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This page lists all the 2023 Trades for the Dallas Cowboys. I’ve listed all of the NFL Free Agent Signing Grades here, which included the trades. Because I’ve begun posting polls for the trades, I thought it would make sense to list just the NFL trades here, so archiving the voting would be easier.
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- Total Trades: 3
- Average Grade: B- (82)
August 2023 – Trades and Signings
Cowboys acquire QB Trey Lance from 49ers for 4th-round pick
This is somehow a bad trade for both teams. I really don’t get it for the Cowboys. They have an established franchise quarterback in the Dak Prescott, and they have a solid backup in Cooper Rush. What are they going to do with Trey Lance? Develop him and then trade him for a third-round pick? This seems like a waste of a resource.
As for the 49ers, it seems premature to give up on a quarterback with such great talent, especially given that Brock Purdy is not a guarantee just yet. What if Purdy struggles in his second year? It would be nice to turn to Trey Lance in that instance, assuming that he developed at all. That said, I think the 49ers won this trade because Lance may just be a lost cause, given his lack of development and horrible pocket awareness and field vision. Plus, moving Lance rids the locker room of a potential headache.
Grade for Cowboys – D
Grade for 49ers – C+
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March 2023 – Trades and Signings
Cowboys acquire WR Brandin Cooks from Texans for 2023 5th-round pick, 2024 6th-round pick
Has Dallas’ quest to find a No. 2 receiver finally ended? They flirted with Odell Beckham Jr. late last year before declining to sign him. They then obtained T.Y. Hilton, who didn’t do much outside of convert a crucial third-and-33 versus the Eagles. Beckham was discussed again in the offseason, but Dallas has finally settled on Brandin Cooks, whom it acquired in a trade with the Texans.
Cooks definitely has more upside than Hilton, but there is a very low floor. Cooks has a very dubious concussion history, and one more concussion could knock him out of the league for good. Furthermore, Cooks showed signs of a decline last year. This, however, may have been a byproduct of catching passes from terrible quarterbacks and losing interest because the team was so bad. Cooks could definitely rebound in 2023.
I wouldn’t like this trade for the Cowboys if they were surrendering significant resources, but they are not doing so. A pair of third-day picks won’t make a huge difference, especially with one being a sixth-rounder in 2024. Furthermore, the Texans have agreed to take on $6 million of Cooks’ salary, which is a huge deal.
The Cowboys definitely won this trade. Cooks made it known that he didn’t want to play in Houston, so the team didn’t exactly have any leverage. However, agreeing to pay $6 million is a loss, even if it netted those late-round picks.
Grade for Cowboys – A-
Grade for Texans – C-
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Cowboys acquire CB Stephon Gilmore from Colts for 5th-round pick
The Cowboys had to find better cornerback play across from Trevon Diggs. They may have been able to do so via the 2023 NFL Draft, but as you can see in my 2023 NFL Mock Draft, all the top cornerbacks are off the board by the time Dallas is on the clock.
Trading for Stephon Gilmore is a short-term solution, but it’s one that could really pay off in the near future. Gilmore obviously isn’t the elite shutdown cornerback he once was now that he’s in his 30s – he’ll turn 33 in September – but he was still able to perform on a high level last year. He’s a great bargain for a fifth-round pick, which will actually be Dallas’ compensatory selection, so it’s almost a sixth-round choice.
The Cowboys definitely won this trade, but I understand why Indianapolis would make this move. The Colts are rebuilding, as they’ve definitely fallen behind the Jaguars. By the time they’re good again, Gilmore will probably be entering retirement, so it makes sense to get something for him.
Grade for Cowboys – A
Grade for Colts – B
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