3 top trade targets for Dallas Cowboys before free agency

The Dallas Cowboys need to make some additions on both sides of the ball. Here are three players they can target on the trade block.

Nearly one year ago, many pegged the Dallas Cowboys as the favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl 55. They hired Mike McCarthy as their head coach and signed the likes of Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe and Everson Griffen while locking in wide receiver Amari Cooper to a long-term contract. The Lombardi Trophy aspirations ended as soon as the season started.

The team finished 6-10 on the year but was one win and a loss by the Washington Football Team in Week 17 away from winning the NFC East title. To even be in playoff consideration in 2020 was amazing, because the Cowboys as a whole were a disappointing team. The offense sputtered out of control once Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending ankle injury, and the defense did their best imitation of a revolving door.

Team owner Jerry Jones wants to add another Lombardi Trophy to his display case, and if this season proved anything, it’s that the division is winnable. However, the Cowboys will have to make some big moves if they even want to sniff the playoffs in 2021.

Here are three players the team should target ahead of free agency on March 17.

The Cowboys have been spoiled for the better part of a decade with a rock-solid offensive line. But in 2020, Dallas got a taste of what the rival New York Giants had to deal with in that span, and that’s an ineffective offensive line.

Right tackle La’el Collins missed the entire season due to a hip injury. More importantly, veteran left tackle Tyron Smith, once known as the best blindside tackle in the game, was limited to two games this season after undergoing neck surgery. Smith last played a full NFL season in 2015 and has dealt with injury issues ever since. Next season, Smith counts for a little over $14 million against the cap. The Cowboys need to take into consideration that Smith’s career is nearing its end, and they need to find his replacement.

Luckily for Dallas, they could get one from the Baltimore Ravens.

This past week, offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. tweeted out (in all caps) that he is a left tackle. It was vague, but CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora notes that Brown is only interested in playing on the left side of the line of scrimmage. The problem is, the Ravens just gave Ronnie Stanley, their left tackle, a five-year, $98.8 million contract extension. After Stanley went down with a season-ending ankle injury in Week 8, Brown filled in for him and performed admirably.

Brown is set to hit free agency after the 2021 season. This news should delight Jones, as he could get Smith’s successor with one trade. The problem is, the Ravens will probably keep him, considering he plays a vital role on their offense. Even so, it wouldn’t hurt the Cowboys to try.