Heading into the 2023 season, the Dallas Cowboys could be one of the best teams in the NFC. They did a good job of upgrading weaknesses on the roster this offseason despite not having much wiggle room when it came to salary cap space.
Instead, the team went the trade route to upgrade the roster. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore and wide receiver Brandin Cooks were acquired from the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans, respectively, this offseason.
Both will play major roles as starters on defense and offense. Those were arguably the two biggest holes that the Cowboys had on the roster, as they needed to find complementary pieces for their young stars, Trevon Diggs and CeeDee Lamb.
Jerry Jones has never been shy about swinging a big trade if he believes it will get the team closer to winning a Super Bowl. While there aren’t any glaring holes on the roster, if the chance to make a splash existed, he would certainly pull the trigger. Here are three perfect trade targets for the Cowboys before the 2023 season to consider.
3. DT Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
All offseason the Rams have said they aren’t in a rebuild. They want to be as competitive as possible in 2023 regardless of how their offseason moves can be perceived. From an outsider’s perspective, this is a team that should be rebuilding.
Los Angeles spent a lot of draft capital in recent years to bring in veterans and contend for a Super Bowl. They achieved that goal, beating the Cincinnati Bengals to cap off the 2021 campaign and take home the Lombardi Trophy.
Now, it is time to restock the cupboard and move on. That could include trading all-world defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who would fill the biggest void left on the Cowboys’ roster. In need of an anchor in the middle of the defensive line, Donald would provide a massive upgrade.
A one-man wrecking crew as a pass rusher and run defender, placing Donald in between Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence would give Dallas the best defensive front and pass rush in the NFL.
2. TE Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills
One loss that the Cowboys suffered in free agency was tight end Dalton Schultz signing with the Texans. Dallas is taking a little bit of a risk with the depth chart they currently have at the position, with second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker joining Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershoot.
It wouldn’t be the worst idea for the Cowboys to explore adding a more experienced option to the mix. Schultz had been a major part of their passing game in recent seasons and they don’t currently have a player to step into that role.
One player who could pique their interest is Dawson Knox of the Buffalo Bills. After using a first-round pick on Dalton Kincaid, there is a chance that Buffalo would be open to moving Knox, who has zero guaranteed dollars on his contract beyond 2023. His cap hit is set to more than double as well, which could lead to him being acquired for relatively cheap.
1. LB Devin White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Cowboys have to figure out ways to improve their run defense in 2023. If they want to be as successful as they believe capable of, that is one area of the team that needs to be shored up. Upgrading the linebacker position would help achieve that.
White is someone that has been mentioned as a trade candidate throughout the offseason as he is set to play out the final season on his rookie contract. He requested a trade and is someone that could still be dealt between now and the deadline.
If Jones believes that an impact linebacker is a missing piece for the Cowboys to be true contenders, he may as well go to the top of the market with White. It won’t be cheap to acquire him, but the potential that he possesses and has shown is worth the price to help put Dallas over the top.
