take a great deal of guts from the Cowboys front office, but it has the potential to really pay off in the end for their future.