Adding a wide receiver for this offense is a priority this off-season. In a non-salary cap world, players like DeAndre Hopkins, Michael Thomas, Brandin Cooks, Stefon Diggs, and Kenny Galladay would be in the mix.
The one issue is that Dallas cannot bring on a veteran with a long-term high salary because of the pending commitment to CeeDee Lamb.
Two contracts eating up a large portion of the salary cap at the same position is not a wise move in the current NFL.
The better move is to grab a quality high-end number two receiver and add a weapon in the draft.
Many rumors suggest teams go after Tee Higgins, but he feels too young and talented to move just for cap space. Instead, I looked at other wide receiver options on the Bengals roster.
Trade #1
The Dallas Cowboys send Neville Gallimore (DAL) ($2,982,981) and Jourdan Lewis ($5,872,545) to the Cincinnati Bengals for Tyler Boyd (CIN) ($8,882,280).
Dallas would only add $1,437,403 million to the cap with this move.
Cincinnati has four free-agent corners (Apple, Flowers, Davis, and Lammons), so Lewis helps that need. The Bengals also get a rotational defensive tackle who has gotten lost in the depth of the Cowboys’ defense.
The Cowboys get a 29-year-old receiver who has averaged 74 receptions, 901 yards, and five touchdowns over the past five years.
Trade #2
The Dallas Cowboys send OL Matt Farniok, a 5th-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and a conditional 2024 pick to the Indianapolis Colts for Stephon Gilmore.
Indianapolis is rebuilding, and Stephon Gilmore will be 33 years old at the start of the season. He should be open to a trade to a playoff team over being stuck on a team rebuilding.
With this trade, Indianapolis gains roughly 10 million in cap space, an offensive lineman under contract until 2025, and some additional draft capital. If Gilmore is released or traded, the cap relief is the same for the Colts, so getting some in return is always a benefit.
Dallas’s defense and team success took a hit when Anthony Brown went out with a significant injury. Adding Gilmore allows Dallas to lock up both corner spots while keeping the position as a draft need but not reaching like the 2021 draft.
Trade #3
The Dallas Cowboys send TE Sean McKeon to the Los Angeles Chargers for DT Otito Ogbonnia.
The contracts are within $140,000 dollars of being a match. A trade of this level makes a lot of sense for both teams.
The Chargers get a tight end familiar with the new offense coming to town. McKeon gives them a number two tight end while only costing them a player they drafted on day three last year.
The Cowboys add a young 320-run stuffer to support Jonathan Hankins next year. Remember, Carlos Watkins is a free agent and could move on for more money.
The trades were made with a few assumptions — that Dallas would part ways with Ezekiel Elliott and Tyron Smith. Also, they restructured the contracts of Dak Prescott, Zack Martin, and DeMarcus Lawrence. Making all of these moves, per Spotrac’s calculator, would still leave $20 million in cap space.
