With a new coach in place, Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott expressed excitement. And he also said positive things about the injury that sidelined him last year. With those good notes at hand, here is the Cowboys’ perfect 2025 NFL Draft trade.

The Cowboys stand in the No. 12 slot in the draft and have 10 picks overall. However, seven of those selections are in rounds fifth through seven. The Cowboys have the No. 44 pick (Round 2) and 76 (Round 3) but don’t have a fourth-round pick.

So basically their ammunition — without dipping into next year’s picks — is their No. 44 selection.

Will Cowboys make a trade to move up?

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones speaks to the media at a press conference at the Star.
Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Jerry Jones can be unpredictable at times in the draft. But the Cowboys don’t often wheel and deal. They have done it only eight times in their history: including 1990 to grab Emmitt Smith). They also moved up in 2010 to get Dez Bryant.

However, the Cowboys haven’t traded up since 2012. But this might be the year to break that string. If they sit at No. 12, they will likely miss out on wide receiver Tatairoa McMillan. And this is the guy the Cowboys need.

There’s a chance the Saints will grab McMillan with the No. 9. Also, the 49ers might have their eye on him at No. 11. So the obvious team for the Cowboys to have a conversation with is the Carolina Panthers.

First, the Panthers have a weak organization. That is they’ve won only five games four times in the last six years. In other two seasons, they won seven and two games, respectively.

It’s easier to make trades with weak organizations. The Panthers probably have a poor draft strategy for 2025 just as they’ve done in previous seasons. Therefore, the Cowboys could offer their No. 12 pick and their second-round pick (No. 44), for the Panthers No. 8 and third-round pick (No. 74).

This would allow the Cowboys to leap past the Saints and 49ers and select McMillian.

Why would McMillan be good for the Cowboys?

McMillan would give the Cowboys an awesome combination alongside CeeDee Lamb.

McMillan’s 6-foot-4, 219-pound frame and skillset would give Prescott two top-flight targets on every snap. However, there are questions about the injury that dogged him in 2024, according to an AFC scouting director via nfl.com.

“He got hurt in the spring and I don’t know that he ever made it back to 100 percent,” an AFC scouting director said. “The 2023 tape gives you a better idea of who he is.”