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How the Cowboys could take care of one roster need before the draft
TL;DR
The Dallas Cowboys are considering a trade to address their linebacker need before the NFL draft, allowing for a more flexible draft strategy. This approach mirrors their previous successful trade for wide receiver George Pickens.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 22: Kenny Moore II #23 of the Indianapolis Colts runs out prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 22, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We have been saying they can trade for one for a while now. The Dallas Cowboys have a need at linebacker and nobody wants them to enter the NFL draft that way. So a trade makes sense. Burn a pick, fill the hole, and allow yourself to draft freely. It is very logical.
You can (obviously) apply this logic across an entire roster. There are different levels of needs so nothing is completely identical, but the point is that filling a spot with an existing player instead of using a draft pick during the draft itself to do it is one way to approach things that can be beneficial. Look at how the Cowboys did it at wide receiver with George Pickens last year, although that trade occurred after the draft and not before it.
There is a new veteran option available at cornerback
On Friday it was reported that the Indianapolis Colts and cornerback Kenny Moore mutually agreed to seek a trade partner for him. Hello.
Moore has bee a stable part of Indianapolis’ defense for almost a decade now. He is hardly someone who could be viewed as a long-term answer for the Cowboys, but he could provide an answer at the position for 2026 and therefore eliminate the intense need (as things currently stand) at cornerback in the here and now.
Say something absurd happens like Caleb Downs legitimately falling to the Cowboys at 12 overall (one NFL insider believes this is possible). Dallas could take him (we would riot if they didn’t) and pivot to the best player available at 20 and have cornerback at least addressed for the upcoming season. This is just one hypothetical, but you get the point.
For what it’s worth the finances of Moore’s current contract situation are worth monitoring. He is hardly coming in at league minimum to whoever does decide to trade for him.
Indianapolis owes Moore $10 million in base salary and per-game bonuses this season, which it would save if he is traded. But that sum likely complicates efforts to trade him as a team would have to take on that salary. A pre-June 1 trade would save the Colts more than $7 million in salary cap space.
The price point associated with Moore is such that it seems unlikely that any NFL team will give up much. Perhaps this is a situation where the league will just wait the Colts out and see if they cut Moore outright, perhaps after June 1st.
At that point it would certainly make more sense than right now. This is worth discussing, but probably not something that should be legitimately pursued.
Q&A
What linebacker need do the Cowboys have before the NFL draft?
The Cowboys are looking to fill a gap at linebacker to strengthen their roster ahead of the draft.
How did the Cowboys previously address roster needs before the draft?
Last year, the Cowboys successfully traded for wide receiver George Pickens after the draft, demonstrating their strategy of acquiring players to fill roster spots.
What are the potential benefits of trading for a player before the NFL draft?
Trading for a player allows teams to fill immediate roster needs without using draft picks, which can lead to a more strategic and flexible approach during the draft.
