Why Dallas Cowboys Might Have the Chips to Trade into Andrew Luck Sweepstakes

The 2012 NFL draft's first selection is all but set in stone, with the only question remaining: Who will be the team drafting Andrew Luck?

And could the Dallas Cowboys somehow snag that top selection?

Teams like the Miami Dolphins, the Indianapolis Colts, the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks would jump at the chance to add the more sure-fire superstar quarterback in many years.

But not all the teams at the bottom of the NFL's record books actually need a quarterback. Some have already used high draft picks on young quarterbacks.

The currently 1-5 Jacksonville Jaguars gave up an extra pick last season to move up and select Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert with the 10th pick. Minnesota, who are also 1-5, selected Christian Ponder from Florida State at No. 12.

The St. Louis Rams, who are 0-5, already used a top selection on quarterback Sam Bradford. And if the 1-5 Carolina Panthers somehow land with back-to-back top selections, they already have emerging superstar Cam Newton.

That's four bottom-feeding teams who have no need to select Luck but certainly need to improve in many other areas. So if one of the squads finds themselves with the top selection, they could hold it up for trade and get significant value.

The Dallas Cowboys have had an increasingly turbulent season and sit with a 2-3 record. While he looked strong on Sunday against the Patriots, it's undeniable that much of the fanbase has given up on quarterback Tony Romo.

And even if the Cowboys haven't given up on Romo, he's not exactly a young pup. He's already 31 years old, and it may be wise for Dallas to start looking for his eventual replacement, especially if his rocky season continues.

Should a team without the need for a quarterback land the top selection, would it be possible for the Cowboys to trade up for the top selection? Let's find out.

Trading Picks for the No. 1 Selection

Sports Illustrated's Peter King talked with Ernie Accorsi, who retired from his post as the New York Giants general manager in 2007. In Accorsi's career, he had two top selections with a franchise quarterback at the top of the draft board (in 1983 with the Baltimore Colt when they selected John Elway, and in 2004 when the Giants selected Eli Manning).

Accorsi said he feels the Luck situation is much like the Elway situation. In 1983, Accorsi set a price tag on the top selection of three first-round picks and two second-rounders.

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I think three first-round picks for the first selection in the 2012 draft is more than fair if the team that earns that right is in a dealing mood. One of those picks would have to be in the top 10 of the 2012 draft. "If he's as good as everyone says he is, absolutely it's a realistic price,'' Accorsi said.

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Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they don't have multiple first round selections in 2012. And unless Dallas runs completely off the tracks, they aren't likely to have a top-10 selection either.

So trading up for Luck simply with picks is very improbable, unless owner Jerry Jones wants to lose nearly every selection he has for the next few seasons.

Trading Offensive Players for the No. 1 Selection

Dez Bryant and Miles Austin are both excellent young wide receivers, and while both have been injured in parts of this season, together they make one of the most exciting duos for the future of the position in the league.

While St. Louis, Minnesota and Jacksonville all have quarterbacks of the future, all three really lack a top wide receiver and could certainly use a young star like Austin or Bryant. 

Of course, with the hyper-inflated value of the Luck selection, neither one would be enough and the Cowboys would certainly have to add draft selections.

Running back Felix Jones is only 24, and while he's talented, he's not a franchise player at the position. 

Jason Witten continues to plug along as one of the leagues most consistent tight ends, but he's already 29 and wouldn't be the core of any serious trade negotiations.

The Cowboys offensive line has been average this season and the unit lacks a real star, which is a loss considering bottom feeders like Minnesota, Arizona and St. Louis are all in desperate need of offensive line help.

The best shot for Dallas for Luck may rest in Austin or Bryant and multiple draft picks, especially if Jacksonville or St. Louis land the top selection.

Trading Defensive Players for the No. 1 Selection

DeMarcus Ware is one of the best linebackers in the NFL and is racking up the sacks and tackles again this season. But then again, he'll be 30 by the time next season starts.

Still, any squad with the top pick looking for more help on defense could certainly use Ware, but his age makes it unlikely he'd be the focal point of the trade. 

Sean Lee leads the team in total tackles with 47, and he has three interceptions and two fumble recoveries to boot. He's only 25 and could definitely be an attractive option in a trade.

Dallas has a well balanced defense and many players could be good additions to a Luck trade, but no one really stands out as a franchise talent with the sufficient age to get the deal done straight up. 

Trading Tony Romo for the No. 1 Selection

The least likely scenario of them all.

If the team with the top selection decides they don't need a quarterback and won't select Andrew Luck, it's unlikely they'd trade the pick for a controversial-but-talented player like Tony Romo.

Romo has the capacity to be one of the leagues best quarterbacks. He showed his best in week two, when he led a fourth quarter comeback in San Francisco against the 49ers while playing with a bruised rip and a punctured lung.

But Romo also has the capacity to absolutelty collapse at times. And if the team with the top selection had any need for a quarterback, they'd just select Luck and not take a flyer on the 31-year-old Romo.

Likelyhood of Luck Becoming a Cowboy

Simply put, not that likely.

The Cowboys have some excellent pieces, especially their wide receivers, that may be appealing to the teams who don't need Luck but have a chance at the top selection.

But it'll all be a moot point if a team like Indianapolis, Miami, Seattle or Denver lands the number one pick. The possibility of a team that already lacks a top quarterback passing on Luck is absolutely zero.

For Dallas, they'll likely have to find their next quarterback the old fashioned way—taking a gamble on someone who isn't a sure-fire hit.

But if it was possible, would the Cowboys really gut their team as much as they'd need to for Luck? That's as difficult to predict as trying to guess where Luck will land next season.