The huge trade between the Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams at the top of the draft board will have a ripple effect on a handful of teams picking after L.A., with the owner of one such club acknowledging the impact. The Dallas Cowboys, who are penciled in at No. 4 overall, may have to rejigger their draft board as a new selection of players may be available following the blockbuster deal.
The Rams are now expected to choose between this year's top two quarterback prospects: North Dakota State's Carson Wentz and Cal's Jared Goff, the latter of whom is scheduled for a private workout with the Cowboys next week. It's unclear if either QB will be available when Dallas is on the clock.
"Well, I don't want to make any assumptions, but yeah, it does impact because that kind of movement up ahead of you in a lot of different ways it took a lot of the consideration out of the marketplace," Jones said. "If you think draft picks are consideration, then it is. It certainly made a difference below that No. 1 pick as to what might be available trading or in terms of making a decision with a player. It took two commodities out. It took picks, it took a player."
But Jones understands the boldness of the move. He referenced his own franchise-altering decision to send running back Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings in 1989 -- which put Dallas on the path to three Super Bowl victories in the 1990s - when discussing the deal. That trade was the largest player deal in the history of the NFL, with 18 players and draft picks being involved.
The Titans-Rams deal will see Tennessee receiving L.A.'s first-rounder, two second-rounders and a third-rounder this year, plus their first- and third-round picks in 2017 in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick and Tennessee's fourth- and sixth-round selections.
"I was surprised, but knowing the organization I'm not surprised," Jones said. "They're really showing their colors. Step out there and go to Los Angeles, and then when you look at how they're setting their sails and it doesn't surprise me at all with what they're looking for in the future. It goes to show you certainly need to be thinking about your moves way in advance of the draft if you're going to go this early. I applaud them. It sounds like they got [what] they wanted. Then you've got to look at Tennessee and see all those draft picks. I didn't know Herschel Walker was still around."
The 2016 NFL Draft will be held from April 28-30.
Follow Brandon Katz at @Great_Katzby
