Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys are itching to turn the page after two draft trades that went bust-but the legendary Jimmy Johnson trade value chart might be their ticket to a big win on NFL Draft Day 2025. Last year’s moves-a fourth-round pick for QB Trey Lance and another fourth for TE John Stephens Jr., swapped with a sixth-left fans groaning.
Lance, now 24, barely saw the field as a third-stringer behind Dak Prescott, while Stephens tore his ACL before playing a snap. “Those trades were a swing and a miss,” an X user griped, echoing the frustration in Cowboys Nation. But there’s hope: Jones can flip the script with one savvy move.
Enter the Jimmy Johnson trade value chart, a draft-day bible since the ’90s that assigns points to picks for fair trades. The Cowboys hold the No. 24 pick in 2025, worth 740 points on the chart. Trading down could net them extra picks to rebuild depth after a 6-11 season-think 2024’s 27th-ranked pass defense.
“If they trade down smart, they can recoup those lost fourths and more,” an X fan posted, hyping the potential. Picture this: sliding to No. 31 (600 points) with the Browns, who might want a QB, could land Dallas a third-rounder (No. 85, 155 points)-a near match at 755 points total, per the chart.
Jimmy Johnson has the answer
The Cowboys’ needs are glaring: offensive line help after losing Tyron Smith, a running back to replace Tony Pollard, and a corner to pair with DaRon Bland. Trading down could bag them a late first-rounder like LSU’s Emery Jones Jr. (No. 31) and a third-round gem like Texas RB Jaydon Blue (No. 85).
“Jones needs to play the chart like Jimmy did in the ’90s,” an fan urged, recalling how Johnson’s trades built a dynasty with picks that became Emmitt Smith and Darren Woodson. Dallas has extra picks in 2025 (two thirds, two fifths) but maximizing No. 24 could erase the sting of those 2024 flops.
Lance’s trade was a gamble-two starts, 0-2 with the 49ers-while Stephens’ injury was bad luck, but Jones can’t dwell. “Jerry’s got to think long-term,” a Cowboys blogger tweeted, pushing for draft capital over a single player. With the Jimmy Johnson chart as their guide, the Cowboys can turn draft day into a comeback.
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