Kenny Moore among 3 veterans Cowboys could trade for instead of drafting

If you didn’t already know, the NFL draft is dominating the football landscape right now. With just under two weeks until it gets underway, the Dallas Cowboys continue to stack up their prospects for their 30 visits.

However, the draft isn’t the only way the team can improve. There are still free agents available and if the Cowboys don’t like how the draft is shaping up, they can also trade for a veteran to fill their holes. Jerry Jones and the front office have never been shy about trading for players and this might be a year where acquiring talent might be better than drafting it.

This offseason there have been rumors about Dallas trading for help on defense, but nothing has come to fruition. The Maxx Crosby trade never worked out, and linebacker Patrick Queen was a hot name at one point, yet that didn't get done either.

That doesn’t mean the Cowboys should stop trying and the draft is a perfect time to get trades done. Here are three other veteran players the Cowboys should investigate acquiring with draft picks instead of using the selection on a rookie.

Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard

If the Cowboys swung a deal for Greenard, the veteran would step in and immediately be the team’s best pass rusher. He was injured last season and played only 12 games, but he had back-to-back 12+ sacks seasons in 2023-2024 while playing for two different teams, so he can quickly adapt and be successful. Greenard also totaled 43 tackles for a loss in the last three seasons combined.

The Minnesota Vikings had been shopping him earlier in the offseason and if the Cowboys would offer up their third-round pick (92nd overall), it might get a deal done. Greenard does have two years and over $38 million left on his current contract but wants a new deal. Any trade would likely require the Cowboys to negotiate a new deal with Greenard, something that could hold up a trade.

The Cowboys do have a need for a top edge rusher and Greenard would help fix that hole. If the team strikes out on Day 1 of the draft in finding a prospect to harass quarterbacks, Greendard should be an option in a trade moving forward.

LB Jordyn Brooks

The 2025 First-Team All-Pro would be a massive upgrade for a team that desperately needs LB help. Christian Parker’s defense needs a leader in the middle of the field and Brooks would be just that.

Brooks is coming off a season where he led the NFL tackles, he has five straight years with at least 111 tackles and has back-to-back career highs in tackles for a loss in the last two seasons.

Currently, Brooks is in the last year of a manageable contract and would likely need a new deal as a part of any trade, but he would the best LB Dallas’ defense has had in years.

Again, the Cowboys’ third-round pick would likely be the starting point for a trade, which should be an easy deal. With the lack of skill and depth the team has at LB right now, Brooks would be well worth the investment to steady a group who needs a legitimate answer for the middle of the defense.

CB Kenny Moore

The Indianapolis Colts and the CB have recently agreed to allow Moore to seek a trade, and the Cowboys would make a great home.

The two teams have worked together in the past on a CB trade when the Cowboys acquired Stephon Gilmore in 2023, so there is a history of getting a deal done. Moore will be 31-years old when the season comes along, but he could fill a valuable role as the slot/nickel defender the team craves.

In nine seasons with the Colts, Moore started 111 games, picked off four passes, and been a physical tackler despite his smaller frame (5’9” and 190 lbs.). He’s also a good blitzer, tallying 11.5 career sacks.

Adding Moore would cost the Cowboys around $10 million this season, but there is no more guaranteed money on his contract, so the team could use him for a year and walk away. They could also rework Moore’s deal to lessen his cap hit in 2026 and extend his deal.

Trading for Moore, who does have a Pro Bowl season to his name, would likely mean giving up a Day 3 pick or two, but he’d be worth it for the Cowboys. Moore is a good, durable corner who can help the defense immediately.

Jerry Jones has lamented losing CB Jourdan Lewis last offseason, and here’s his chance to fix the mistake.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys should trade for these 3 veterans instead of drafting