After the Cowboys’ Sunday night loss to the 49ers—which exposed significant weaknesses—it’s unclear how this will influence their strategy as the trade deadline looms next Tuesday.
With a 3-4 record, the team’s motivation to be assertive might lessen, although playoff chances are still attainable.
The bigger issue is whether the often unpredictable owner, Jerry Jones, will find a trade appealing. Jones is not typically keen on making in-season deals.
However, if he were open to it, adding a young receiver could be logical. While CeeDee Lamb remains the team’s standout, other reliable options are limited.
Jalen Tolbert has shown promise but lacks star quality, and veteran Brandin Cooks, currently injured, is expected to leave after this season as he becomes a free agent.
According to CBS Sports’ 2025 NFL mock draft preview, Dallas may target Carolina star Diontae Johnson, who recorded a 1,160-yard season in 2021 and made the Pro Bowl, to secure a No. 2 receiver next to Lamb.
Diontae Johnson Trade Could ‘Boost’ Cowboys
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports suggests that Dallas should acquire Johnson before the 2024 NFL trade deadline next Tuesday. Johnson has delivered strong performances this season, with 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns over seven games.
Edwards writes, “Dallas has underperformed this season, but they’re still .500 with a chance to impact the NFC. Brandin Cooks might be sidelined longer, and there was already a need for another receiver alongside CeeDee Lamb. Carolina’s outlook is bleak, and holding onto assets with outside value serves no purpose for them.”
The Cowboys wouldn’t need to offer much for Johnson, who’s in the final year of his contract and was traded from the Steelers last offseason.
