A look at players on the Dallas Cowboys' roster bubble who could be in demand from other teams before cutdown day.
The Dallas Cowboys have completed their exhibition schedule and can now fully turn their attention to the regular season. Friday night's 31-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons didn't serve a huge tangible purpose, but it did provide a little more data for the coaches to consider and most importantly, it probably helped convince some of the younger players that there is light at the end of the tunnel under the new regime. First-year head caoch Brian Schottenheimer is looking to instill a new culture, and knowing what it feels like to win is something the team needs to get used to.
That won't be the case for everyone though, as roster cuts are going to begin happening as the team moves from it's current 90-man roster to 53 players for the games that count. The next 72 hours will be filled with some surprises, and that could include players who are being shipped off to other franchises via the trade.
The Cowboys have some positions where they have an abundance of talent, others where they are sorely lacking, and there's always a need to acquire draft picks to help replenish the roster with low-cost talent in future years.
Looking over the roster, here's a collection of players who, for various reasons, could be traded away from Dallas over the next few days.
Defensive Ends Sam Williams, James Houston
The Cowboys' deepest position is, by far, edge rusher. The team went out and signed a slew of talent this offseason after losing DeMarcus Lawrence in free agency. Dallas brought in Dante Fowler, Payton Turner, Solomon Thomas and James Houston; with all four having some level of pedigree. This is in addition to making Donovan Ezeiruaku their third second-round pick at the position in the last four years, joining Marshawn Kneeland (2024) and Sam Williams (2022).
Fowler and Thomas have been protected all preseason, so they're locks to make the 53-man roster. Turner was a fairly cheap signing, and he honestly hasn't impressed much, so it's doubtful any outside club has interest. But Dallas could find a market for Williams or Houston.
Williams is entering the final year of his rookie deal and has shown to be fully recovered from his ACL tear. His market might be soft, but if new DC Matt Eberflus doesn't see him as a rotational player, the Cowboys might accept a Day 3 pick, or use him to acquire talent elsewhere.
The biggest fish though may be Houston, who was a late signing to training camp and has been ridiculously impressive during the preseason. That includes Friday's effort where he had a monster sack, drew a separate holding penalty, and added a dazzling tackle for loss. Houston has been mired with injuries the last few years, but looks every bit the talent that saw him collect eight sacks in seven games as a Detroit Lions rookie.
Offensive Linemen Brock Hoffman and TJ Bass
Despite not being very good last year, the Cowboys have created a ton of playable depth along the offensive line. The starting five is secure, and with Tyler Guyton likely to miss a game or two to start the season, left tackle Nate Thomas is all but guaranteed a spot. A mid-camp signing of La'el Collins might have really opened up a few possibilities.
Hoffman played 100% of the snaps on Friday, and while the club was limited in who they played in the exhibition finale (playing just seven men), this could've been a showcase for the part-time starter who has fared well in recent years when asked to suit up. Bass falls into the same category, as he has starts under his belt as well. If the team has more interest in preotecting sixth-round pick Anaji Cornelius, either of these two could be shipped off for help elsewhere.
Pass Catchers TE Luke Schoonmaker, WR Jalen Tolbert
Schoonmaker has failed to develop in his first two seasons and has clearly been passed over by Brevyn Spann-Ford, though the latter's injury may make this less likely. Tolbert is entering the final year of his rookie deal and the former third-round pick has been pushed down the depth chart by the acquisition of George Pickens and the emergence of Kavontae Turpin. An injury to Jonathan Mingo muddies the waters here, though.
There does not seem to be any functional difference, aside from experience, between what Tolbert rings to the table and younger and less expensice options Ryan Flournoy and Jalen Brooks. If Tolbert's 2024 numbers draw interest from outside the org, the Cowboys might bite. Meanwhile, Schoonmaker was a high draft pick of the previous regim, and younger TEs such as Rivaldo Fairweather and Tyler Neville could establish depth at TE, even from a practice squad spot, especially with the word that FB Hunter Luepke was often used as a TE during training camp.
Defensive Tackle Mazi Smith
Dallas would clearly love to have their 2022 draft back as a do over. Smith has failed to live up to any of the expectations, and the fact the club played him throughout the first half Friday is a bad sign for his prospects in a game they were hell bent on protecting most key rotational players.
Other considerations
Less likely trade possibilities, these players are worth mentioning as true surprises.
- Safety Donovan Wilson (Markquese Bell would start with UDFA Alijah Clark being the surprise on the 53)
- Running back Miles Sanders (far from a lock, it would be surprising if someone gave up a pick for him)
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys Mazi Smith, Sam Williams headline list of potential trade offs
Category: Football
