Suprise former starter and hybrid player Markquese Bell could be on the trade block this offseason. According to a report, it says that the Dallas Cowboys should consider trading their linebacker/safety before the 2024 season. Bell was a safety for much of his career before transitioning to linebacker last year. He was able to start 12 games, notching 94 tackles and he was ranked second on the team in the category.
However, this shouldn’t be a surprise if talking heads look more into why the Cowboys would move on. The source argues that the defense was exposed in their playoff loss against the Green Bay Packers. No one should blame the team for moving on from Dan Quinn and letting several defensive players walk. The defensive unit gave up 415 total yards and 143 rushing yards in the loss, the third-highest totals allowed in a single game.
Bell may be consistent in his play but when it all counts in the postseason, he wasn’t the same. His size and lack of experience were two reasons why Dallas wasn’t able to hold off Green Bay’s explosive offense. Although he was able to play 61% of the defensive snaps, there’s a chance he stays as a backup. However, the Cowboys could consider switching him back to his natural position and finding another veteran linebacker.
Dallas hasn’t been doing anything to improve their roster other than signing Eric Kendricks and bringing back Ezekiel Elliott. This could mean that Bell may return to the team as the linebacker but it would be wise to consider trading him. Veteran Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker are the projected starters for this upcoming season. However, this doesn’t give a clear path to make him a starter to prove what he can bring to the secondary.
Surprise Former Starter Markquese Bell Could Be on Trade Block
Washington Commanders Named A Potential Landing Spot
This shouldn’t surprise anyone since Quinn’s departure after his lackluster performance in the last postseason. He’s been getting about every Cowboy available, including Dante Fowler Jr. and Tyler Biadasz. However, don’t expect the Commanders to play nice in this trade block since they don’t want to give up too much to their bitter rival. The Cowboys could get some draft capital but don’t expect them to get nothing much less than a fifth-round pick in return.
Bell had a very productive season with Dallas last year considering his downfall in the postseason. According to Pro Football Focus, he posted a 79.9 defensive grade and 87.6 grade in coverage. Those numbers are good for a team that still needs a linebacker. Leighton Vander Esch is off in the sunset so this means they need to get a replacement quickly if they trade Bell.
However, he still has a small frame at 205 pounds so they probably need some meat monsters to play on this defense. The NFL continues to get competitive every day and this only means the Cowboys have to continue improving their roster. However, there are a few teams that could use his versatility as an asset in this league. Here are some potential trade fits for Bell.
Potential Trade Fits for Bell
The Chiefs are still in the market for a safety and a linebacker after going through this offseason. The loss of L’Jarius Sneed is going to put some pressure on the secondary so why not get Bell to fill that void? It may be time for him to switch back to his safety position to play coverage rather than blitz. However, the Ravens are still looking for safety depth despite having one of the best secondaries in the league.
They may have Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams as the starters but they still need reliable depth. Bell isn’t playoff material but he’s consistent to come in on a few downs to make a play. However, one team that needs a safety before this upcoming season is the New Orleans Saints. Tyrann Mathieu is going to need help on his opposite side so they could make a move for Bell to be the type of safety as a physical hitter.
Bell may be small in his size but he could learn from someone like Mathieu.
