Distinguishing between sound and ill-advised trade decisions can illustrate the gulf between the NFL’s top and bottom teams. Some franchises remain in a perpetual state of competitiveness or non-competitiveness for valid reasons.
In a recent example, the San Francisco 49ers made a brilliant move before the NFL trade deadline, acquiring star edge rusher Chase Young, the former second-overall draft pick who has shown excellence when healthy.
This acquisition strengthened their already formidable defensive line, bolstering their Super Bowl aspirations at the modest cost of a third-round draft pick. On the flip side, the Chicago Bears traded for Montez Sweat, surrendering a valuable second-round pick, likely to be a top-40 selection given their struggles, for a pass rusher who seemed reluctant to join their team. This choice may have exacerbated their problems.
As for the Dallas Cowboys, Tuesday’s trade deadline came and went without any significant moves, disappointing those who hoped for additions in positions like running back, receiver, or defense. However, it’s not the end of the world in such cases.
Sometimes, the right deal doesn’t materialize, or the value doesn’t align with the asking price, or future draft picks are needed for salary cap relief. If Dallas attempted to be aggressive but couldn’t find suitable trade opportunities due to market conditions, that’s understandable. What’s not helpful, though, is defending the Cowboys’ inaction by pointing to transactions made during a different part of the calendar.
Yet, that’s precisely what Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did on 105.3 The Fan last Friday. Jones claimed, “We made our trading deadline before the season started. That’s why we traded for Stephon Gilmore, and that’s why we traded for Brandin Cooks.
Thank goodness we had the opportunity to get that trading deadline done back before we started the season.” This statement, coming from the owner of the NFL’s most valuable franchise, raises eyebrows. While the NFL’s salary cap limits the direct impact of Jones’ wealth, the sentiment of not making significant trade moves remains overly cautious.
It’s worth noting that the Texas Rangers were very aggressive at the trade deadline, and it paid off. However, when it comes to the Cowboys, the acquisitions of Gilmore and Cooks haven’t been as fruitful as expected.
Gilmore, despite a game-ending interception against the Los Angeles Chargers, has given up the ninth-most yards in man coverage this season, and his performance has been overshadowed by other strong players in the cornerback position. If not for the standout performances of cornerback DaRon Bland and slot corner Jourdan Lewis against Cooper Kupp, the discussions around Gilmore would be even more critical.
Similarly, Cooks, despite recent improvement with two touchdowns in his last two games, hasn’t been effective this season. His production has been disappointing, with only 16 catches for 158 yards and two scores in six games. It’s true that the Cowboys’ roster has its imperfections, but it doesn’t necessarily warrant a trade on Tuesday.
Other teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, and the 49ers managed to improve their rosters, while the Cowboys chose not to. At the very least, Jones should have defended this decision in a more logical manner, rather than claiming that past moves in March justified the lack of activity in October.
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