When it comes to trading, the Dallas Cowboys have shown over the past few years they are willing to pull the trigger on a player who they believe can come in and upgrade the roster. Amari Cooper and Robert Quinn should immediately come to mind, but there are others as well. I think this is a trend that should continue this offseason as well.
Today, I want to share with you a handful of youngsters who I believe the Dallas Cowboys should try to trade for this offseason. Each one of the players listed below is currently wasting their talent with their respective teams because they are buried on the depth chart. With the Cowboys though, I believe each one of them is not only a starter but an upgrade.
Let's take a look…
O.J. Howard, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age: 25, Height: 6'6″, Weight: 251
O.J. Howard's talents are wasting away in Tampa Bay. Not only is he stuck behind Cameron Brate, but he's found himself in Bruce Arians doghouse for whatever reason. This, however, could be good news for the Dallas Cowboys. If I were Jerry Jones, I'd pick up the phone and see what the Buccaneers want for Howard. At 25, he's just finished his third year in the NFL, meaning he has two more seasons under his rookie contract if his fifth-year option is exercised. So, the price shouldn't be too steep. I'd be surprised if it took anything more than just a 2020 mid-round pick.
Josh Jackson, CB, Green Bay Packers
Age: 23, Height: 6'0″, Weight: 196
The Dallas Cowboys need CB help. Byron Jones and Anthony Brown are free agents and Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis are entering the final year of the rookie contracts. Maybe one of Mike McCarthy's former CBs, Josh Jackson, could help solidify the position. Jackson was a second-round pick in 2018 by the Green Bay Packers and had a pretty solid rookie season (49 tackles, 10 passes defensed). He kind of fell out of favor though in 2019 and found himself buried on the depth chart. It wouldn't hurt for the Cowboys to kick the tires on Jackson's availability.
David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns
Age: 23, Height: 6'4″, Weight: 246
David Njoku looked like a young, promising tight end in 2018 when he caught 56 passes for 639 yards and four touchdowns with the Cleveland Browns, but 2019 was an entirely different story. He spent the majority of the season on injured reserve, but even after he returned from IR he was a healthy scratch. In four games he only had five receptions. With a new coaching regime coming in, Kevin Stefanski, Njoku could either see his playing time increase or find himself on the trade market. If the latter is true, the Dallas Cowboys should throw their hat in the ring.
Carl Lawson, DE, Cincinnati Bengals
Age: 24, Height: 6'2″, Weight: 265
I was a fan of Carl Lawson's in the 2017 NFL Draft but knew he didn't fit the mold the Cowboys were looking for in a DE with Rod Marinelli running the defense. Maybe that changes now with Marinelli gone. After all, Lawson accumulated 8.5 QB sacks his rookie season as a situational pass rusher, although he has only managed a total of six and 19 games since then. I believe the lack of opportunity is a large reason why his production dropped, but that wouldn't be the problem in Dallas. I think he would fit in perfectly opposite DeMarcus Lawrence and produce as he did as a rookie.
Hayden Hurst, TE, Baltimore Ravens
Age: 26, Height: 6'4″, Weight: 260
It's hard to believe Hayden Hurst was drafted before both teammates Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, but it's true. He was the 25th overall selection but now finds himself watching his fellow 2018 draftees start while he stuck in a complementary role. Hurst has the skill set to be a TE1 for just about any other team in the league, and that includes the Dallas Cowboys. If his fifth-year option as a former first-round pick is exercised, the Cowboys could get three years of production from him if acquired via trade.
