The Dallas Cowboys are projected to be over the salary cap going into this offseason, so who could the Denver Broncos acquire in a trade from the big D?
The Denver Broncos beat up the Dallas Cowboys, 30-16, earlier in the 2021 season. After finishing 12-5 and winning the NFC East, Dallas disappointed in the playoffs, losing in the Wild Card round.
While Dallas seems to still be in a good spot for 2022, they are projected to be around $20 million over the cap going in the offseason, so the team will need to maneuver their roster in order to get under the cap.
Dallas is a very talented team with exceptional players on both sides of the ball, and Denver is a team with a plethora of cap space and draft picks.
Could the Denver Broncos make a few calls and swing some trades with the Dallas Cowboys? Maybe.
Let’s take a look at a few trade ideas with the Dallas Cowboys.
Denver Broncos trade ideas with Dallas Cowboys
1. Connor McGovern, IOL
The Broncos saw success with one Connor McGovern, so why not add another?
McGovern just wrapped up his third year in the NFL, and he’s been a key backup for Dallas. However, he played in 14 games in 2020 and 16 games in 2021, starting 8 total.
This season, McGovern played in 499 offensive snaps, committed just two penalities, allowed just one sack, and graded out as a solid 68.7, according to PFF. General Manager George Paton said that the team needs to get better in the trenches, so adding a cost-controlled, solid player might make sense.
Dalton Risner and Lloyd Cushenberry have played like fringe starters, so adding another body that isn’t an expensive free agent addition gives the Broncos more avenues to solve their average offensive line issues.
Denver re-worked Graham Glasgow’s contract and they’ll see Quinn Meinerz, Netane Muti, Dalton Risner, and Lloyd Cushenberry all return for 2022. Perhaps McGovern can push one of the interior players to the bench.
Trade ideas with Dallas Cowboys
2. La’el Collins, RT
La’el Collins was suspended for five games this season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, and he missed all of 2020 with a hip injury, but Collins is an interesting player.
Collins is on a $50 million contract and is under control until 2024. One would think that Collins is a super valuable piece for Dallas, but with their cap situation, and with second-year player Terence Steele appearing to be a competent starter on the right side, it might make sense for Dallas to deal Collins.
While he’s suffered a major injury and has broken league rules, perhaps Collins is wanting a fresh start. He’ll turn 29 this summer, which is by no means old for an offensive linemen.
He’d ideally bring stability to the position and is under a rather favorable contract for a right tackle.
Collins enjoyed a very strong season according to PFF, where he earned an 83.3 grade in 2021. He allowed just two sacks in 671 offensive snaps.
Being that Dallas needs to essentially overhaul their offensive line, Collins might not be the only one on the move but is still likely to be moved regardless.
Dallas can save $10 million from trading Collins this offseason. They’d incur a bit over $5 million in dead cap. These numbers remain the same if he’s cut, but if Dallas can fetch a fourth-round draft pick from the Denver Broncos, why not make the deal?
Trade ideas with Dallas Cowboys
3. Blake Jarwin, TE
Before the 2020 season, the Cowboys inked Jarwin to a 4-year contract valued at over $20 million. Jarwin has played in just nine games since due to injury and could be on the move this offseason.
Jarwin is a good run-blocking tight end, which is something the Broncos could use.
With Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegbunam being just “eh” at the whole blocking thing, adding a solid blocking tight end with some receiving ability might be a smart move for Denver.
The Cowboys could save nearly $5 million from trading him this offseason, which helps relieve their cap number. Their other tight end, Dalton Schultz, is the better player, but he’s a free agent at the end of the season.
I would have to think that Dallas is determined to re-sign Schultz, and trading Jarwin’s contract away would give them some flexibility to eventually do so.
Jarwin isn’t a super sexy name to you readers, but adding a solid veteran presence in the tight end room could work wonders for Noah Fant and big Albert O.
Jarwin has caught 70 passes for 780 yards and eight touchdowns in 42 total games played in five seasons.
Not every free agent signing or trade needs to make the NFL headlines. One of the biggest reasons why teams are successful in the NFL is because they are able to fill the backends of their roster with solid talent, rather than completely ignoring their depth.
Making a trade for someone like Blake Jarwin is a perfect example of a team doing this. Jarwin isn’t going to wow us every Sunday, but he’s someone who can make the team better, and the Denver Broncos front office should consider making this trade.