There are now two weeks remaining before the NFL trade deadline expires and the Cowboys are in a precarious situation. Sitting at 3-3 on the season and coming off a bye week, the club is in danger of facing a lost season. Dallas is going to travel to two mediocre teams over the next 12 days, the 3-4 San Francisco 49ers and 4-3 Atlanta Falcons. If they survive the trips with one or two wins, they may feel they are in a position to strengthen themselves over the second half of the season.
If they fall in both, however, dropping to 3-5, it will probably be time to admit the rebuild has to be fully embraced instead of straddling the tear-it-down dence. In that scenario, the front office would be doing themselves a disservice by holding on to veterans on expiring contracts. Trading away a veteran doesn’t come without caution; players who are projected to sign substantial deals will provide their former teams with an opportunity to earn a compensatory pick aligned with their next contract amount.
That creates an interesting situation for several players with Pro Bowls and All-Pros on their resumes. Here’s a look at five players who could bring back interesting draft capital for the Cowboys.
QB Trey Lance
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 17: Trey Lance #19 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up prior to a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
Lance has done nothing in the league, yet his athleticism and draft pedigree keep him in the public’s mind as a potential fix. Seeing players who have struggled to begin their careers eventually work it out (Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith, Ryan Tannehill, etc) will give some team the hope of discovering a diamond in the rough.
With recent injuries to Deshaun Watson and Aidan O’Connell, there may be an opportunity for Dallas to recoup some level of compensation after spending a fourth round pick to acquire Lance from the 49ers last summer.
DE DeMarcus Lawrence
Wednesday: DNP |
Thursday: — |
Friday: —
Lawrence has made two straight, and four overall, Pro Bowls. He’s currently leading the team in sacks with three, despite missing the last two games as he’s on IR. He’s a two-way player who is normally one of the league’s best at setting the edge. The issue is that Lawrence is dealing with a lisfranc sprain in his foot and may not be healthy enough to pass a physical for his new club.
OG Zack Martin
Wednesday: Limited |
Thursday: — |
Friday: —
Martin is not the same player who has been considered the best in the league for the majority of his career. He’s a first ballot Hall of Famer who has set the standard for interior line play for his generation. At this point, he’s still well above replacement level and there’s a very strong chance his decline is related to the scheme he’s being asked to play under Mike Solari. A fresh start could easily see a career rejuvenation.
Which creates a conundrum. With a new staff almost all but guaranteed for 2025, does Dallas try to convince Martin to retire a Cowboy? Is he close to retirement anyway? These are conversations that need to be had with the star over the next two weeks.
WR Brandin Cooks
CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 08: Brandin Cooks #3 of the Dallas Cowboys catches the ball for a touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Cooks hasn’t been impactful this season, but perhaps that has more to do with the knee injury that has him on IR. Set to be available for activation following the Atlanta game, there’s been no word on whether or not that’s a reasonable expectation, but if so, he could be an interesting player to deal. Dallas hasn’t been very explosive on offense, but after Week 9, would there be any point in keeping him on board? He’d be more progress stopper than solution and if a team is offering some level of Day 3 compensation it might make sense to move him and save $3 million or so in salary.
DL Chauncey Golston
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 20: Chauncey Golston #99 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on against the Minnesota Vikings during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
Golston is an interesting case as he’s been rather nondescript as a Cowboy and is set to see his rookie contract run out. The 2021 third-round pick has played reasonably well as the depth chart has disintegrated ahead of him and might be looked at as a contributing piece by a team that’s in need of rotation help.
