The Dallas Cowboys received a dose of reality in Week 5. They went on the road to play against the San Francisco 49ers and got crushed, losing 42-10. It was made clear as day that they are not yet in the same tier as the other top teams in the NFC.
While the 49ers don’t look as fearsome after falling from the ranks of the unbeaten in Week 6, losing to the Cleveland Browns and suffering multiple injuries, that doesn’t change the fact that the Cowboys have plenty of work to do. A lot of heat has been on head coach Mike McCarthy for his play-calling, and rightfully so. But, this isn’t a roster, as currently constructed, capable of contending for a title.
To get close to that point, Tyler Browning of AZ Sports has suggested some trades that the Cowboys should look to make. The first is making an upgrade to their defense, specifically the linebacker spot.
Dallas lost Leighton Vander Esch to an injury against the 49ers and signed former first-round pick Rashaan Evans to help fill the void. But, they shouldn’t stop there, as Browning suggested they take a look at acquiring veteran Jordan Hicks from the Minnesota Vikings.
Hicks has had a strong campaign with Minnesota, grading out as one of the better linebackers in the NFL per PFF. He would be a nice upgrade at the second level of the defense for the Cowboys, someone that gets the job done whether it is as a pass rusher or run defender.
The next player mentioned is on the offensive side of the ball. The Cowboys made a splash this offseason acquiring Brandin Cooks from the Houston Texans but he hasn’t been as impactful as the team had hoped he would be.
There is still a significant drop-off after CeeDee Lamb in the wide receiver pecking order that has led to some inconsistencies with the passing offense. Acquiring someone such as Courtland Sutton could help turn things around.
The Denver Broncos, sitting at 1-5, are expected to make some moves ahead of the deadline by trading away veterans. Jerry Jeudy has been mentioned as a likely trade candidate, but Sutton is someone whose name has been mentioned in trade rumors for months as well.
A contested-catch maestro, Sutton would bring something to the offense in Dallas that they are currently lacking. That was a strength Michael Gallup used to bring to the table, but he hasn’t been a consistent producer since 2020 before an ACL injury derailed his career.
Speaking of Gallup, he is the third trade that Browning mentioned the team should make. With Sutton in the fold, Gallup has become expendable. He suggested attaching a fifth-round pick to him and trying to acquire a third-rounder from a wide receiver-needy team, but that seems like a steep asking price.
Given his contract and lack of production thus far this season, getting back a Day 2 pick in exchange for Gallup seems like a stretch. Just to move him off the roster and make room for someone such as Sutton would likely cost the Cowboys draft position in a swap.
