The NFL trade deadline is coming up, and the Dallas Cowboys have some room for improvement. Some players will have to be moved to make the necessary adjustments, and one name sticks out from the rest — especially if Dallas wants to strike when the iron is hot.
Veteran defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. is coming off his best game of the season, registering six pressures and managing his first sack of the season against the New York Jets in Week 5. If there was ever a moment to attempt to sell high on a previously struggling free agent addition, it is now.
As much as Dallas would love to see a big name added, the addition by subtraction that comes with trading Fowler cannot be overlooked.
Dante Fowler Jr. Is Cowboys' Likeliest Trade Candidate
It's no secret that defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus' unit could use a major reset, and this should include parting ways with Fowler. No one is better at almost getting to the quarterback or being a step short of a big play, which has been a constant source of frustration that hurts the Cowboys more than it helps them.
The surprise emergence of James Houston, who leads the team with 3.5 sacks, furthers the case to part ways with Fowler. Through the first five weeks, Houston ranks highly among 169 eligible exterior defenders when it comes to pass rush (80.0, 16th) and overall (73.5, 35th) grades on Pro Football Focus.
Nov. 4 is this year's trade deadline, giving the Cowboys about three weeks to find the needed deals to improve. A soft schedule has given life to playoff hopes after a rocky start to the year, and now it's up to the front office to do whatever it can to maximize Dallas' chances of success.
Being a playoff contender demands a level of high urgency to attempt to find improvements defensively, and this means being willing to spend draft picks and part ways with failing players. Even after last week's solid performance, there is simply no reason to believe that Fowler will give that same effort every week.
Fowler's career has been defined by outlier seasons followed by being paid by a team destined for frustration the following season. This is the script Dallas is following and should pay what it takes for an upgrade while taking advantage of Fowler's recent hot streak, sending the veteran to a contender looking to bolster their edge rushing rotation.
No question, the Cowboys are among the league's surprise contenders and need to understand this requires a willingness to make big moves, setting the stage for Fowler's exit and perhaps a blockbuster addition in the weeks to come.