The Dallas Cowboys traded Amari Cooper earlier this offseason, and injuries are piling up at wide receiver. Who could they try to trade for?
The Dallas Cowboys already no longer have Amari Cooper, who figures to be the WR1 for the Cleveland Browns in 2022.
They are practicing without Michael Gallup, who won’t return until “hopefully” at some point early in the season.
Now, they are going to be without James Washington, a free agent dart throw from the Steelers who was sadly carted off the field at practice on Monday.
Although the Cowboys have made some moves at receiver this offseason to supplement their depth besides CeeDee Lamb, including bringing in USFL star KaVontae Turpin, additional moves might be necessary now that the depth is truly ailing.
Could the Cowboys check on the wide receiver trade market? Here are some names that may be intriguing around the league.
Dallas Cowboys WR trade option no. 1: Laviska Shenault, Jaguars
Somebody set Laviska Shenault free.
The 2020 second-round pick could have been so much more, as we saw during his rookie season back in 2020.
What the 49ers are doing with Deebo Samuel, you would think the Jaguars — or some team — would be doing with Laviska Shenault.
All the buzz surrounding Shenault over the last year has been regarding a potential trade destination so you can’t help but wonder at this point if it’s simply a matter of “when” and not “if” a trade actually goes down.
The Cowboys, at this point, make as much sense as any team to acquire Shenault if he’s actually available.
Although there’s a new regime in Jacksonville with Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson, you can’t help but think that there’s too much water under the bridge between Shenault and the Jaguars.
We’ll see if he gets the opportunity to move on as training camp progresses but this is a player that the Cowboys would probably have to trade a decent draft pick or two to acquire, and it would be worth the risk.
Dallas Cowboys WR trade option no. 2: Denzel Mims, Jets
You have to applaud the New York Jets for at least not killing Denzel Mims’ trade value this year.
Mike LaFleur on Denzel Mims, said he can tell he’s more comfortable in the offense. Said he’s “made such great strides” and that he “loves the way he’s attacked it.” #Jets
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) August 1, 2022
Who knows what you should actually put stock into regarding what the Jets or any of their coaches say regarding Mims, but this is another former highly-touted draft pick who has a combination of size and speed.
The former Baylor star has been virtually non-existent as a pro — he caught just eight passes a season ago and has yet to score a touchdown in the NFL.
The New York Jets have revamped their wide receiver room and Mims doesn’t appear to be in the immediate plans to start.
The Jets have depth concerns elsewhere on their roster and the Cowboys could make much better use of Mims this season than the Jets could.
Not to mention, Mims would go from Zach Wilson and Joe Flacco throwing him the ball to Dak Prescott.
Not bad.
From those in attendance at Jets camp, it sounds like Mims is a man on a mission.
Denzel Mims again. Just an absurd catch, ripping the ball away from Dunn deep down middle of field. Mike White on the throw. Mims is on fire #Jets
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) July 27, 2022
He doesn’t want the dreaded NFL Draft bust label, and can you blame him?
But is his strong training camp going to carry into preseason games? Is he simply auditioning for other teams at this point?
As of right now, the Cowboys wouldn’t exactly be buying low on Mims — that seemingly could have been done last year — but they could still probably pry him away from the Jets for a reasonable price.
Dallas Cowboys WR trade option no. 3: Travis Fulgham, Broncos
Do you think Trevon Diggs is losing any sleep over the Cowboys’ pending practices in Denver against Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos?
Not because of Russell Wilson.
Or Courtland Sutton. Or Jerry Jeudy. Or Tim Patrick.
No, no. This is a different beast entirely.
Diggs could be losing sleep over the man, the myth, the legend that is Travis Fulgham.
Remember Fulgham and his wild stretch of top-tier play back in the 2020 season when he was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles?
You’ve got to think Trevon Diggs remembers.
All kidding aside, Fulgham did have some significant success back in the 2020 season, and after falling off the map in 2021 a little bit, he’s been having a good offseason for the Denver Broncos.
The Cowboys are obviously expecting to get Michael Gallup back healthy and they have some younger guys they probably want to get reps, but a player like Fulgham for a late-round pick could be a win-win scenario for both parties.
Fulgham would get out of the logjam he’s currently in with the Denver Broncos, and the Cowboys would get a reasonably risk-free wild card at an important position where their depth is really struggling.
Fulgham and Diggs could let bygones be bygones.