The Dallas Cowboys apparantly swung and missed a couple times last week. Not only did they lose miserably to the Denver Broncos in Week 8, it was also revealed that the club was rebuffed in their efforts to trade for Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals and Max Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders. The indication that the club is looking to minimize the ever-expanding damage of trading away Micah Parsons is clear.
Dallas needs help on the edge, and there doesn’t appear to be a solution on their current roster. At this point, trading for a player on a lower tier than those superstars, but who could still boost the pass rush, seems to be the way. Recently, Bleacher Report suggested they turn their attention to South Beach and try to acquire Miami’s Jaelen Phillips.
According to Fowler, there’s been plenty of buzz about Miami moving a pass-rusher before the deadline, with Jaelan Phillips as the top target.
“Phillips and teammate Bradley Chubb have circulated in trade rumors,” he wrote. “Multiple teams I spoke with believe that Phillips would hold more value than Chubb due to upside.”
Phillips, 26, was a productive edge-defender when healthy early in his career and again appears healthy after injury-impacted seasons in 2023 and 2024.
While Phillips is an impending 2026 free agent and would require an extension in the spring, his upside should interest contenders and rebuilding teams alike.
Potential Suitors: Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers
Phillips is in the midst of his fifth-year option with the Dolphins. The 2021 first-round pick (No. 18 overall), is being paid $13.25 million for the entire season. If Dallas trades for him, they will assume $5.8 million in salary for the rest of the seaosn.
The article contends the trading team would have to relinquish a fourth-round pick. The problem is, the Cowboys are already without their third-round pick in next year’s draft after acquiring now-star receiver George Pickens. It’s highly unlikely the Cowboys would go from their second-round selection all the way until the fifth round, even despite having two first-round picks lined up for each of the next two years.
A move like this would likely lead to future draft trades, where the Cowboys either move down from one of their first three picks to acquire more ammunition, or dip into their 2027 bag to slide into the 75-125 range this coming April.
As for the impact on the field, Phillips could help, but he likely isn’t the singular piece that could rescue this miserable defensive season for the currently 3-4-1 Cowboys. But he should help. Phillips currently boasts an 80.4 pass-rush grade from PFF. The Cowboys’ top pass rushers are currently Dante Fowler (75.1), rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku (74.3) and James Houston (71.2).
Phillips has 27 total pressures through eight games, but only two sacks.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys proposed to land $13 million, former 1st-round pick in trade deadline deal
Reporting by K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
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