Cowboys trade proposal: NFL Draft Deal brings ‘explosive’ Jaguars WR to Dallas – Home

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Getty Laviska Shenault Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates a touchdown.

While successfully recruiting young talent is key to winning in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys can’t turn down guaranteed production opportunities.

Dallas has had several such successful draft picks over the past decade, with quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott and linebacker Micah Parsons all coming to mind. However, the team failed to win in the playoffs, capped off by an NFC wild card exit to the San Francisco 49ers in early 2022.

One potential solution for playoff success is to add more talent that has been established in the league. This is why a potential trade from the first or second round of the 2022 NFL draft for a player can be a shrewd move.

With a No. 24 pick and a need for an interior offensive lineman, receiver and defensive end, Dallas couldn’t back down too far for a player while still picking up pretty high. That’s where the Jacksonville Jaguars and wide receiver Laviska Shenault come into play.

The third-year receiver’s time in Duval County has been mixed, with NFL insider Jordan Schultz recently reporting that the Jaguars entered talks with the Kansas City Chiefs to trade Shenault.

The Jaguars might want to trade from their No. 33 pick, and the Cowboys would be a perfect fit with Shenault as an attractive trade piece.

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Shenault’s history with the Jaguars

Coming out of Colorado, NFL.com labeled Shenault a “three-tier threat” with “explosive” playmaking ability. The Jaguars believed in his promise and took the 23-year-old in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.

However, its production has not been striking. On a team that has won just four games since he was drafted, that’s not necessarily surprising. Shenault has had two quarterbacks, two offensive coordinators and two coaches in two seasons, so continuity has been difficult to find.

That said, the former Colorado star was consistent: After 600 receiving yards in 2020, he totaled 619 in 2021. By contrast, he had no touchdowns after catching five TDs in 2020, states Pro Football Reference.

Shenault is known for breaking tackles, and his 5.7-yard average after the catch is a testament to his ability. However, the main red flag with the Jaguars WR is his dropped passes: Shenault had eight shots on 100 targets.

Why Shenault Works For The Cowboys

Shenault isn’t a perfect player, but he’s a safe bet compared to a second- or third-round wide receiver pick. In addition, he offers the same benefits of selecting a receiver: cheap payment.

The 23-year-old won’t be out of his rookie deal until 2024, meaning the Cowboys would only have to pay him just under $3 million over the next two seasons, according to Spotrac. If the Jaguars want to move on, the Cowboys could use his skill set.

That’s what’s so appealing about Shenault, too: He could be a Deebo Samuel-type player. In two seasons, the Jaguars star ran the ball 29 times, averaging 4.6 yards per attempt. With young, innovative Dallas OC Kellen Moore out for the 2022 season, he could have a field day with Shenault.

Also, if Jacksonville is really trying to trade their young receiver, the Cowboys should be able to get the 33rd pick, Shenault, and potentially another late-round pick to drop back nine spots. That allows Dallas and owner Jerry Jones to eliminate the wide receiver position and not go too far back in terms of taking a highly touted offensive guard or defensive end.

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