As the 2025 season wraps up, the Dallas Cowboys are riding high after a savvy trade for George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers last May. With the offseason looming, the Cowboys might be eyeing the trade market once again to fill some gaps on their roster. ESPN's Adam Schefter recently hinted at this possibility, suggesting that we could see more trade activity across the league.
On his podcast, Schefter noted that this year's free agency and draft classes aren't generating much excitement among teams. "With this free agent class in the eyes of some considered to be a little bit subpar, and with this draft class considered to be, in the eyes of some, a little subpar, it wouldn't surprise me if we saw an uptick in trade activity," Schefter observed.
This insight could be music to the Cowboys' ears. If the league's top brass shares Schefter's view, it might be due to a lack of standout prospects this year, which explains some general managers' hesitance.
Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones has already floated the idea of trading one or both of their first-round picks, sitting at No. 12 and No. 20 overall. Jerry Jones has been entertaining this thought since the Micah Parsons trade to the Green Bay Packers, humorously likening it to the legendary Herschel Walker trade of 1989. Even if the Cowboys don't pull the trigger on a trade, they're in a prime position with plenty of options come draft night.
They could look to LSU's Mansoor Delane as a replacement for Trevon Diggs. If Ohio State's Caleb Downs is available, he'd be a smart pick for the safety position. To address pass-rushing needs, Miami's Akheem Mesidor or Texas A&M's Cashius Howell could be in their sights with the 20th pick.
The NFL is known for its copycat nature, and it only takes one bold move to spark a trade frenzy. Whether it's Jerry Jones or another executive who makes the first splash, expect the rest of the league to follow.