Trading Up for Kyle Pitts Would Be 1 Step Forward, 2 Steps Back for Cowboys

There isn't a six-win team in the NFL that enters the 2021 season with higher expectations than the Dallas Cowboys.

By virtue of last year's injury-marred disappointment of a campaign, the Cowboys hold the 10th overall pick in the 2021 draft—a selection that should offer the franchise the opportunity to add an impact player.

However, according to recent reports, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has his sights set even higher.

A player who would likely cost the Cowboys substantial draft capital to acquire.

Florida tight end Kyle Pitts is an electric talent and arguably the most dangerous skill-position player in his class.

But in doing so at the expense of addressing the most glaring flaw on the roster, the Cowboys will be even further from Super Bowl contention.

"We're hearing this thing about Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys and the GM, being infatuated with Kyle Pitts.

Kidding aside, it's not hard to see why Jones would become infatuated with Pitts.

I think we've seen in the league, if you have a special player at tight end, whether it's Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce in Kansas City, if you have one of these players, he can change everything for you.

Assuming for a moment that Pitts is a fraction of the force that draftniks almost universally consider him to be, there is zero question that adding him to a receiver room that already includes Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and youngster CeeDee Lamb would make the Cowboys terrifying to defend.

The first is that while Pitts would be a welcome addition to any NFL offense, the Cowboys don't need him.

And the Cowboys ranked 23rd in Defensive DVOA last year, per Football Outsiders, last in the NFC East.

With the 10th overall pick, Dallas could land a high-end cornerback prospect like Patrick Surtain II of Alabama or a top edge-rusher like Michigan's Kwity Paye.

For the Cowboys to land Pitts, it's going to take a significant investment, both in Pitts himself and the move up to procure him