Dallas City News

The Dallas Cowboys may not be buyers in free agency, but they don’t mind pulling the trigger on a trade if they believe it can help upgrade their roster. In the last two weeks alone, the front office has pulled off two trades.

Traded away Nahshon Wright to the Minnesota Vikings for Andrew Booth

This looked like the cornerback swap they made with the Miami Dolphins when they sent Kelvin Joseph to South Beach for Noah Igbinoghene, which ultimately ended up being a whole lot of nothing. This new trade may end up very similar. Like Joseph, Wright’s chances of making the team didn’t look good. Why not at least take a flier on the former second-round pick Booth? And the good thing about this deal is that the Cowboys get two years of player control versus just the one with Wright if he stuck around. In short, the Cowboys have a larger window to return dividends on the player they got in the deal.

Swapped late-round 2026 picks with the New York Giants for Jordan Phillips

The Cowboys added a veteran presence to one of their weakest position groups by acquiring Jordan Phillips from the New York Giants. The cost was extremely low. The Cowboys gave up a seventh-round pick (in 2026 mind you) for Phillips and they get a sixth-round pick in return. But wait, it gets better. The trade only finalizes if Phillips is on the Cowboys roster for at least two games this season. This is basically a risk-free trial to see if the big man can be an asset to the team. Who would say no to something like that?

These aren’t blockbuster deals by any means, but you have to credit the Cowboys’ front office for working these deals in their favor. They are on such a roll right now, so why not keep at it? Are there any players on the Cowboys roster they should consider? While the team still has a few holes here and there, they also have a few surpluses. Here are three players the Cowboys should consider trading by the roster cut deadlines.

T.J. Bass

The Cowboys found a good player in this undrafted free agent from a year ago. He was so good, he even had his number called to make two starts as a rookie. After a solid first year, he looked like he could be a part of the starting offensive line somewhere in the future. The chances seem less likely now as Cooper Beebe is playing well. Brock Hoffman goes from the starting center to backup iOL, and second-year lineman Asim Richards (a fifth-round pick a year ago) has looked very good in camp and preseason action. Even Josh Ball is performing well this summer where he is like a viable depth piece. Suddenly, the Cowboys are very deep along the interior and with Bass offering some upside and three years of player control, the Cowboys might be able to get something decent in return.

Donovan Wilson

If the idea of trading away Bass didn’t rub you the wrong way, this one will. Why would anyone in their right mind trade away one of their starting safeties? Well, I’m glad you asked. Wilson becomes expendable for three reasons:

1. Markquese Bell and/or Juanyeh Thomas might be better – in a Mike Zimmer scheme where he expects his second safety to be able to cover, Wilson is the worst of the three in this department (see skills matrix below). Taking good angles, his change of direction, and his makeup speed are all knocks on him.
2. Julius can lay the Wood – the Cowboys have an undrafted free agent in Julius Wood who has been heating up a bit late. The rookie already has an interception and a nice tackle for a loss in preseason action. Wood brings the physical presence you have with Wilson and the team would get four years of player control (three years + RFA).
3. Save some money – Wilson is only in the second year of the three-year deal he signed last offseason. His 2024 salary is already guaranteed, so anyone interested in him must take on his $5.5 million price tag, which means they won’t receive a lot in return. But if they suspect Wilson might be a cap casualty next year, they might as well shop him and see what they can get if they feel comfortable with their safety depth.

Chauncey Golston

The compensatory pick from the trade-back deal they made with Philadelphia in 2021, Golston has never found a good home in the Cowboys’ pass-rushing arsenal. With Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler leaving combined with the Sam Williams injury, the opportunity won’t get any better than it is now.

Unlike the positions mentioned above, the defensive end group isn’t loaded with depth, but they do have rookie Marshawn Kneeland and free agent Carl Lawson to back up their one-two punch of Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. While the team could use a fifth guy, the difference between Golston, Tyrus Wheat, and Al-Quadin Muhammad is hardly noticeable. Golston won’t command much in return, but a depth swap with a team loaded with say, running backs might be something they could swing.

What do you think about these options? Who do you think would make some good trade bait?