Mailbag: Thoughts on first wave of free agency?

Osa Odighizuwa was one of the few bright spots on defense last season. Why trade him away if you're trying to get better? Especially after just having given him a new contract. Help me understand this please!

What position is a strength in free agency that you'd look to add before the draft, if you were in charge?

George Pickens can be signed away if the Cowboys choose not to match, and the team would get two first-round picks. Brandon Aubrey and T.J. Bass are also tendered for second-round picks. So would you rather have the players or the picks this year? 

What is your opinion of the Cowboys' trade for Rashan Gary from the Packers? Does it seem that it's a good trade? How does he help the defense? Is a fourth-round pick reasonable to give up to add him to the roster?

I've been hearing and reading a lot about how Christian Parker's nickel cornerback needs to be a corner, a safety and a linebacker at times. We've seen Markquese Bell play safety and linebacker with some success and maybe a little corner. Could he be the guy Parker needs or is size an issue? 

With the move to a 3-4 base alignment, will the adjustment be difficult for the team's standout defensive tackles to play defensive end? Yes, it's only lining up just a few feet outside and still doing the dirty work in the trenches, but are the responsibilities vastly different?

 There's strong sentiment to trade back from one of the two first-round picks to get more picks, but is there a scenario where you could see the Cowboys trading up for a player? So instead of having two firsts, we have a high first and a second? 

Why do players/teams wait until well into the offseason to schedule surgeries? The player ends up missing valuable spring and preseason work where they could be rounding into playing shape and picking up new schemes. We've seen it before and now the latest example is Donovan Ezeiruaku, a young player who would benefit enormously from a full NFL offseason. 

In my opinion, the Cowboys are in the same exact position as they were last year. Do you believe the organization has learned from its past mistakes or will it be more of the same?

I keep hearing that this is a "middle-heavy" draft with plenty of solid players available in the second and third rounds. With the Cowboys currently having no picks in those rounds, what effect does that have on the team? Is it important that they wheel and deal to get picks in that range?

 What do you think is the most important thing the Cowboys need to accomplish during the NFL Scouting Combine? I know this is all part of the draft process, but I can't help but wonder, should starting meaningful negotiations with George Pickens' people while there be close to or even at the top of the priority list?