The NFL trade deadline is tomorrow, and rumors are swirling about what the Cowboys might do in the next 24 hours. After dropping to 3-5 against the Atlanta Falcons, owner Jerry Jones insisted the team wouldn’t sell and would attempt to salvage the season. However, that quote came before medical tests revealed the state of Dak Prescott’s hamstring injury. Originally believed to be a minor nuisance, reports on Monday indicated the franchise quarterback will miss “several weeks” of action.
Prescott hasn’t played up to his usual level this year, but he’s still considerably better than Cooper Rush and former third-overall pick Trey Lance. Even with a healthy Prescott, the Cowboys faced an uphill battle to earn a playoff spot. Without him, it’s hard to envision how the team makes the postseason. While nobody within the Cowboys organization has openly addressed how Prescott’s injury impacts their plans, rumors across the league suggest the team will sell. While they don’t have any major trade pieces, the team could part ways with impending free agents Brandin Cooks and DeMarcus Lawrence.
Cowboys Trade Rumors: Dak Prescott’s Injury Changes Deadline Approach
The Kansas City Chiefs have been aggressive on the trade market, acquiring wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans and Josh Uche from the New England Patriots. Hopkins isn’t the player he once was, but his presence combined with fellow aging great Travis Kelce should be enough for Patrick Mahomes. The team missed the opportunity to secure a proven star like Amari Cooper, but they could add another adequate veteran like Brandin Cooks for next to nothing.
Injuries limited Cooks to just four games in the 2024 season, but the former first-round pick returned to practice and should be back on the field before long. At the peak of his powers, Cooks was a perennial 1,000-yard receiver who excelled at beating defenses deep. While he has lost a step, he remains a reliable depth receiver who has a bit of gas left in his tank. With rookie Xavier Worthy struggling to find consistency, Cooks could be an ideal fit for this offense, and if the rumors are true, the Cowboys could trade the 31-year-old for as little as a conditional late-round pick.
Lions Bolster Pass Rush
The Detroit Lions will almost certainly trade for an edge rusher at some point in the next 24 hours. While Za’Darius Smith of the Cleveland Browns is the most likely targets, Demarcus Lawrence could be an ideal fit. Much like Cooks, injuries limited the four-time Pro Bowler to just four games in 2024 but he should make his return in the next week or two. Unlike Cooks, however, Lawrence seems to be at the peak of his powers. Following two consecutive Pro Bowl appearances, the former second-round pick recorded three sacks in his four healthy games, along with 14 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, and five quarterback hits.
Jerry Jones likes to point out that he can’t afford to sign high-priced free agents after handing out massive deals to quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. You never want to lose players like Lawrence, but the Cowboys might not have a choice, especially since superstar Micah Parson is due for an extension of his own. Rather than seeing him walk for nothing in free agency, the Cowboys could take a draft pick for half a season of his services.
Main Photo: Jeff Lange – USA Today Sports
