Defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in the meaningless, final game of 2017 is bearing a much greater cost than Dallas Cowboys management had the foresight to grasp.
Many fans warned they should solely play youth and depth players to evaluate, gain experience, and finish 8-8. Instead the moral victory cost the team three draft slots.
The win forfeited the 16th selection to Baltimore. A pick that could’ve been traded with their 3rd (80) and extra 4th (137) rounder to secure Green Bay’s 12th spot.
Pick 12 would’ve guaranteed an elite difference maker at linebacker (Roquan Smith, Tremaine Edmunds) or safety (Derwin James, Minkah Fitzpatrick).