The trade deadline on October 30th will be here faster than we know. It’s the final opportunity that NFL teams will have an opportunity to make a significant upgrade to their roster. And if you’re a frequent reader of the Dallas Cowboys, then you know that the Dallas Cowboys could use some help, especially on the offensive side of the football.
On Thursday, Marcus Mosher from The Raiders Wire on USA Today posed a hypothetical trade involving the Dallas Cowboys. In his scenario, he has the Dallas Cowboys trading for Wide Receiver Amari Cooper and thinks that Cooper could net the Raiders a top 75 draft selection.
Amari Cooper is a good wide receiver, but he’s not a receiver I would trade a top-75 pick for. Cooper is a player that has a lot of talent, but has struggled with drops and inconsistency. Even now, with the Raiders he’s having a hard time getting consistent opportunities.
Cooper’s second on the team in targets, but third on the team in receptions behind a tight end and a running back. Cooper’s also third on the team in yardage behind the two guys that I’d be way more interested in trading for; Tight End Jared Cook and Wide Receiver Jordy Nelson.
Yes, these guys are on the wrong side of 30, but they are guys that have been around a long time and can help your offense this season. Both would be upgrades at the position, even at their advanced NFL age.
Jared Cook – Tight End
You’ve heard the adage, “if you can’t beat em, join em.” Well, this is the reverse of that. “If he always beats you, acquire him.”
That’s what Oakland Raiders Tight End Jared Cook is to the Dallas Cowboys. Point of evidence.
That remarkable catch by Jared Cook still haunts me and many of you in Cowboys Nation. It was a perfectly thrown ball by Aaron Rodgers and Cook made an incredible catch along the sidelines that led to Mason Crosby’s game-winning field goal at the end of regulation.
Jared Cook’s Oakland Raiders team isn’t going anywhere this season. They’re already four games back of the AFC West leading Kansas City Chiefs and the AFC is looking deeper than it has in recent years. The Raiders and the Indianapolis Colts are the only teams in the NFC with less than two losses. That means there are 14 teams with better records than Jon Gruden’s Oakland squad. This week the Raiders face a Seattle Seahawks team that beat the Dallas Cowboys and lost by only a couple of points to the undefeated Los Angeles Rams.
Cook has been one of the better tight ends in the NFL this season and would be a veteran presence that the Dallas Cowboys could add if they felt like they could make a run at the playoffs.
At 31, Cook is averaging six catches and 78 yards receiving per game. He’d give the Dallas Cowboys someone they could run on post, corner, and seam routes to challenge safeties deep. Something that they’re lacking from the tight end position at the moment. Cook is leading the Oakland Raiders in targets, receptions, yards, and is second on the Raiders in touchdowns in 2018.
No offense to Geoff Swaim, who’s been surprisingly good this year, but Jared Cook makes this offense better. He allows you to make Rico Gathers your TE3, which would allow Rico to continue learning the game without the responsibility of being a primary target on certain pass plays.
Jared Cook is in the last season of his deal, so you wouldn’t have to be committed to him beyond 2018. The perfect rental who could step in and play pretty quickly.
Jordy Nelson – Wide Receiver
I know this team is allergic to adding veteran players, especially veterans over 30, but Jordy Nelson is another name that they should take a long look at.
At 33 years of age, Nelson leads the Raiders in receiving touchdowns and is second on the team with 15.9 yards per reception. He’s also third in receptions and second in yards.
His numbers — 20 receptions for 317 yards and three touchdowns — would lead the Dallas Cowboys in all receiving categories.
Nelson’s still got some juice left and he’s always been a good route runner with good hands.
Here are some highlights from Jordy’s week three performance against the Miami Dolphins.
Nelson doesn’t have any guarantees left on the deal he signed this past offseason so if you cut him in the 2019 offseason, you’d get zero dead money added to your 2019 salary cap, but would get $7.2 million in savings.
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Because of their age and the fact that they’d likely be one-year rentals, I don’t imagine that you’d have to give up much more than a fifth round pick for either of these guys. And while I don’t think the Dallas Cowboys would take a look at trading for either veteran, it’s something they should do if they have aspirations of making the playoffs in 2018.
The Dallas Cowboys offense could use a boost.
