The Draft Show: Trade Up Signals

Podcast: The Draft Show (Dallas Cowboys)
Date: April 9, 2026
Hosts: Kyle Yeomans, Vach Lombardi, Nick Harris, Tommy Yarish

Episode Overview

With the 2025 NFL Draft just two weeks away, the Draft Show crew dives deep into the Dallas Cowboys’ pre-draft process—especially the recent slate of Top 30 “official visits”—and discusses what these moves might signal about the team’s intentions. The hosts debate whether this influx of highly ranked defensive prospects means the Cowboys are preparing to trade up, break down the versatility trend among defensive backs, spotlight key mid-to-late-round draft targets, and have some fun with prospect “pet cats” and favorite traits.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cowboys' Top 30 Visits and Possible Trade-Up Intentions

• [03:29-07:42] The team reviews recent reports (mainly from Fort Worth Star Telegram) of players brought to The Star for Top 30 visits, including several projected top-10 defensive players:
  • Ohio State LB Arvell Reese
  • Texas Tech DE David Bailey
  • Ohio State LB Sonny Stiles
  • Ohio State S Caleb Downs
  • LSU CB Sor Delane
• Nick Harris: “Them bringing in Reese and Bailey and even Styles to a certain extent…signals that they are at least willing to explore the options of trading up.” [04:12]
• Tommy Yarish and Kyle Yeomans note that while the Cowboys often bring in players projected above their pick, this year’s number (especially on defense) is unusual.
• Vach Lombardi cautions not to over-read pre-draft signals:
  • “People lie every day though...I wouldn’t assume that the Cowboys would waste 30 visits on the top 5 dudes unless they thought that they had an opportunity to go get one of those guys.” [06:28]

2. Value of Local Dallas Visits

• [07:42-09:03] The Cowboys are able to bring in many DFW-area prospects or those who played at local colleges as “local visits,” (not counting against the Top 30), giving them an information-gathering advantage.
• Notable local visits include Texas CB Malik Muhammad, Texas LB Anthony Hill, and LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier.

3. BT Jordan’s Influence and Relationship Intelligence

• [09:04-11:31] The crew highlights how BT Jordan, a pass-rush specialist/trainer with deep NFL/college connections, gives Dallas inside access into a player’s character and work habits—valuable with more college transfers and less long-term coach-player relationships.
• Kyle Yeomans: “I think now more than ever having a guy like BT Jordan on your staff is going to help you out in the long run because of those established relationships...” [10:19]

4. Profiling Day Two/Three Defensive Backs

• The show evaluates several lesser-discussed prospects:
  • Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr., Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Arizona DB Treydan Stukes, Miami CB Keonte Scott, Missouri LB Josiah Trotter
• Treydan Stukes (Arizona):
  • Nick Harris: “He’s one of the more versatile defensive backs in this entire class…probably best as that safety/box safety that could play nickel...” [13:18-14:03]
  • The panel agrees on a “third round grade,” with differing opinions on his ultimate positional fit (safety vs. corner).

5. The NFL Trend: Defensive Back Versatility

• [15:50-17:09] A significant theme—DBs must now play multiple roles including boundary corner, nickel, and safety to maximize roster value.
  • Tommy Yarish: “That’s just the way that I think the defensive back position and safety position is going now...you give yourself more value if you can fill multiple roles in a defense.”

6. Athletic Testing vs. Film and Draft Stock

• [17:37-19:57] They debate the importance of pro day/combine numbers vs. tape (esp. for Avion Terrell, Clemson CB, who ran a disappointing 4.64 40).
  • Nick Harris: “When you’re a nickel, you have to have that quick twitch speed…you don’t look at the best nickels in the game right now and see them run four, six.” [18:14]
  • Tommy Yarish: “I’ve got him at the bottom of the second for me...But yeah, that stuff is concerning. And if the hamstring is a real thing, then that’s concerning.” [18:52]

7. Draft Philosophy: Scouting the Helmet vs. the Scheme

• [29:37-31:52] The refrain “Don’t scout the helmet” is debated. The hosts agree the real pitfall is scouting “the scheme” (e.g., with Tennessee/Baylor WRs), not the school brand itself.
  • Vach Lombardi: “I just feel lied to when I watch [Tennessee WRs]...Iowa linemen and tight ends, they always seem to be decent.”

