We are less than two weeks into free agency and already we have seen quite a few moves that will send ripple effects throughout rosters around the NFL. For a team like the Dallas Cowboys, this could be really good news. Over the past few offseasons they've been pretty active acquiring talent via trade and I don't think this year will be any different.
Just last season the Dallas Cowboys sent a sixth-round draft pick to the Miami Dolphins to acquire Robert Quinn via trade. It's also how they acquired Tavon Austin from the Los Angeles Rams. With that in mind, I decided to scour the Internet to find players who could end up on the trade block the Cowboys could be interested in.
Surprisingly, I came up with several candidates who could find themselves on the trade block any day now. But, there are three in particular who I would personally love for the Dallas Cowboys to inquire about. They are all young, talented players who are entering the final year of the rookie contracts. So like with Robert Quinn, it could just be a one-year rental.
Normally I don't like the idea of acquiring a player for a short time like I'm suggesting, but each one of the players below fill a “need” and would upgrade the roster in my opinion. What the future holds beyond that is up in the air. They could end up being in the future plans for the Dallas Cowboys or not, but that doesn't diminish the impact they could have with the team in 2020.
Let's take a look…
Carl Lawson, DE, Cincinnati Bengals
Age: 24, Height: 6'2″, Weight: 265
Carl Lawson is someone I wanted the Dallas Cowboys to draft back in 2017, now I'm hoping they can somehow swing a trade for him this offseason. With the departure of Robert Quinn, there's currently a void that needs to be filled opposite DeMarcus Lawrence. Randy Gregory expected to make his return to the NFL this year, but expecting him to be anything more than a bonus would be unwise.
Like Quinn, Lawson could be nothing more than a one-year rental since he's entering the final year of his rookie contract. But as such he likely wouldn't cost too much to acquire via trade if the Cincinnati Bengals are willing to part ways with him. With Carlos Dunlap and Sam Hubbard entrenched as the starters, Lawson's long-term future in Cincinnati is unknown.
Carl Lawson likely wouldn't be a starter with the Cowboys either, but he could be a really good rotational piece opposite Lawrence. With him, Tyrone Crawford, and Randy Gregory the Cowboys would have a formidable rotation at right defensive end. Lawson may just be a one-year rental, but he's worth it in my opinion. After all, it worked out pretty well with Robert Quinn.
Curtis Samuel, WR, Carolina Panthers
Age: 23, Height: 5'11”, Weight: 195
The loss of Randall Cobb is definitely a blow to the Dallas Cowboys passing game, especially considering they don't have a proven replacement currently on the roster. They could find Cobb's replacement in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft, or they could see if the Carolina Panthers are interested in parting ways with Curtis Samuel.
After signing Robby Anderson to play alongside DJ Moore, rumors began to circulate the Panthers could be considering putting Curtis Samuel on the trade block. The rumors actually make quite a bit of sense considering Samuel is entering the final year of his rookie contract. With Anderson paid, Moore is probably the next which means Samuel is likely left out in the cold.
With the WR depth in the 2020 draft class I highly doubt the Cowboys show much interest in trading for Curtis Samuel, but it's worth speculating about nonetheless. His current contract means he likely wouldn't be too costly to acquire and he could step right into Randall Cobb's spot. If the Cowboys are interested he could possibly be acquired for a mid-to-late 2020 draft pick.
David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns
Age: 23, Height: 6'4″, Weight: 246
David Njoku's days with the Cleveland Browns could be numbered. Not only will he be playing out his final year on his rookie contract in 2020, but the Browns also just signed former Atlanta Falcons TE Austin Hooper to a four-year $42 million contract. Add it all up and it doesn't look as if Njoku has much of a future in Cleveland, which means they could put him on the trade block.
The Dallas Cowboys have re-signed Blake Jarwin and added Blake Bell in free agency, but that shouldn't exclude them from inquiring about Njoku. Of the three, Njoku is no doubt the more talented and arguably the most proven and probably wouldn't be too costly to acquire. Again, a mid-to-late 2020 draft pick should do it.
Acquiring Njoku would give the Cowboys two athletically gifted TEs to deploy in a variety of ways on offense. Both can create mismatches in the passing game due to their size and athletic ability, especially in the red zone. They can both coexist, much like the way the Philadelphia Eagles use Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. I don't know what you think, but…Sign me up!
