The Dallas Cowboys received devastating news on Saturday about their star cornerback DaRon Bland. One of the NFL's premier ballhawks, Bland will be out for six to eight weeks following foot surgery.
Losing one of the best defensive playmakers in the league, the Cowboys now have a massive hole they need to fill before the start of the season. This makes the decision to not retain Stephon Gilmore that much more questionable. Once one of the deepest and most talented cornerback groups in the league, Dallas is now short-handed and must make an addition.
There are several decent options on the trade block that the Cowboys could target, as well as an intriguing free agent. Let's take a look.
Marshon Lattimore, Saints
The headliner on the trade block for teams looking for cornerbacks is certainly Marshon Lattimore of the New Orleans Saints. The four-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Rookie of the Year has proven that he can play at the highest level when he is healthy. Unfortunately, those times have been rare over the past two seasons when he only played 17 games.
The Saints, who are nowhere near being a playoff team, are potentially looking to move Lattimore due to his massive. He carries a $31.4 million cap hit in 2025 and a $28.5 million in 2026. New Orleans just drafted Kool-Aid McKinstry, making Lattimore superfluous. It makes sense for them to move on from the 28-year-old and get assets in return before he loses more of his trade value.
If the Cowboys wanted to trade for Lattimore, they probably have to give up at least a third-round pick. Where Dallas is financially right now, adding another high-salary player like Lattimore may not be the smartest move but it is worth considering.
Caleb Farley, Titans
Tennessee declined the fifth-year option on Caleb Farley, making him a free agent after this season. This automatically makes him a potential trade candidate.
Unfortunately, Farley hasn't been able to establish his NFL career so far due to constant injuries. There were significant injury concerns about him coming into the draft but the Titans still selected him in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He was considered a high-risk, high-reward player, and the risk part of that equation proved too strong so far.
Perhaps the Cowboys could be the team to enjoy the rewards. Farley missed last season after undergoing a microdiscectomy on his back. He hasn't played since November 2022 but he is healthy and available now.
The best part of a potential trade for Farley is that he isn't going to cost much. He can hold it down for Dallas until Bland comes back.
Eric Stokes, Packers
Another former first-round pick that didn't pan out yet is Eric Stokes of Green Bay. The Packers didn't pick up his fifth-year option after he was only able to play 12 games in the last two seasons. His nagging hamstring and ankle injuries are a concern but at this stage of the offseason, it's hard to find a player without any red flags.
When he has been available, Stokes has shown why he was such an exciting prospect out of Georgia. He is still projected to be the starting cornerback in Week 1 but the Packers are likely willing to listen to offers. He won't be as cheap to acquire as Farley but the Cowboys should still seriously consider him.
James Bradberry, Eagles
Yes, Bradberry was one of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL last season. He was miserable both statistically and on the field, regularly getting beat by receivers and playing a big role in the collapse of the Eagles' defense in the second half of the year.
But no one is going to trade a good defensive player without any question marks with their season openers less than two weeks away.
What the Cowboys can hope for if they acquire Bradberry is a return to his 2022 form. Less than two years ago, he was an All-Pro second-team cornerback, allowing a 45.3% completion rate and a 51.6 passer rating when targeted.
How likely is it for a 31-year-old cornerback to turn back the clock like that?
Obviously not likely but that is why he is on the trade block. The Eagles held onto the Pro Bowler against all odds this offseason but he is very much available due to his high salary. Intra-division trades are rare but in this potentially win-win instance, the teams could make an exception.
Adoree' Jackson, FA
If the Cowboys prefer to not give up assets and go for a free-agent option instead, the best available corner on the market is Adoree' Jackson.
Jackson spent the last three seasons with the Giants, starting in 36 games. The former first-round pick out of USC isn't the most inspiring starter at this point in his career but he is a more than capable backup. He could easily replace DaRon Bland for the first couple of weeks of the season before taking a smaller role the rest of the way.
In his final season in New York, the 28-year-old Jackson played in 14 games and recorded 63 tackles and an interception, allowing a 98.3 passer rating when targeted and receiving a 48.6 overall grade from PFF.