The latest Dallas Cowboys rumors have the franchise landing Aaron Donald, which would surely please defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
Dallas Cowboys rumors are heating up as the NFL trade deadline of October 31, 2023 approaches. Whether this is a trick for Cowboys fans on Halloween remains to be seen. Owner Jerry Jones said the dealership is awaiting calls from other teams.
Jon Machota of the Athletic has a list of potential players who could make the Cowboys aggressive with a “top” move. One of the most intriguing names on the list is Rams star defensive end Aaron Donald. An NFL analyst suggested that Dallas should “kick the tires” if Los Angeles goes for Donald, but admitted that it is “highly unlikely.”
“Los Angeles would probably like a lot more than the Cowboys are willing to offer,” Machota wrote on Oct. 25. “It’s highly unlikely. But at least it’s worth kicking the tires on. Donald is one of the best defenders to ever play the game.
– The 32-year-old is making his ninth Pro Bowl. He has 2 1/2 sacks, eight tackles for loss and 10 QB hits in seven games this season. The Rams probably won’t get much more out of him than they are now. Putting Donald in the middle of the Cowboys defense would immediately make everything better.
NFL Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Rams Star Aaron Donald Will Take $34 Million Through 2024
Donald has a decent salary, but his cap space is significant because his three-year, $95 million contract runs through 2024. The nine-time Pro Bowler’s salary is $13.5 million in 2023 with a cap hit of $26 million.
Los Angeles has Donald under contract this offseason, potentially earning $33.5 million with the star’s release. The pass rusher still has trade value if the Rams want to move on from Donald. It doesn’t make sense for LA to release Donald, even if the team wants to start over.
Donald has a $10 million salary and $34.1 million in cap space in 2024, according to Spotrac. That makes it more of a challenge for the Cowboys, as the team has to sign players like Micah Parsons, CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott to extensions.
Dallas Cowboys Rumors: Owner Jerry Jones ‘Really Pushing’ To Fix Roster
Jones’ comments at the deadline were mixed, but this isn’t the first time the Cowboys owner has confused people about a potential deal. Before the 2022 trade deadline, Jones announced that change was on the horizon. However, nothing was done after the signing of defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins.
“I’d like to improve our team right now, so that gives you an idea because I think we have a team that’s going to be a contender,” Jones said in an Oct. 24 interview on 105.3 The Fan’s “Shan and RJ.” “So I would it now – would I do something that would take away from this team to help us in the future? Probably not.”
Donald had 49 tackles, 11 quarterback hits, 10 tackles for loss and 5 sacks in 11 starts last season. It might be a long shot, but Donald would greatly bolster the middle of the defense, which has been a problem for Dallas. Despite Jones’ confusing remarks, the Cowboys rumors are sure to continue before the trade deadline.
Jonathan Adams covers the NFL and NBA for Heavy.com, focusing on the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Lakers. His work has been featured prominently on NFL.com, Yahoo Sports, Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated. Pli pri Jonathan Adams
