Cowboys fans might not want to hear this: Travis Hunter could be a Top-5 pick

NFL Insider Diana Russini discusses the possibility of the Dallas Cowboys moving up the draft board in an attempt to pick Travis Hunter.

Cowboys fans might not want to hear this: Travis Hunter could be a Top-5 pick

Travis Hunter (Image via AP)

The Dallas Cowboys’ strategy to improve their roster is to draft well and develop their players. Jerry Jones prefers to stick with this method rather than to spend significantly for signing Pro Bowlers. This year, the Cowboys have the 12th overall pick in the Draft and it is hard to predict in what direction the team is going to head towards.

The team is likely to pick a wide receiver or a running back with their first-round pick. Dallas has no rushing attack and Ashton Jeanty would be a great option for them. However, the best option for the Cowboys; Travis Hunter.

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The dual-threat athlete is everything that Dallas needs. He can take care of two positions, wide receiver and corner.

The prospect of drafting Hunter should seem lucrative to the Cowboys because the last player that played two positions for them was Deion Sanders. The same man that coached and groomed Hunter was a key part of the franchise’s Super Bowl-winning roster in the 90s.

However, there are many teams that are actively pursuing Travis Hunter. After all, he is a Heisman winner and his upside potential is more than the other candidates in this draft. If Jerry Jones is really motivated by Hunter and decides to go all-in to ensure Dallas lands him, then the Cowboys can wind up with the most versatile player in this draft class.

Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel and The Athletic’s Diana Russini discussed the possibility of Hunter going to Dallas on Scoop City.

I’ve heard Jerry really likes Travis Hunter. That’s a very Dallas Cowboys move.

Diana Russini surprised her co-host

It would be a great move if Dallas decides to pull it off, but there is a caveat.

The Dallas Cowboys will have to give up their draft capital if they intend to pick Travis Hunter

Greatness comes at a price and co-incidentally, so does Travis Hunter. To move from number 12 on the board to possibly number three will require sacrificing players and draft capital.

Travis Hunter
Travis Hunter (Image via AP)

If there is one thing about Jerry Jones, he views his draft picks to be as valuable as oil. After all, that is how Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons all landed up in Dallas. However, Hunter is too good of a deal to refuse, so that may influence Jones to make an exception in this instance.

Interestingly, Chase Daniel opposed the suggestion of this possibility.

No way…they’re going to have to give up the farm for a cornerback? They’re drafting 12.

Chase Daniel said

If Jerry Jones thinks Hunter is half as good as Sanders, he would not hesitate to pull the trigger on this. But then again, this scenario is unlikely to come to fruition. Primarily because of other variables involved.

Assuming that the Cowboys draft up to number three, there would still be the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns ahead of them. Tennessee is taking its sweet time in analyzing each prospect to determine if they should replace Will Levis or take Travis Hunter.

The Browns, in all likelihood will pick Abdul Carter from Penn State. Viewing this from Jerry Jones’ perspective, there is no guarantee that Dallas will secure Travis Hunter even if they give up picks and players, so why put yourself in that position?

One thing is certain, the reigning Heisman player will not be available by the time Dallas gets on the clock. So Cowboys fans, sorry, but Hunter will not wear the iconic star, at least not for the next four years.

Related: Dak Prescott, who is the highest-paid player in NFL history, is the only NFC East QB without a conference championship appearance