It will be some time until Dallas Cowboys fans see Christian Parker's defense in action. All we can do until Dallas takes the field again is project based on what Parker has told us about his scheme and the importance of certain positions.
What Parker has made abundantly clear is that the nickel will be crucial to his defense. With that in mind, he may have started doing backflips in his office when he found out that Kenny Moore and the Indianapolis Colts mutually agreed to seek a trade to find a new home for the veteran cornerback.
The Cowboys could fill the need for cheaper in just two weeks during the NFL Draft, but they should absolutely feel urgency to trade for Moore. Based on recent history, Moore should be very affordable. Let's take a stab at what a trade could look like.
The Dallas Cowboys should be all over a trade for Colts cornerback Kenny Moore
Considering that Moore is approaching his age-31 season and will want a new contract, a fifth-round pick should get the job done.
After all, that’s exactly what the Cowboys paid for then-Colts cornerback Stephon Gilmore in 2023. Like Moore, Gilmore was entering the final year of his contract. The pick used to acquire him (No. 176 overall) was less valuable than the one we floated for Moore (No. 152 overall). Gilmore was also 32 at the time of the trade. The parallels are undeniable.
It helps that Dallas and Indianapolis have a recent history of doing business involving a veteran starting cornerback. A potential negotiation should be pretty straightforward, don't you think?
You might be thinking, 'How would trading for Moore change the Cowboys' drafting strategy?' Relatively speaking, not at all.
Acquiring a cornerback who's on the wrong side of 30 should not prevent Dallas from drafting, or even trading up for, Caleb Downs. And if Downs isn't available, it shouldn't stop them from drafting a versatile cornerstone whom Parker can build his defense around.
As of this writing, Reddy Steward figures to be Dallas' starting nickel cornerback. While Steward was one of Dallas' better defensive backs last season, he should not be starting on a team that has playoff aspirations.
New signing Jalen Thompson figures to see plenty of snaps in the nickel, and Cobie Durant and P.J. Locke both have experience in the role. But none are ideal full-time options, and Thompson is too versatile to be pigeonholed into one spot.
The Cowboys have expressed how much they regret letting Jourdan Lewis go. Moore brings many of Lewis' intangibles to the table, including fearlessness in run support and a willingness to take on any challenge in coverage.
Sending a fifth-round pick to Indianapolis for his services is a no-brainer.