8. Pet Cats & Day 3 Favorites

• Roundtable on late-round “pet cat” prospects:
  • Vach Lombardi: Gold Day (LB, Cincy), Mason Rager (EDGE, Wisconsin), Jeremy Bernard (WR, Bama), Mello Height (EDGE, Texas Tech), Cole Payton (QB, NDSU), Jalen Farmer (Kentucky OG: “watching him whoop some of the best D-linemen in the whole country...I got a two on him.” [43:33])
  • Tommy Yarish: Keonte Scott (Miami–CB), Harold Perkins (LSU–LB), Chandler Rivers (Duke–CB), Tanner Coziol (Houston–TE), among others
  • Nick Harris: Gabe Yakis (Illinois EDGE), AJ Hall (LSU S), Bud Clark (TCU S)
  • Kyle Yeomans: Chandler Rivers (“late third”), Dale Everett (Georgia CB), Caleb B. (TCU LB), Carson Shire (Iowa LB)

9. Fun Segment: Build-a-Player and Cool Names

• [33:10-37:29] The hosts “fuse” traits from various day 3 prospects to invent hypothetical day 1-caliber prospects (e.g., Mason Rager’s pass rush + Dennis Sutton’s size).
• [58:25-60:30] Favorite “cool names” segment (e.g., Red Murdoch, Ghost Rouser, Jake Slaughter, R. Mason, Ethan Kaliakmanis).

10. Deep Dive: Day 3 & Late-Round Corners

• [49:53-end] The last segment focuses in on late-round/Day 3 cornerback prospects that could fit for Dallas:
  • Will Lee III (Texas A&M): Ideal scheme/fit for new DC Christian Parker.
    • Nick Harris: “He has some of the best hips in this entire class...if he’s there for you at 112...that’s a run-it-to-the-table type of pick.” [50:08]
  • Devin Moore (Florida): “Physical press guy...better in man but made most of his plays in zone...he’s nice. I got him in the third.” [52:03] –Vach Lombardi
  • Jalen Gilbo (Texas): Solid, cerebral, special teams contributor. [53:29]
  • Takario Davis (Washington): Tall, long arms, field corner who “gets out of trouble” with length/recovery—fifth round grade. [55:19]
  • Short takes on other corners: Latrell McCutcheon Sr. (Houston), Damani Jackson (Alabama/USC: “never lived up to the billing, special teams upside” [57:01]), Toriano Pride Jr. (Missouri), and several OL with eye-catching names.

11. Will Dallas Actually Pick at 12 & 20?

• [61:09-62:15]
  • Nick Harris: “On a scale of 1-10...how confident are you that the Cowboys are picking at 12 and 20?”
  • General consensus: low confidence (3-4 out of 10)—they’re likely to trade at least one of those spots, possibly down for more picks.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Nick Harris (on Top 30 visits): “I think it signals that they are at least looking into the possibility of trading up.” [04:12]
• Vach Lombardi (on interpreting pre-draft rumors): “People lie every day though. They love keeping us in the dark...It’s lying season.” [06:28]
• Tommy Yarish (on DB versatility): “You give yourself more value if you can fill multiple roles in a defense.” [17:09]
• Vach Lombardi (on late draft picks): “That’s the thing about all these guys, man. They fit in these archetypes...but if you could just Fusion dance these dudes, that’d be a fun little exercise.” [37:00]
• On the “dongle” headphone debate: [47:57-48:39] – Lighthearted banter about old-school vs. modern headphone tech.
• On pet cats:
  • Vach Lombardi: “Cole Payton...reminds me of Dak Prescott...I’m talking about Mississippi State Dak Prescott.” [38:38]
  • Kyle Yeomans: “I turned on the tape and there were a lot of times ... this guy fly around wearing the number five off the second level and he’s just beelining...good quick reads, quicker than maybe his testing served.” (on Texas Tech S Wisneski, [42:45])

Important Timestamps

• 03:29 – Reviewing 30-visit names and implications
• 04:12, 06:28 – Trade-up signaling discussion
• 07:42 – Local visits advantage
• 09:04 – BT Jordan’s influence, relationship scouting
• 13:18 – Treydan Stukes scouting (Arizona DB)
• 15:50 – DB versatility
• 17:37 – Avion Terrell athletic testing debate
• 29:37 – Scouting the “helmet” vs. “scheme”
• 33:10 – Build-a-player exercise
• 37:27 – More pet cat picks
• 49:53 – Segment on Day 3 cornerbacks
• 50:08 – Will Lee III breakdown
• 52:03 – Devin Moore profile
• 53:29 – Jalen Gilbo (Texas) assessment
• 55:19 – Takario Davis (Washington) evaluation
• 61:09 – Confidence poll on picking at 12/20

Tone & Dynamic

• Conversational, playful, and honest—with hosts not shying from poking fun or candid opinions
• Well-informed, technically savvy discussion with a mix of “scout-speak” and humor
• Several memorable tangents (e.g., “dongle” debate; cool names) balance out serious prospect analysis
• Camaraderie clear, making even technical draft talk engaging for listeners

Conclusion

This episode covers a ton of ground for Cowboys’ draft followers—deciphering trade-up smoke signals, introducing a rich array of day-2/3 prospects, and debating the real value of versatility, athleticism, and “football IQ.” It’s a must-listen heading into the home stretch pre-draft, especially for fans dreaming of how Dallas can reload its defense and find gems in later rounds.