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More veteran help at cornerback would go a very long way in changing the outlook for the new Cowboys defense.
Well, now one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the NFL is on the trade block: Indianapolis Colts CB Kenny Moore II. And our own Destin Adams from A to Z Sports Indianapolis sees the Cowboys as a top trade candidate.
Cowboys headline Top 4 teams in the NFL that should trade for Moore II
In a recent article, Adams listed four teams that stand out as the best fits for Moore II—who was recently granted permission to seek a trade. The Cowboys sit atop the list and for good reason.
“Moore would slide into the starting slot position, allowing the team to focus on finding a second starting outside corner to play with DaRon Bland,” Adams writes. “The Cowboys also own a third-round, a fourth-round, and three fifth-round picks, all of which fall within the expected range of picks the Colts are likely to net in a trade.”
I highly agree with Adams.
Even with two first-round picks, the Cowboys aren’t going to be able to fix their defense if they rely solely on rookies. Schottenheimer made it clear one spot he is worried about is the nickel position and under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, it’s expected to be a valued position in the building.
Thus, adding a Pro Bowl cornerback like Moore could fill one of their biggest needs—and it may not take more than a Day 3 pick.
The Cowboys get passing grades for all of their offseason trades, but still need an ‘A’ player in the draft.
EDGE RUSHER
Rashan Gary trade
Dallas Cowboys Grade B
Cowboys receive:
Edge Rashan Gary
Packers receive:
2027 4th-round pick
I can see the validity of this trade from both sides.
The Cowboys desperately needed edge-rush help, and while Gary’s play has slipped lately, he could find rejuvenation in Dallas. Meanwhile, the Packers were ready to move on and received a solid return.
Gary has generated 46.5 career sacks and can be a load on the edge, though he has not been as explosive in recent years. Heading into his eighth NFL season, Gary is also solid against the run, which gives new Cowboys coordinator Christian Parker flexibility as he retools the defense.
Barring changes to Gary’s contract, the Cowboys will take on base salaries of $18 million in 2026 and $21 million in 2027 (per Over the Cap). That’s not a low cost, but given the market for pass-rushers, it’s workable. Rather than getting into free-agent bidding wars, Dallas opted for a fixed price. The ‘Boys also didn’t agree to ship out any of their 2026 assets, saving them more ammo to use in an effort to bring about a a quick turnaround. It’s a solid first salvo for a squad that needs to upgrade every level of the defense.
Gary struggled last season, failing to generate a sack in his final 10 games (including the playoffs), and ultimately, the Packers decided to add spending flexibility. They will eat $17 million in dead money but generate $11 million in savings in 2026 and open up $31 million in cap space next year. It’s clear this move was financially motivated. Getting a fourth-round pick for a player they were done with, even if they have to wait a year to make the selection, is a stellar chess play from Brian Gutekunst.
Cowboys fans will have to be ready for anything as soon as the draft starts this year, when trade rumors will be flying.
GO BIG
The situation: They gotta have an elite EDGE, David Bailey
The trade partner: Tennessee Titans
The cost: Cowboys give up picks 12 + 20 and receive picks 4 + 66
If the team has its sights set on taking the best pass rusher in this draft class, then they could choose to give up both their top 20 picks to land a blue-chip star. Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey is the Cowboys’ best chance to replace the elite pass-rushing skills of Parsons, and it would come at a much lower price than the lucrative deal that the Packers just gave Parsons. Of course, nothing is promised, but it would at least show that the team is taking pass rush seriously, and when you combine that with all the other Parsons residual players they’ve acquired in the last year (Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark), suddenly the return on the exchange looks rather favorable.
In this scenario, the Cowboys would also receive the Titans third-round pick, setting themselves up nicely for one of the many Day 2 cornerbacks available in this draft.
If EDGE David Bailey is the prospect the Cowboys trade up for, how might he help the defense right away?
Where He’s Projected:
Most mock drafts see Bailey well off the board by the fifth overall pick, and as high as the second pick to the New York Jets. The question it seems teams will have to ask themselves is whether or not the like Bailey or Ohio State’s Arvell Reese more to be their next star defender. If the Cowboys believe Bailey can be a game changer in Christian Parker’s defense, they’ll almost certainly have to move up into the top five, and maybe even the top three, for a chance to draft him.
How He Helps the Cowboys:
The Cowboys generated pressure on the quarterback last year but struggled to finish and bring them down at a consistent rate. If they were to add Bailey, he would help fix the latter part of the equation. In each year of his collegiate career, he increased his sack total and more than doubled it from his junior to senior year (7.0 sacks to 14.5). Bailey is a twitchy, explosive player who has made a living in the backfield and projects to do the same at the NFL level. If the Cowboys do trade up, which they’d likely have to do, and get Bailey, he can complement Rashan Gary as more of a speedy, true pass rusher and give the Cowboys skillset versatility across the defensive line. Bailey will only benefit from also lining up with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, who are sure to demand attention as well.
The pool of top players available to the Cowboys at #12 overall if they do not trade up feels like it’s thinning, with Mansoor Delane visiting two teams that pick ahead of Dallas in Cincinnati and Washington.
Cornerback Mansoor Delane has a handful of pre-draft visits planned for the coming days.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Delane is slated to meet with the Bengals, Ravens and Commanders before the window to visit teams closes this week. Delane also spent time with the Dolphins and Giants recently.
Delane is bidding to be the top cornerback selected this year.
Sean Martin
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