3 players the Cowboys could trade up for in the 2023 NFL Draft

Joery Porter Jr. would be an instant starter for the Cowboys. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

If the Cowboys want to become Super Bowl contenders next year, they’d be wise to investigate moving up in the draft to land one of these three prospects. 

The Cowboys face lots of questions about their roster before Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season arrives. Jerry Jones and his front office know they need to find talent in the draft to replace some high-priced veterans. That’s why a trade-up might make a lot of sense for the Cowboys in Round 1.

Dallas currently owns the No. 26 overall selection on Day One. That might be a good enough pick to land a starter at a position of need, but moving up to grab an instant-impact player could prove to be a shrewd acquisition for the team.

Finding a cornerback capable of rounding out the starting secondary will be a priority for the Cowboys this offseason. Moving up into the middle of Round 1 to take advantage of the quality in this year’s cornerback draft class could land Dan Quinn and his defensive staff a future star.

These are the Cowboys draft targets worth trading up for:

3. Joey Porter, Jr.

Porter isn’t likely to turn into a turnover machine at the next level given the fact that he only picked off one pass during his collegiate career at Penn State. That doesn’t mean he can’t be a high-level starter. He broke up 22 passes for the Nittany Lions last season which illustrates just how competitive he is when the ball is in the air.

Pairing Porter Jr. with Trevon Diggs on the outside would give Dallas one of the top starting cornerback duos in the NFL. That’s the kind of individual talent the Cowboys’ defense needs if they’re going to make a move up the NFC standings next season. Moving up roughly 10 picks to land Porter Jr. would cost Dallas some meaningful draft capital, but it’s a worthwhile move to grab a guy who can be an immediate starter at a position of need.