A look at some veterans on the trade market who would make a ton of sense as targets for the COwboys in the next several days.
The Dallas Cowboys will be hunting for new additions to their team, they’ll just have to figure out how to pay them. With NFL free agency set to kick off on Monday, the team is likely going through their last minute preparations (and undercover negotiations) while waiting the legal tampering window to open on Monday. But unrestricted free agents aren’t the only flavor of veterans who could be on their way to Dallas.
The Cowboys, in recent years, have become very friendly with trade acquisitions, and that could play out this year as well. George Pickens and Quinnen Williams worked out extremely well for the silver and blue.Trades don’t have to wait for the beginning of the league year, so these could come in any way, shape or form and at any time. It’s nowhere near an exhaustive list, but here are five high-profile players who could be on Dallas’ radar.
Fitzpatrick is set to enter his ninth NFL season and the three-time First-Team All-Pro is apparently on the market as the Dolphins look to rebuild their roster. He’s on the books for $15.6 million in the final year of his deal, so a trade acquisition would likely see some additional years added to the acquisition, but Dallas could engineer a George Pickens scenario if they find a Day 2 pick to send over (through a separate trade?)
The super obvious one that has been written about extensively. Adding Crosby would be the biggest NFL acquisition of the offseason, and the idea of adding his pass-rush prowess to a DL of Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa is an amazing idea.
Crosby has four years remaining on his deal, with 2026 being the most expensive at $30 million, and he’s made it clear he’s unhappy with the Raiders, though he never publicly demanded a trade it’s widely expected for the new Las Vegas regime to listen to offers this week.
Crosby has made five straight Pro Bowls and averages 11 sacks a season since entering the league.
Chatter has grown since NFL.com draft expert Daniel Jeremiah suggested the Cowboys trade their No. 20 pick to the Chiefs for McDuffie. The Chiefs are set to lose their secondary in free agency, so completely wiping out the room and starting over seems a longshot. However if they want the space to re-sign Jaylen Watson and Bryan Cook, they may want to move McDuffie.
The former first-round pick is set to play on the fifth-year option for $13.6 million in 2026. He was a First-Team All-Pro in 2023, and Second-Team in 2024.
Entering his seventh season, Greenard dealt with injuries that ruined his mid-career heater. After two straight seasons with at least 12 sacks, one in his final season with Demeco Ryans in Houston and one with Brian Flores in Minnesota, he had just three sacks across 12 games last season. The skill is still there, and adding him to Christian Parker’s plan would be a kickstarter to the re-design.
Greenard has two years, $38 million remaining on his deal, $19 million each season. That cap hit can easily become manageable with an additional year via extension and two void years for the 29 year old.
Herbig may not be on the market, but he’s the perfect candidate for the Cowboys and Christian Parker’s new defense. A 3-4 OLB who is buried behind two veterans in TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith, Herbig is a former fourth-round pick who has improved his sack totals each of his three seasons. Entering the final year of his contract, the team may look to recoup something ahead of losing him in free agency after the upcoming season.
Herbig is set to make $3.7 million in 2026, so he’s not a big cost currently and the Steelers may want to keep him, but he’s worth calling about.
