Several weeks ago, the Dallas Cowboys were being hyped up as not only a legitimate Super Bowl contender but also a team that would have a historically great defense. Now, as the calendar is about to turn over to November, it is clear those claims were at least somewhat exaggerated.
Granted, the injury to star cornerback Trevon Diggs a few weeks ago has really hurt. But they lost 42-10 to the San Francisco 49ers in a Week 5 contest that was generally considered an unmitigated disaster. Even before that, cracks were showing up in the Cowboys’ armor when they fell 28-16 in Week 3 to the Arizona Cardinals, a team many expected to be the worst in the NFL this season.
The trade deadline is very close, and some feel Dallas will be active in order to shore up one of its weaknesses. Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated suggests it should try to nab safety Jeremy Chinn from the Carolina Panthers.
“Chinn might not be available to play until December due to his quad injury, but the Cowboys can afford to wait for the versatile defensive playmaker,” wrote Manzano. “Chinn is capable of playing linebacker and safety, two areas of need for a Cowboys defense that has had a few notable injuries this season. With Chinn sidelined, it might not cost Dallas much to trade for a player who could help come the postseason. Chinn, 25, has one sack and 23 total tackles this season.”
That Cowboys defense that was supposed to be historically great ranks just 17th in passing touchdowns allowed going into the final Sunday of October. It allowed Niners quarterback Brock Purdy to throw four touchdown passes, three of which were hauled in by tight end George Kittle.
Chinn, 25, is in his fourth season out of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He was a second-round draft pick in 2020, and he was second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year balloting that same year.
The Panthers are 1-6 and have nothing to play for at this point, other than perhaps tanking for one of the top prospects in next year’s draft. Perhaps Chinn could be had by the Cowboys for a reasonable price, especially since he hasn’t been chosen to the Pro Bowl, at least not yet.
Jerry Jones’ team definitely needs to do something at the trade deadline, lest it suffer yet another early playoff exit this winter. Perhaps a trade with the Panthers should be in order.
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