IRVING, Texas – For roughly 35 minutes, the Cowboys held their pre-draft press conference and Jerry Jones unleashed this newsy tip: the Cowboys could trade down. Or trade up. Or stay at No. 14 in the first round.
Jones said the team has fielded some trade calls and has made some trade calls.
“It would be inordinate for there not to be some talking from teams, if we could have interested in up or down,” Jones said. “It’s business as usual. The answer is you get calls two, three days before the draft … and have made them, too.”
The Cowboys did not make a trade last year during the draft, which was the first time Jones sat still since 2003.
In the past, Jones had not wanted to trade up in the draft because of the financial ramifications, but the new collective bargaining agreement, which has curbed rookie salaries, makes it a little more enticing. In 2010, the Cowboys moved up a handful of spots to take wide receiver Dez Bryant with the 24th pick in the first round.
“I think the new system causes less teams wanting to get out and more teams to want to go up and it has everything to do with it just doesn’t cost as much,” Jones said.