The Dallas Cowboys have mastered the art of stockpiling compensatory draft picks. It helped them in a huge way in the 2024 NFL Draft, as they were originally without a fourth, fifth and sixth round picks as a result of previous trades.
The Cowboys have been rewarded at least two compensatory picks every year dating back to 2021. That streak figures to extend into 2025 after they lost several key players to free agency.
Well, Lance Zierlein of NFL Media recently projected every team's 2025 comp pick haul. Zierlein thinks the Cowboys will get four picks, including three in round five and one in round six. Four is the limit of picks a team can receive via the comp pick formula.
With more draft ammunition than they know what to do with, let's explore some trades Dallas can make with this projected newfound capital.
4. WR Terrace Marshall
The Cowboys hosted free agent Zay Jones for a visit this week so they're clearly looking to improve their wide receiver room. The unit is thin behind CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks, and while Jalen Tolbert is the presumptive favorite to be WR3, it's apparent Dallas doesn't want to hand Tolbert the job.
Terrace Marshall is someone who can come in and compete for that spot. A former second-round pick of the Panthers in 2021, Marshall has been a huge disappointment. In three seasons, he's caught 64 passes for 767 yards and one touchdown. His 58.2% catch rate speaks to his lack of efficiency when targeted.
Marshall struggles to create separation, but he can take the top off of defenses and win downfield. In fact, Marshall thrived on deep passes in 2022. On targets 10 or more yards downfield, Marshall made six contested catches, averaged 21.2 yards per catch and produced a 117.4 passer rating and 88.2 receiving grade, per Pro Football Focus.
Injuries and poor QB play have hindered Marshall's development, but a move to Dallas could do wonders for his career. He'd be catching passes from an elite QB in Dak Prescott and have the luxury of operating alongside one of the best receivers in the game in CeeDee Lamb.
3. WR Treylon Burks
It feels like a matter of when -- not if -- Treylon Burks gets moved this summer.
The Titans have overhauled their WR corps over the last two years, beginning with winning the D'Andre Hopkins sweepstakes last summer. They have since signed Calvin Ridley to a monster contract and inked Tyler Boyd to presumably be their tertiary receiver.
That leaves Burks on the periphery of Tennessee's offense. A first-round pick just two years ago, Burks is a former Cowboys draft crush. They reportedly ranked him as the No. 23 prospect in the entire 2022 class. The Titans took Burks four picks before Dallas, which opted for Tulsa guard Tyler Smith.
The Smith pick was nothing short of genius, but the Cowboys have a rare full-circle opportunity to make Burks theirs after all. Like Marshall, Burks has disappointed early in his career, totaling 665 receiving yards and one touchdown. Injuries have limited him to 22 games and he clearly isn't a fit in new head coach Brian Callahan's offense.
Burks is best suited in the slot. Luckily for him, CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks are comfortable playing inside and out. Burks has underwhelmed, but it's not often a former first-round pick can be had for a day three pick.
2. Miles Sanders
Leaving the hated Eagles hasn't panned out how Sanders had hoped. Sanders inked a four-year contract with the Panthers last March and wound up playing second-fiddle to former fourth-round pick Chuba Hubbard in his first year with the team.
Not only is Hubbard still around, but Carolina traded up in the second round for Texas standout Jonathon Brooks, a reported Cowboys target. Brooks will presumably start once he's fully healthy following his ACL rehab.
The Panthers also signed Rashaad Penny this week, so Sanders is now competing with three quality rushers to earn carries. That's not ideal for Sanders after he posted career-lows in carries, rushing yards and yards per attempt.
Sanders could waltz into a starting role with the Cowboys. Though he underwhelmed in 2023, Sanders is a year removed from ranking 12th in yards after contact per attempt, 11th in missed tackles forced, fourth in explosive runs and 10th in overall rushing grade.
The Cowboys got a close-up view of Sanders for four years in Philadelphia. He's among the most intriguing trade options at the RB position.
1. Dameon Pierce
The Cowboys have to upgrade at running back, right? Signing Ezekiel Elliott was great for nostalgia and he undoubtedly improves the backfield, but let's not exaggerate the move. Elliott was one of the worst RBs in the league last year in terms of yards after contact and missed tackles forced.
Dameon Pierce is one of the best backs in the NFL in both departments. Pierce starred as a rookie two years ago with over 1,100 scrimmage yards, but he was a terrible fit in new Texans offensive coordinator Bob Slowik's outside zone scheme last season.
With Dallas striving to build a bullying rushing attack (perhaps a gap scheme), Pierce would be a seamless fit. Since being drafted in 2022, the former Florida Gator is fifth in missed tackles forced per attempt (0.24) and has forced 89 missed tackles, per Pro Football Focus.
Pierce's future with the Texans is muddy at best after the Texans traded for Joe Mixon and rewarded him with a three-year contract. They also drafted Louisville running back Jawhar Jordan in the sixth round. The Cowboys would be smart to offer Houston a day three pick for the out-of-favor RB.