The trade table was where it all came apart. The Cowboys shipped out far more than they hauled back, and no amount of spin dresses up the bill.

They have staked the next five years on Drake Maye, which is the only story that really matters here. If Beebe pans out, nobody remembers the price. If not, this is the pick they hear about. The linebacker hole is the one line item this class does not answer.

Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Washington. The bill for those future picks comes due whether the class hits or not.

Bottom line, they will need several of these picks to beat their grades just to break even, and linebacker is still a hole.