Dallas Cowboys: 3 potential safety trades before the deadline

Karl Joseph, S – Oakland Raiders

The Cowboys might have found lightning in a bottle when they traded a first-round selection to the Oakland Raiders last season for wide receiver Amari Cooper. But perhaps they can do so again if they opt to trade for Raiders’ fourth-year safety Karl Joseph.

A first-round selection out of West Virginia in 2016, Joseph has never lived up to his draft billing in Oakland. A steady tackler, the 26-year old has yet to play a full-16 game season as a Raider as injuries have plagued his young career. So much so, Oakland opted not to pick up his fifth-year option earlier this year, making him a free agent in 2020.

But a trade for Joseph would be about his potential in a Kris Richard-led secondary. The young safety has first-round ability. And the hope would be that a new environment would allow Joseph to access his untapped potential.

The Raiders are still second place in the AFC West despite having a 3-4 record. With the playoffs still on the table, moving on from a starter like Joseph doesn’t make sense unless a team like the Cowboys are willing to overpay for him.