3 players the Cowboys should avoid at all costs before NFL trade deadline

2. Brian Burns, EDGE

Brian Burns is expected to be one of the best players -- regardless of position -- available at this year's NFL trade deadline. The Carolina Panthers pass rusher is undoubtedly a good player, and has proven himself to be a major difference-maker off the edge so far in his NFL career.

He's only 25 years old, he's got 42 sacks in four seasons and change, and he's having a great year already in 2023 with 4.0 sacks, 9 QB hits, 7 TFL, and a forced fumble.

But along with that tremendous production comes a hefty price tag. The Carolina Panthers traded up to get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and to do so, they had to send the Chicago Bears their first-round pick in 2024. That pick is currently projected to be the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which would be catastrophic for Carolina.

They are going to likely look at any way they can possibly win games this year, but they also might send Brian Burns off to the highest bidder so they can get back in next year's first round. There were reports that the Panthers turned down multiple first-round picks for Burns at the trade deadline last season. They would probably still be able to get two really good picks for him now, but certainly not two first-rounders.

Regardless, even if the Cowboys had dreams of pairing Burns up with Micah Parsons, the price to acquire him (both draft picks and an extension) is likely not the right course of action for this team right now.