Cowboys Get Massive Draft Haul in Trade-Back Proposal

The Dallas Cowboys have started the NFL Draft inside the top-12 only four times in the last 20 years. Each of those selections turned into multiple-time All-Pros - DeMarcus Ware, Tyron Smith, Ezekiel Elliott and Micah Parsons.

Safe to say, Dallas is in a good spot with how they've drafted recently.

The Cowboys can find an immediate impact player here ... but the pick also holds weight if the Cowboys want to entertain a trade with a team looking to move up.

For months, the prediction is the Cowboys would select a top running back or wide receiver at 12. However, if they miss out on a premier target, they could afford to drop down a few spots and still land the next best option.

SI's Matt Verderame believes this is highly likely, pinning the Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers to agree on a massive draft-night trade.

Dallas would give up No. 12 and No. 174 (5th round compensatory) in exchange for picks No. 22 and No. 55 (2nd round).

This could be a huge success for the Cowboys if running back Omarion Hampton from North Carolina is still on the board.

Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. predicts the Cowboys to pick Hampton at 12, but if the Dallas war room believes he can be available later, they could steal another second round pick from Los Angeles in the trade. They would give up a fifth rounder, but Dallas still owns No. 149 in Round 5.

"Moving back 10 spots, the Cowboys walk away with an incredible haul," Verderame said.

"Not only does Dallas pick up an extra second-round pick, but it lands Hampton, giving the offense an immediate boost. At North Carolina, he ran for 3,164 and 30 touchdowns over the past two years, leading the ACC in both campaigns."

Hampton is highly regarded as the second-best ball carrier in the class behind the homegrown "Frisco Kid" Ashton Jeanty, who will likely be gone long before No. 12.

They Cowboys can stand pat at 12 - and we've seen the success of that - but if they have running back on their mind for Round 1, a trade could be in order to satisfy the need and potentially add more to their Day 2 schedule.