The Dallas Cowboys have been quiet this offseason but started to make a few moves late. They haven't exactly moved the needle much by bringing back Ezekiel Elliott or signing Royce Freeman but they're at least trying to fill out their roster.
Following those moves — as well as the 2024 NFL Draft — we can see their roster start to take shape. There might not be a lot of areas where they have too much talent but they do have a couple of players who might be enticing to another franchise. With that being said, here are three players the Cowboys could look to trade before the start of the season.
3. Eric Scott, Jr., Cornerback
One of the more frustrating moves in the 2023 NFL Draft for Dallas was when they traded a future fifth-round pick to get back into Round 6. They used the 178th overall selection on Eric Scott, Jr. out of Southern Miss which felt like a reach.
The Cowboys clearly saw something they liked in the young cornerback, although it was likely just his length. Former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn loved defensive backs with long arms and the 6-foot-2, 202-pound Scott fit the bill.
Perhaps Scott will make a leap in year two but it's hard to be too optimistic when he didn't play at all as a rookie. He also now has Caelen Carson to deal with who was a fifth-round pick despite the fact that the Cowboys were considering him in Round 3.
The market for Scott might not be great but maybe Quinn would like to see what he can do in Washington.
2. Chauncey Golston, Defensive Lineman
A third-round pick in 2021 out of Iowa, Chauncey Golston has been a solid rotational player for the past three seasons. He has 79 tackles with 3.5 sacks and while he hasn't been explosive, he's never been a liability either. However, it might be hard to see where he fits in under Mike Zimmer.
Dan Quinn often lined the 268-pounder up as a 3-tech but Zimmer prefers larger defensive tackles. That's why they expect Mazi Smith to return to his normal playing weight and head back to the nose position. They also added more muscle when they selected the 330-pound Justin Rogers on Day 3 and later signed Denzel Daxon (320 pounds) as an undrafted free agent.
Golston can move over to the defensive end spot and in reality, he fits the measurement perfectly. The problem is that he's entering the final year of his rookie deal and the Cowboys have a couple of second-round picks fighting for snaps behind DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons.
Sam Williams, taken in 2022, has 8.5 sacks and is ready for more action in year three. There's also rookie Marshawn Kneeland. For good measure, 2023 fourth-rounder Viliami Fehoko could also look to move back to defensive end under Zimmer.
With all that being said, Golston is a player who might end up leaving after this season due to the crowd. If so, it might be worth trying to get something now rather than letting him walk for and getting nothing in return.
1. Peyton Hendershot, Tight End
The Cowboys made sure to build up their depth in this past draft and continued to do so once the weekend ended. Dallas added several undrafted free agents, including Brevyn Spann-Ford, a tight end from Minnesota.
Spann-Ford was given a guarantee of $225,000 in his contract as well as a $20,000 signing bonus. That doesn't mean he's a lock to make the roster but the front office believes he has a chance. That's not a bad assumption either since Spann-Ford brings something different to the table than the rest of their tight ends.
Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker were both added for their receiving skills and Ferguson went off in year two. Schoonmaker was a disappointment as a rookie but will get his chances as a second-round pick.
There's also Peyton Hendershot who has been a solid receiver when he gets on the field but he has some competition in the form of John Stephens, Jr. The preseason star missed his entire rookie campaign but could threaten Hendershot who enters year three.
As for Spann-Ford, he's better in the blocking department which is why he might be safe. If so, the Cowboys might be willing to see if a team in need of a tight end might be willing to part with a future draft pick for Hendershot. It would be tough to see him go but the room is crowded and he would bring in more capital than Stephens at this point.