The Dallas Cowboys weren’t overly active this offseason in free agency. Not having a ton of cap space to operate with will do that to a team, but they still found ways to upgrade the roster. The trade market is where they found the most success.
The Cowboys’ two biggest additions this offseason both came via trades. They acquired cornerback Stephon Gilmore from the Indianapolis Colts and wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the Houston Texans.
Both players are set for big roles in Dallas. Gilmore will be starting opposite Trevon Diggs in the secondary, giving the team two lockdown options. Cooks will be starting opposite CeeDee Lamb, providing Dak Prescott with a reliable No. 2 option in the passing game.
Cooks is a proven commodity that should help elevate this unit to another level. As long as Prescott can keep the turnover down, the Cowboys’ offense should be quite productive. However, it wouldn’t hurt to add another weapon to the mix. If that weapon can help in the backfield, even better.
One player who would fit that bill is Cordarrelle Patterson of the Atlanta Falcons. Patterson has been mentioned as a potential cut candidate as the Falcons’ offense, specifically the backfield, is deep. With the wide receiver depth chart also featuring multiple options and the kick return game becoming less instrumental thanks to rule changes, Patterson could be a cap casualty because of the numbers game.
Drafted as a wide receiver by the Minnesota Vikings out of Tennessee in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Patterson’s full potential has been unlocked by Arthur Smith in the last few seasons. He has been used more as a running back, becoming a versatile hybrid weapon that would fit well in Dallas.
What could it take to land him in a trade? LP Cruz of Blogging With The Boys on SB Nation suggested that a trade offer for Patterson would cost even less than what Gilmore or Cooks cost the Cowboys. Dallas could offer a 2024 seventh-round pick and a 2025 sixth-rounder to Atlanta in exchange for Patterson.
A jack-of-all-trades, Patterson would be a great addition to this offense. He would offer insurance in the backfield in case Tony Pollard isn’t ready to go when the 2023 season gets underway and could be used in the passing game as another weapon as well.
