The Dallas Cowboys made a blockbuster trade before the 2025 season when they sent edge-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, who ultimately signed him to a four-year, $188 million deal. Since then, the Cowboys have tried hard to fill the Parsons void, but there’s more work to be done, and that’s why they went hard on defensive players in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Between rookie safety Caleb Downs and edge-rushers Malachi Lawrence and Jaishawn Barham, Dallas is looking solid when it comes to their defensive line. So solid, that they may decide to trade away some of their defensive linemen.
In a piece for Bleacher Report released on June 2, Moe Moton names one player for each NFL team who could get traded before the season starts.
“After teams wrap up organized team activities (OTAs), general managers will reassess the depth chart between mandatory minicamp and training camp,” Moton said.
Cowboys could part ways with edge-rusher before the 2026 season
For the Cowboys, he sees them having an opportunity to trade away James Houston. During the offseason, the Cowboys not only brought on a crop of defensive rookies, but they also snagged Rashan Gary from the Packers, plus the team has Donovan Ezeiruaku and Sam Williams. So, now is the time to trade a veteran edge=rusher while he still has draft capital.
“The Cowboys’ roster additions could bury Houston on the depth chart,” Moton said. “Rather than play the fifth-year pro sparingly, Dallas can trade him to an edge-rusher-needy team for an early Day 3 pick.”