Cowboys officially win random preseason trade after Dolphins waive former CB

After acquiring Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks in the offseason, the Dallas Cowboys have hopefully learned the value of making trades in the NFL. The Eagles are the gold standard in that regard, but the bottom line is some draft picks aren't worth keeping if a team can acquire a proven starter to buoy a playoff run.

With that in mind, the Cowboys might want to think about trading more second-round picks. While they've found multiple All-Pros and longtime starers in round two -- Trevon Diggs, DeMarcus Lawrence Sean Lee, Chidobe Awuzie, etc. -- they've had more misses than hits and their whiffs have been brutal.

In surprising fashion, the Cowboys admitted defeat on 2021 second-round selection Kelvin Joseph when they traded Joseph to the Dolphins for fellow cornerback Noah Igbinoghene before the season.

It was a random deal featuring players who had fallen out of favor with their respective teams and neither club has really benefitted.

With that said, the Cowboys still roster Igbinoghene as a depth option. On Tuesday, the Dolphins surprisingly waived Joseph.

Dolphins waive former Cowboys second-round pick Kelvin Joseph

Let's get one thing straight: The Cowboys shouldn't be taking a victory lap. While they undoubtedly won the trade, it says a lot about their selection of Joseph that he couldn't last a full season with another team.

Even though the Dolphins have navigated injuries in their secondary, Joseph was active for just four games before he was waived. He played just 21 defensive snaps compared to 87 on special teams, so he clearly wasn't viewed as someone who could help Miami's defense, which has struggled at times this year.

Would the Cowboys have been better off keeping Joseph? It looked during training camp and preseason that he finally turned the corner. He continued flashing on special teams and was solid in coverage, but it stands to reason Dallas grew tired of waiting for the young defender to clean up the penalties.

Say what you will about the Cowboys whiffing on Joseph, but they clearly won the trade. They were likely to cut Joseph anyway and got a depth corner and special teamer in Igbinoghene, who scored Dallas' first touchdown of the 2023 season when he returned a blocked field goal against the Giants in Week 1. Just like we all predicted.

It'll be interesting to see if Joseph is claimed on waivers or where he signs if he goes unclaimed. While it didn't work out in Dallas or Miami, we're talking about a 23-year-old who can provide depth at an important position and has made strides as a special teams gunner.

As for the Cowboys, a win is a win.

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