Proposed Trade Sends Cowboys a Jets 5-Time Pro Bowler for Brandin Cooks
The Dallas Cowboys may need to get aggressive this offseason if the team hopes to be a Super Bowl contender in 2024. Could the Cowboys strike a blockbuster trade in the coming months?
Former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum floated a wild trade proposal between the Cowboys and New York Jets. The proposed trade has Dallas landing five-time Pro Bowl linebacker C.J. Mosley in exchange for wideout Brandin Cooks.
“This really works well for both teams,” Tannenbaum noted in a February 16, 2024 episode of ESPN’s “Get Up.” “Look, the Jets need outside speed, outside of Garrett Wilson with Aaron Rodgers coming back. They have depth in their front seven.
“The Cowboys desperately need size and speed at middle linebacker. …This is really going to help both teams.”
Does it really help the Jets and Cowboys as the former NFL exec suggested? Let’s examine this blockbuster trade pitch.
Cowboys Rumors: Trading for Jets Star C.J. Mosley Is Not Financially Viable for Dallas
Mosley is heading into the final season of a five-year, $85 million contract. The defender comes with a $17 million salary along with a sizable $21.4 million cap hit for 2024.
Comparatively, Cooks in entering the final season of a two-year, $39.7 million deal. Cooks has an $8 million salary with a $10 million cap hit for 2024.
Dallas is already sitting at an estimated $20 million above the salary cap for 2024, per Spotrac. This trade would put Dallas even more above the cap.
Financially, this trade proposal does not help the Cowboys. Historically, Dallas has also been reluctant to spend money at the linebacker position.
