One player the Dallas Cowboys should trade for this offseason

The Dallas Cowboys recently finished their mandatory minicamp and there were many positives from it. Dallas’ first-round pick linebacker Micah Parsons looked phenomenal in his new Cowboys jersey and quarterback Dak Prescott seemed to be progressing well from his injury.

However, the biggest question mark is about their secondary. Last season, this defense was considered one of the worst in the league. They allowed 473 points (a franchise record) and 34 passing touchdowns. As a result, Dallas needed to upgrade their defense for the 2021 season.

Seemingly, they did just that. They acquired players like safety Keanu Neal, safety Damontae Kazee, and linebacker Tarell Basham. Furthermore, the Cowboys spent their first six picks of the NFL Draft selecting defensive players. With new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, the Cowboys possibly hoped that the former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator could form a new “Legion of Boom” in Dallas.

When Dallas selected cornerback Kelvin Joseph in the second round, they probably hoped that his size and physicality could make him a top cornerback in the future. However, the Cowboys haven’t seen too much from their second-round pick. The former Kentucky star was in quarantine for 10 days missing much of Dallas’ workouts.

Although Joseph will most likely put in the extra work before training camp starts in July, America’s Team should think about adding a veteran to their cornerback group. This could be pivotal to this roster. With cornerbacks Trevon Diggs (23) and Kelvin Joseph (21) set to be Dallas’ cornerback duo of the future, this would undoubtedly help both players progress their games to the next level.

What player should the Cowboys trade for?

If the Dallas Cowboys want to acquire a solid cornerback through trade, there are two players that they could look at. They are New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore or Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard. Both players are currently holding out of their team’s mandatory minicamp due to contract issues.

Howard’s contract situation is a bit more interesting than Gilmore’s. Howard still has four years left on his deal while Gilmore only has one.

As a result, the Dallas Cowboys should make an offer for Stephon Gilmore. The 30-year-old cornerback from South Carolina has recently expressed his frustration with the team for not giving him a contract extension. This could be good news for Dallas.

If New England decides not to give Gilmore an extension, the former South Carolina star will likely want out. He is in the last year of his $65 million deal that he signed in 2017.

With Dallas’ limited cap space in the coming years, this could a solid situation for the Cowboys. They would be able to get one of the best cornerbacks in the league for one season. This deal would presumably make this secondary a whole lot better.

The former All-Pro cornerback was outstanding last season in 11 games. He ranked first in the league in burn rate (0.0%), finished the season with 37 tackles, one interception, and made his third straight Pro Bowl.

It’s highly unlikely that Dallas could afford Gilmore for the foreseeable future. The Cowboys currently have a cap space of about -$25 million, per spotrac.com, for the 2022 season. So, America’s Team would essentially get him for one season.

The 30-year old veteran cornerback could be a great asset to this team. He would also help the younger guys on the team blossom into better players.

In any deal for Gilmore, the Cowboys likely have to send a second or third-round pick and possibly more. The deal could even revolve around sending cornerback Anthony Brown or cornerback Jourdan Lewis to New England.

The Dallas Cowboys would probably have to move around other pieces as well to clear up salary cap space for the 6-foot-1 cornerback. Although it may be a long shot to acquire one of the best corners in the league, if Gilmore does become available, the Cowboys should go all in.