Mailbag: Biggest need to address in draft?

The New York Football team now has the Nos. 5 and 10 picks, both ahead of Dallas at 12. How concerned are you that they are going to target players the Cowboys really want? Does this make it more likely for Dallas to trade up?

Would you rather trade up and get one Tier 1 player and then maybe a handful of Tier 3 and 4 guys who play special teams? Or given everything this defense needs, would you rather trade down and maybe get four or five Tier 2 players who could start or have significant roles on the defense?

I've always heard that second-round picks should be guys you count on to be solid starters for a number of years. Why has the second round been such a problem for this team?

I don't understand why the Cowboys have had edge, defensive line and cornerback as a priority over linebacker? That clearly seemed to be the biggest need heading into the offseason. What do you think?

I'm seeing a lot of good quarterbacks in this year's draft. Any chance the Cowboys will pick one on Day 3?

I am all for using one of the first-round picks on a young elite defensive player, but what are the chances the Cowboys use one of those first-round picks to trade for a proven veteran defensive player? To walk away from the draft with a first-round cornerback and a stud linebacker or pass rusher by trading one of those firsts would be awesome.

I'm thinking there could be three benefits to waiting until after the draft to make a trade: 1) Dallas will know what positions need an improved veteran presence; 2) other teams will know where they have surpluses; and 3) teams won't be asking for this year's draft picks, so it'll be easier to dip into next year's picks for a win-now mentality. Thoughts?

New guy or someone returning from injury, which addition is your favorite so far this offseason?

Should the Cowboys elect to play Jalen Thompson at the nickel back and box safety positions, could his experience lend him to also be the green dot "quarterback" of the defense next year instead of whoever plays middle linebacker? How difficult would it be for a veteran to communicate from the nickel or even safety spot versus a young guy being in the middle of the field at linebacker?

I remember reading in the 1970s that Tex Schramm said the best way to draft in the late rounds was to draft a football body and hope to find a football player in it. This seems better to me than drafting undersized defensive backs and linebackers who were good at the college level but won't hold up at the pro level. What do you think?

Which position do you think is more important on the offensive line, left guard or left tackle? I realize left tackle protects Dak Prescott's blind side, but I feel guard is more important for the running game, which will then help the passing game. Given that, Tyler Smith is great at either position, but I think he is more needed at guard. What is your opinion?