The Cowboys would be wise to consider a few hypothetical trades.
As the Super Bowl approaches, the NFL world keeps turning. Cleveland Browns star defensive end and reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett, requested a trade from Cleveland after spending his first eight seasons with the Browns. In other news, the Los Angeles Rams have informed Cooper Kupp that he will be shopped to teams and made available for trade. These are big stories; any team would be happy to have this caliber of player, including the Dallas Cowboys. However, as we have learned, the Cowboys aren’t big spenders on the trade market, and these stories regarding the Cowboys’ interest in highly-sought-after players are usually as real as Bigfoot. The Cowboys value their draft picks, and trading a high draft pick on Garrett or Kupp is a foreign concept.
Still, we’ve seen for the Cowboys to keep up with the rest of the NFL, they will have to be more aggressive with executing trades for veterans. They could pull off a few trades that would give them a more competitive roster and the comfort of keeping their premium draft picks. Mind you, that’s not to say that Dallas should make all of these proposed trades. The Cowboys have shown that they heavily value all of their draft assets. However, here are three trades the Cowboys could make that fit a smart trade budget and help them return to the post season next year.
Trade pick 174 for Jadeveon Clowney
Again, do not expect to see Dallas in the Myles Garrett Sweepstakes. It’s not going to happen. That said, the Cowboys need help at defensive end. DeMarcus Lawrence went down early with a season-ending injury, and his future with the team is one of the least talked about unknowns of the offseason. Sam Williams would be heavily counted on in 2024, but an ACL injury derailed what might’ve been a breakout season. Jadeveon Clowney fits a few bullet points for the Cowboys:
•Veteran with some gas left in the tank
•Low price tag ($8.5M base salary in 2025)
• A trade partner with a marginal asking price and willing to shed salaries
Clowney was relatively healthy last season, playing in 14 games and totaled 8.5 sacks. He won’t be expected to be his old self, but he should provide depth along the defensive line and give the Cowboys flexibility to not feel obliged to reach for a defensive end in the draft, instead taking the best player available in the first two rounds.
Trade pick 150, and a conditional 2026 sixth-round draft pick for Travis Etienne
The Cowboys running back room needs a shake-up. We learned as much when the Cowboys named Derrick Foster as their new running back coach this week. Rico Dowdle was fine, but you can get a more diverse talent for the position, and Etienne would provide that. This year’s draft class of running backs is loaded, which should appeal to Jacksonville and Dallas. Trent Baalke is no longer in Jacksonville as their general manager; therefore, no one in the building has a vested connection to Etienne and should be available.
Etienne fell out of favor with the coaching staff due to injuries last season and ceded opportunities to second-year player Tank Bigsby. Etienne is a good receiver and better between the tackles than he gets credit for. Acquiring Etienne affords Dallas a backup plan if they whiff on the top two backs in the class, Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton. Etienne is in the final year of his rookie contract, playing under the fifth-year option that bears a manageable price tag of $6.1M If Dallas can’t get Etienne for a discount, Rachaad White is a similar option that has a similar circumstance in Tampa Bay. He also could be had for lesser compensation, but like Etienne, Dallas would need to pair him up with a running mate in the backfield, preferably a later-round draft pick like Devin Neal or Bhayshul Tuten.
Trade the 211th pick for Kenyon Green
The Cowboys need depth along the offensive line, especially at the interior. In speaking with the media recently, Zack Martin has stated that he is taking his time deciding on his future in the NFL, and it’s anyone’s guess if that means retiring, re-signing with the Cowboys, or playing somewhere else. In his stead, Dallas played Brock Hoffman at right guard, who did an admirable job. Yet, the Cowboys need more depth in that department. Enter Kenyon Green.
Since being taken in the first round by the Houston Texans in 2022 with the 15th overall pick, Green has disappointed and struggled to stay healthy. For what was deemed one of the better prospects of his draft class, Green has underwhelmed in Houston. The rumor mill around him is busy and the Texans are expected to move on from Green. He may need a change of scenery, and the cross-state Cowboys will make for a good landing spot to redefine his career. The Cowboys are familiar with Green and brought him in as a top-30 visit before the draft in 2022. Therefore, there’s a connection to the player.
The new offensive coordinator, Klayton Adams, has a reputation as a wizard who works with offensive linemen. Green could play either guard or center as a reserve. This proposed trade would give the Texans the latter of Dallas’ two sixth-round draft picks. For the Cowboys, it couldn’t hurt to kick the tires for low risk on a player that they were interested in and is only 23 years old.
