Dallas Cowboys trade Everson Griffen to Lions; Who’s next?

The Dallas Cowboys trade one of their pass rushers to the Detroit Lions Tuesday

The Dallas Cowboys have been decimated by injuries in recent weeks. But one area where they’ve managed to stay relatively healthy is at pass rusher. In fact, the Cowboys just got another one last week off a long suspension in Randy Gregory. And that excess has now led to a trade.

According to several reports, the Cowboys have traded defensive end, Everson Griffen, to the Detroit Lions in exchange for a conditional 2021 sixth-round selection. That pick can go as high as a fifth-round pick if certain conditions are met.

Griffen was signed by the Cowboys earlier this year to a one-year, $6 million deal. By moving him to Detroit after seven games, Dallas saves roughly $3 million and receives draft compensation in return.

So far this season, the 32-year old pass rusher has recorded 20 tackles and 2.5 sacks after a slow start in Dallas. Griffen had played better over his last two games though, recording a sack, six tackles, and two QB hits.

The Cowboys already feature a starting lineup with pass rushers DeMarcus Lawrence and Aldon Smith on either end of their defensive line. Without Griffen, who had yet to start a game for the Cowboys, Gregory expects to see much more than the six defensive snaps he got against the Washington Football Team in his Week Seven debut.

Griffen’s exit also opens up more opportunities for fifth-round draft selection, defensive end Bradlee Anae. The rookie out of Utah has played mostly on special teams, racking up just six total defensive snaps so far this season.

Everson Griffen could be the first of several players the Dallas Cowboys attempt to trade before Tuesday’s deadline. Which player might be next? Both defensive tackle Dontari Poe and defensive back Daryl Worley have been rumored candidates. But with a record of 2-5, the fire sale might be on in Big D … and no one could be off-limits.