As we sit a couple of hours until the Dallas Cowboys (4-2) take on the Detroit Lions (1-4) in week seven, I wanted to shift the conversation away from the game and discuss something else.
The Cowboys’ personnel.
Although the team is off to a great start and should leave this week with a win, they have their weaknesses in certain position groups. With that in mind, it wouldn’t hurt if the Boys got some outside via trade or in free agency, but in today’s post, we’re looking at two guys they could go after via trade.
And, to clarify, these two guys are NOT linked to the Cowboys right now, but they could shore up some of their weaknesses.
DT Derrick Brown
Despite having one of the top defenses in the league, the one flaw they have is their run defense. Ranked 19th in the NFL right now, the Boys also allow 4.4 yards per rush. Everyone has seen teams run the ball seamlessly down their throats, and it was a nightmare watching the Philadelphia Eagles kill them with runs from QB Jalen Hurts and RB Miles Sanders.
So, to help fix their weakness, this is where trading for Carolina Panthers DT Derrick Brown comes into play. With the Panthers on a trade fire-sale, the Cowboys would be smart to inquire about Brown or even WR D.J Moore — but that’s another story.
This season, Brown has arguably been the Panthers’ best defender. A former first-round pick, the 6’5, 320 monster has terrorized opposing offensive lines all season, and the best part is he’s still on his rookie contract.
Although ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler reported it would take a “godfather” offer to land Brown, the Cowboys should consider it.
Think about it.
If you’re the Cowboys, and you can land one of the best young defensive tackles who’s still on his rookie deal, you’re giving up a first-round pick and possibly later-round draft capital in the 2023 NFL Draft– why don’t you execute that trade?
You get a proven player who could solidify the middle of your defensive line over rookies that may not pan out. Brown is basically “your first-round pick” in the draft, and he’s a homerun choice.
WR Elijah Moore
Before fans criticize the idea of trading for a wide receiver, hear me out. I understand that the Cowboys’ wide receivers have looked good to great at times, but there is always room to upgrade.
If you look at the depth chart, your starting wideouts are WR CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and Noah Brown. They have shined in their moments and should take a leap in production with QB Dak Prescott back in the lineup, as he’s known to sling the ball more.
But once the season ends, the Cowboys will have to make a choice on Brown, as he’s a free agent this offseason. And if he continues to have a breakout year, he may be rocking different threads next year.
With Brown out, the Cowboys would only have wideouts Simi Fehoko, KaVontae Turpin, and Jalen Tolbert behind Lamb and Gallup, and that’s not setting your team up for success.
This is where New York Jets WR Elijah Moore comes into play, as he would be a wideout whom you can get on a rookie deal, and he would be someone you can rely on from Day One.
Moore, a shifty wideout who could fill the slot for the Boys, would provide the offense with someone who can move the chains seamlessly and is explosive after the catch. While people can point to already having Lamb as the slot receiver, having Moore allows Lamb to move to the outside.
Also, I understand the narrative that fans can say about the Cowboys’ already having a player like Moore in WR James Washington, who’s returning later this season, but Washington is injury-prone.
With these two players, the team can solidify two personnel groups and evolve into more of a Super Bowl contender this season and beyond. While Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did say the team isn’t looking to trade for anyone to bolster the team for an SB run, he added that things could change and the team is always looking to get better.
