4 impact players Cowboys should trade for at NFL Trade Deadline, but won't

The Dallas Cowboys face increasingly long odds to make it to the postseason, as the depth in the NFC and improvements in the NFC East specifically have the 3-3 Cowboys struggling to find a path to contention with their current roster.

Cowboys fans are assuredly going to demand that Jerry Jones make some sort of move that shakes things up. However, given how passive Jones and the Cowboys have been in the last few months, it seems unlikely that Dallas is going pull off any sort of big trade that makes them a more complete team.

These four players are all available for trade right now, but Jones likely won't have the aggression needed to make a move and bring them in. The worst part of this whole situation is that these four will likely end up on contenders, possibly in the NFC.

4 players Cowboys should trade for at NFL Trade Deadline, but won't

4. RB Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars

A changing of the guard has happened in Jacksonville. Despite Etienne's past relationship with quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the former Clemson star's inconsistency and injuries have helped Tank Bigsby take hold of the starting job. Etienne may not be thrilled with a backup role on a bad Jaguars team.

It doesn't take Bill Walsh to see that Dallas' running game is lacking right now, as neither Rico Dowdle nor Ezekiel Elliott have proven to be the high-end difference-makers Dallas thought they would be.

Etienne could be had for a mid-round pick, as Dallas won't be obligated to commit to him in the long- term. He still has great speed and receiving skill, which could make him a much more versatile weapon than either Dowdle or Elliott.

3. WR Mike Williams, New York Jets

The Jets have lost four straight and fallen to 2-5. Though the Jets are too far into the Aaron Rodgers nightmare to pull out now, the acquisition of Davante Adams could have Williams looking for a new home. After just 11 catches despite a featured role in the offense, Rodgers never got on the same page with the former Top 10 pick.

Williams' two skills are reeling in deep balls down the field and making good contested catches, but the Jets don't seem willing to use him in either of those roles. Dallas has a quarterback willing to chuck it downfield to him, but Jones likely won't have that sort of foresight.

2. RB James Conner, Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals have managed to get some good moments out of Kyler Murray, but it still doesn't look like this team is going to get back to the playoffs this year. The drafting of Trey Benson has made Conner, who is still one of the better starting running backs in the NFC, available for trade if someone has the right price.

Conner, who ran for over 1,000 yards in just 13 games last season, is on pace for yet another four-digit showing in 2024. While Arizona might be hesitant to give up someone who is as integral to their run-heavy offense as Conner is, their record may not give them much of a choice.

1. SAF Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals

Baker has seemingly been angling for a trade out of Arizona for quite some time now, as the All-Pro safety has to be irritated with some of his best years being wasted on a team rooted to the bottom of the NFC West. Could Dallas save the day?

Baker, who has been a Pro Bowl player in each of the last five seasons, might be as good of an immediate fix for Dallas' secondary issues as any player on the market. Savvy veterans who hit hard and lead vocally aren't just a dime a dozen. Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker have not met expectations this season. Get this done, Jerry!

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