Unpacking the buzz: Did the Cowboys target David Bailey in draft trade talks? Discover the reality behind the swirling rumors.
FRISCO - Are the Dallas Cowboys really engaged in trade-up talks to acquire arguably the best player in this NFL Draft?
The Cowboys have a pass-rush need and they have a great affinity for David Bailey of Texas Tech, deemed by our friend Joey McGuire - the Red Raiders coach - as the best defensive player in this NFL Draft.
The league itself seems to largely agree with McGuire, as Bailey and Ohio State's Arvell Reese are projected to go at the very top of the upcoming selection process later this month.
A logical order would send Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1, Reese to the Jets at No. 2 and Bailey to the Cardinals at No. 3 ... with Dallas having to wait its turn until pick No. 12.
Unless ...
Dallas trades up. Way up.
Enter the "rumor'' that isn't really a rumor at all.
On Friday, a handful of tweets set social media afire as they suggested that the Cowboys have entered trade talks with the Cardinals with Bailey as the target.
Those tweets cited a "report'' from Todd McShay, formerly of ESPN, one of them claiming "The Arizona Cardinals have had draft trade talks with the Dallas Cowboys centered around David Bailey, per McShay.''
But that's not what McShay said. Indeed, when we parse through McShay's podcast, he's moving his lips on this subject without really reporting anything at all.
His words ...
"Trading out of No. 3 remains one of the priorities, or one of the things that could absolutely happen with Arizona. There's a lot of buzz about Dallas, and what comes to the noise, with Dallas trading up from 12 to three to get Bailey, right?
"Keep it in state. Texas Tech, pass rusher. Most importantly, they've put all their efforts into rebuilding that defense over the last year."
The truth? That's all gibberish. To wit:
1 - McShay first calls trading down a "priority'' before immediately downshifting that claim into something that "could happen.''
2 - McShay mentions "buzz about Dallas,'' but the only "buzz'' on this subject comes from another reporter, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, who has suggested the idea of a swap while getting the compensation completely wrong. (More on that below.)
3 - McShay actually puts a question mark at the end of what some people think is a definitive statement. "What comes with the noise ... right?'' is not a "report.''
4 - McShay's suggestion that this could/would happen because Texas Tech is located in the same state where the Cowboys play (never mind that Lubbock is a five-hour drive from Frisco) is nothing short of silly.
I can't tell you the teams haven't/won't visit on this and other subjects. I can tell you that the conversation as it's being presented (with Feldman's push) that Dallas would be giving up picks Nos. 12 and 92 to get No. 3 is absurd.
The Trade Value Chart makes it clear: No. 3 is worth 2,200 points. To match that value, Dallas would have to give up its first three picks, No. 12 (1,200 points), No. 20 (850 points) and No. 92 (132 points).
If there is ever really a trade conversation here, I can virtually guarantee you that's what will be talked about.
At one point in his presentation, McShay says, "Arizona could be trading out of that spot, a team could be trying to trade up for an edge.''
That's a lot of "could be's'' in one breath. But that this point, that's all this "report'' amounts to.