The Dallas Cowboys made a splash on Monday by acquiring Amari Cooper from the Oakland Raiders for a 2019 first round pick. The move has been hotly debated in Cowboys Nation, but most are excited for the new acquisition. If there’s any complaint, it’s about the compensation given to acquire the Pro Bowl wide receiver.
It was a huge move that should upgrade the offense for the rest of 2018 as well as 2019. Well, the Dallas Cowboys may not be done trading. Bryan Broaddus mentioned on Tuesday that the Dallas Cowboys have been hunting for tight ends as well as wide receivers.
The Dallas Cowboys already got the wide receiver they wanted. Now the question is, will they look to upgrade a tight end group that doesn’t strike fear in opposing defensive coordinators minds?
I mentioned more than a week ago, that the tight end that I would target is Jared Cook of the Oakland Raiders. He’s having a tremendous season and is leading the Oakland Raiders in targets (43), receptions (32), yards (400), and is second on the Raiders in touchdown receptions with two. He’s been one of the best tight ends in the NFL this season. We remember him most from his incredible sideline catch in the 2016 NFL Divisional Round that set up Mason Crosby’s game-winning field goal. Even at 31 years of age, he’s still a good tight end that would be an upgrade to Geoff Swaim.
Geoff Swaim is off to a really good start, but he’s not a tight end that is going to threaten the defense in the passing game. He’s a reliable blocker, as long as he’s not asked to block opposing defensive ends 1-on-1. Swaim is averaging 2.7 receptions per game for 29.7 yards and has one touchdown on the season. He’s been a nice surprise at TE and has come through with some big plays at times, but if there is a way for the Dallas Cowboys to upgrade the position, they should do it.
Though Swaim has been serviceable, making him your TE2 makes your team better moving forward. Now, when you want to go with two tight end sets, you have two players that you can rely on in Cook and Swaim.
Another name you should keep an eye on is Buffalo Bills Tight End Charles Clay. Charles Clay has been a solid tight end in the NFL for several years now and is working on a streak of five straight seasons of more than 500 yards receiving. His best season came back in 2013 with the Miami Dolphins when he caught 69 passes on 102 targets for 759 yards and six touchdowns. Clay’s been solid in Buffalo, but because Buffalo has had bad quarterback play for the most part during his tenure, his production has been limited.
I don’t think it would cost you much to trade for either Jared Cook or Charles Clay as both are older players. Clay is 29 and Cook is 31. Despite their age, they’d be an upgrade in the passing game to Geoff Swaim.
If the trade for Amari Cooper tells us anything, the Dallas Cowboys front office is going all-in on Quarterback Dak Prescott. With as much as this team loves to have a tight end on the field, and sometimes two, they would benefit from adding a tight end who could start for them right now. Jared Cook and Charles Clay would be an upgrade in the passing game over Geoff Swaim, Dalton Schultz, Blake Jarwin, and Rico Gathers.
With more than a week before the trade deadline, the Dallas Cowboys will have opportunities to upgrade their roster to make a push for a playoff spot in 2018.
Will “Trader Jerry” strike again? Be sure to come by Inside The Star for all trade rumors and activity linked to your Dallas Cowboys.
