3 Ideal trade scenarios for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020

Dallas Cowboys Trade Option No. 3

Jamal Adam, SAF

Come on! You knew he’d be on this list! Jamal Adams is far and away the most talented option of the three listed. He’s the only ascending player of the bunch and he’s  generational in his impact on the field. As such, he’s going to cost a king’s ransom to acquire (which is really the only hold-up).

The Dallas Cowboys have already kicked the tires on Adams and if it wasn’t for the Jets’ high demands, he’d have a star on his helmet right now. But as his discontentment grows, so could grow the Jets willingness to lower their demands.

Even with more reasonable trade compensation, Jamal Adams is no simple addition. He’s going to demand top-of-the-market money and it’s not going to be a short-term voidable deal like Peterson’s or Short’s — it would be for the long-haul.

Even still, there’s no questioning the enormous impact a player like Jamal Adams would have on the Dallas Cowboys. Adams is a playmaker and leader. He produces high impact plays in and around the box and can hold his own in coverage. Adams would give the Cowboys D an identity and a voice – something all aspiring championship defenses need.

Additionally, the Cowboys aren’t committed to a single safety beyond this season. Xavier Woods, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, and Chidobe Awuzie are all slated to be free agents in 2021. The Cowboys have kept their powder dry and will have no problem justifying  a massive investment in Adams.

More from Dallas Cowboys

• Dallas Cowboys Linebackers: 2023 Position Overview
• Ballhawk University: Why the Cowboys will be takeaway leaders
• Dallas Cowboys Player to Watch: Sleeper TE John Stephens, Jr.
• Dallas Cowboys: The impact of Micah Parsons and a well-rounded secondary
• Dallas Cowboys still unsure about their left guard position for 2023

Final Thoughts

Trades are rare in the NFL but far from impossible. Just two seasons ago we saw Dallas trade a first round pick for a Pro Bowl receiver after all, so it’s not like such bold moves are against the Dallas Cowboys nature. Kawann Short would likely be the cheapest to acquire and would instantly become one of Dallas’ top-4 defensive linemen all while providing depth to a position and skill set that’s desperately thin in 2020 (3-tech DT).

Patrick Peterson would require a Day 2 pick but fills perhaps the biggest need on this entire team – CB1. He’s still an elite talent and would elevate the entire coverage unit of the Cowboys this season. Adams is a generational playmaker who would elevate the entire defense. The problem is he’d cost a pretty penny both to acquire and to retain.

Any of these moves would make sense for the Dallas Cowboys if they think they have a championship opportunity this season because all the players expand their window of opportunity.