Wait, did the Dallas Cowboys actually get stripped of a pick? If you’ve been doom-scrolling through Cowboys Twitter or catching snippets of sports radio lately, you’ve probably seen the headline: Cowboys lose 2024 draft pick. It sounds like a disaster. It sounds like Jerry Jones got caught in another league-wide scandal or the front office botched a clerical filing.
Actually, the truth is way more nuanced.
The Cowboys didn’t "lose" a pick in the sense of an NFL disciplinary hammer coming down on them—think New England’s Spygate or Miami’s tampering with Tom Brady. Instead, they "lost" it in the way most teams do: through the chaotic, high-stakes game of NFL trades.
Specifically, the Cowboys walked into the 2024 draft cycle without their fourth-round selection. They traded it away. Long before the 2024 draft even kicked off, that pick was sent to the San Francisco 49ers. The cost? Trey Lance.
The Trey Lance Trade: Why the Cowboys Lose 2024 Draft Pick Capital
NFL trades are a gamble. Sometimes you win big, and sometimes you end up looking at an empty slot on your draft board while your rivals are picking future starters.
In August 2023, the Cowboys decided they needed a "developmental" project at quarterback. They called up the 49ers and offered a 2024 fourth-round pick for Trey Lance, a former number three overall selection who had fallen out of favor in San Francisco.
This is the literal reason why the Cowboys lose 2024 draft pick flexibility in the middle rounds.
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Honestly, it was a polarizing move. You've got Dak Prescott sitting there in a contract stalemate, and suddenly Jerry Jones brings in a young, athletic quarterback who cost a premium day-two/day-three asset. A fourth-rounder isn't just a "flyer." It’s the range where Dallas has historically found guys like Dak Prescott himself or Dalton Schultz.
By sending that pick to San Francisco, the Cowboys basically said, "We value one year of Trey Lance as a backup more than a cheap, four-year rookie contract for a developmental tackle or linebacker."
The Missing Fourth Rounder
When the 2024 NFL Draft finally rolled around in April, the gap in the Cowboys’ strategy was glaring. They had a massive hole at running back after Tony Pollard left for the Titans. They needed depth. But because that fourth-round pick belonged to the 49ers, Dallas had to sit on their hands while the "meat" of the running back class—guys like Jaylen Wright or Bucky Irving—flew off the board.
- Round 1: Tyler Guyton (OT)
- Round 2: Marshawn Kneeland (DE)
- Round 3: Cooper Beebe (IOL)
- Round 4: (The "Lost" Pick – Traded for Trey Lance)
- Round 5: Caelen Carson (CB)
It’s frustrating. You’re watching the clock tick, and there’s just... nothing. No pick. No move. Just the realization that the Trey Lance experiment cost them a chance to grab a contributor at a position of desperate need.
Discipline vs. Logistics: Did the NFL Actually Take a Pick?
There is always a rumor that Dallas is on the verge of losing picks for "OTA violations" or "salary cap shenanigans." We've seen Mike McCarthy get fined for "too physical" practices in the past.
But let's be clear: The NFL did not seize a 2024 pick from Dallas as a penalty.
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When people search for why the Cowboys lose 2024 draft pick options, they are often looking for a scandal that isn't there. The "loss" was self-inflicted. It was a business decision made in a Frisco war room.
However, there was some confusion regarding "compensatory picks." The NFL’s formula for comp picks is basically a black box. Dallas expected more than they got. They eventually received two (a 5th and a 6th), but the math didn't favor them as much as in previous years because of how they handled their own free agents.
Was the Trey Lance "Loss" Worth It?
It’s tough to say "yes" right now.
Trey Lance didn't see the field in 2024. He was the "emergency" third QB for much of the early season. Meanwhile, the players drafted in that fourth-round range across the league started making impacts.
The Cowboys defense was gapped at times, and the run game was—let's be real—pretty abysmal for long stretches. Could a fourth-round rookie running back have fixed that? Maybe not entirely. But having a young, hungry back on a rookie deal is usually better than having a high-priced backup QB who never takes a snap.
Misconceptions About the 2024 Draft
- Rumor: Dallas lost a pick because of the CeeDee Lamb holdout.
- Fact: Contract disputes never result in lost draft picks unless there is proven tampering.
- Rumor: The NFL penalized Dallas for their "All-In" comments.
- Fact: Jerry Jones talking to the media doesn't cost draft capital, no matter how much fans wish it did.
What This Means for Future Drafts
The front office seems to have learned a lesson—or at least, they’ve shifted gears. Looking toward 2025 and 2026, the Cowboys have been much more protective of their "natural" picks.
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They realized that when the Cowboys lose 2024 draft pick assets in the middle rounds, it cripples their ability to find "cheap labor." In a world where Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are eating up a massive percentage of the salary cap, you cannot afford to trade away fourth-rounders for projects.
You need those picks to hit. You need them to be starters by year two.
Actionable Insights for Cowboys Fans
If you’re tracking how the team manages its assets, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the "Trade-Back" Trend: Because Dallas didn't have that 4th rounder in 2024, they actually traded back in the 1st round (from 24 to 29) to pick up an extra 3rd-round pick (which became Cooper Beebe). This was a direct "repair" of the Trey Lance trade.
- Monitor the Comp Pick Formula: The Cowboys rely heavily on compensatory picks. If they sign big-name free agents, they "cancel out" the picks they’d get for losing players. This is why Jerry is often "quiet" in free agency.
- The Trey Lance Contract: Since he was a former 1st rounder, his fifth-year option was a major discussion point. Dallas declined it, making the "cost" of that 4th-round pick even higher in hindsight.
The 2024 draft is in the books, and while the "lost" pick is gone, the impact of that missing player will be felt on the depth chart for the next three seasons. Dallas has to be smarter with their mid-round capital if they want to keep the window open.
Next Steps for Following the Roster:
- Review the 2025 compensatory pick projections to see if Dallas will recoup the "lost" value from 2024.
- Check the snap counts of the 2024 5th and 6th rounders to see if they are outperforming the "missing" 4th round talent.
- Analyze the Trey Lance status as he enters free agency to determine the final "ROI" of the trade.