Dallas Cowboys Projected To Make Shocking Blockbuster Trade For Superstar Pass Rusher

The Dallas Cowboys are going through a lot of changes, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

The Cowboys will be seeing their former defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, twice a year with the Washington Commanders for the foreseeable future as the team’s rival hired him as their head coach. He also brought secondary coach/passing game coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. as Washington’s new defensive coordinator

Quinn  played a vital role in turning around a Cowboys defense that gave up 29.6 points per game in 2020. In the time that he was the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator, the defense finished top 10 in points allowed, ranking fifth during the 2023 season. The Cowboys were also fifth in total yards allowed and tied for 12th in turnovers. He was named Assistant Coach of the Year by The Associated Press in 2021.

“I want to thank Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, Coach Mike McCarthy, and the entire Dallas Cowboys organization for the past three seasons,” Dan Quinn said. “The players, coaching staff, and everyone across the organization became family in such a short time. We have a great task ahead of us, but the ownership group, Adam, and I are lockstep in putting in the work to achieve our goal: consistently competing for Super Bowls year in and year out.”

With several Cowboys set to test free agency, it’s possible they may see some of their ex-teammates — Dante Fowler Jr., in particular — standing on the Commanders’ sideline with Quinn.

Fowler has a deep history with Quinn. The former third overall pick was coached by him at Florida and then played for him with the Atlanta Falcons. Eventually, Quinn led Fowler to the Cowboys where Fowler had 10 sacks over two seasons.

Going to the Commanders only makes sense for Fowler. He’s clearly a favored personnel choice, and the next coordinator in Dallas may not evaluate the same. That being said, the Jones family is the true constant in their recruiting and Fowler has been a solid addition.

Dallas Cowboys Projected To Trade For Joey Bosa In Blockbuster Move

Whether Fowler leaves or stays, the Cowboys would benefit greatly from another elite pass rusher that can break free when Micah Parsons commands double-teams or is the focus to block for the opposing offense.

Dallas has a talented pass-rusher group spearheaded by Parsons, but Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine thinks they need to elevate the group further with Bosa.

“Looking across the league at who could legitimately be available, Joey Bosa would make a lot of sense as a target… [The Chargers] would clear $14.4 million in cap space and probably pick up a first-rounder to replace him in the process of trading him. Acquiring him is the kind of risk the Cowboys may have to take to join the elite echelon of the NFC,” Ballentine wrote on February 7.

The majority of the risk rests upon Joey Bosa’s health. He’s had more than his fair share of injury issues in the NFL. But when he has hit the field, he is still an elite sack producer.

Trading a first-round pick would be a significant investment and it’s not like the Dallas Cowboys don’t have cap space concerns. But Bosa would give them two (potentially) elite pass rushers and that’s worth considering.

While the 28-year-old has only played 14 games over the past two years, he’s had 9 sacks in that span. There’s no question that Bosa still can go. However, Los Angeles has to consider their situation due to how much money they’ve spent for an oft-injured player.

It seems pricey. Dallas could restructure his deal after the trade, spreading out that cost over multiple void years. The Cowboys could get his cap hit down to $10-12 million a season, which is far more reasonable.

They could also just outright extend him to ensure his services long-term. But hitching your wagon to an injury-prone player that will turn 29 during the 2024 season may be a step too far.