Moar Moore? Free-agent pain may be Cowboys' trade-market gain

If there was one area the Dallas Cowboys simply had to address in free agency this spring it was linebacker. With all due respect to defensive back and pass rusher, linebacker was a position seemingly without internal options. Dallas’ shift to a 3-4 base meant a split between inside and outside linebackers on the depth chart. It left the inside with DeMarvion Overshown as the only starting-quality option on the roster.

As predicted, the Cowboys made a concerted effort to sign a veteran linebacker right away in free agency. Unfortunately, their advances were rebuffed and Nakobe Dean picked the Las Vegas Raiders and friendship with fellow Dallas snubber Quay Walker over the Cowboys.

At the time of the snubbing, the bright side of things was hard to identify, but roughly a month later there may be good news to glean from the situation: The money the Cowboys were trying to pay Dean may end up going to a position of near-equal need, such as cornerback.

On April 10 it was reported veteran nickel cornerback Kenny Moore requested a trade from the Indianapolis Colts because the former Pro Bowler questioned his fit on Indianapolis’ revamped defense. The 30-year-old has carved out a reputation for being one of the more physical and reliable inside cornerbacks in the NFL over the years. It stands to reason he'd be attractive to more than a few teams in 2026.

The Cowboys, who publicly lamented the loss of nickel CB Jourdan Lewis last year, are in the market for an inside cornerback. 2025 starter Reddy Steward wasn’t the answer, and even if free agent addition Jalen Thompson can fill the void on early downs, Dallas still needs a bone fide nickel to handle obvious passing situations.

Moore’s aggressive playing style, tackling ability, and proficiency in various coverages make him a good fit for Christian Parker’s defense in Dallas. And at a cost of $10 million in base salary and game bonus’es, Moore’s 2026 cost would pick up right where Dean’s offer left off.

Moore’s contract voids after the season so he shouldn’t cost more than a late-round pick to acquire. The Cowboys are known to trade for players on expiring deals making Moore a fairly easy sell to the front office. Parker, the Cowboys’ gregarious new defensive coordinator, might be all the selling the Cowboys need for Moore, but it’s not unreasonable to think an extension could be offered as well.

The Cowboys are still desperately thin at inside linebacker and would love to have someone like Dean to atop the depth chart, but Moore would be a heckuva consolation prize at a position that’s also in need. It’s something for the Cowboys to jump on if the 2026 NFL draft goes a different direction for them. If linebacker and edge are early picks, trading for Moore would be a great way to round out an offseason of roster upgrades.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Losing on Dean may have left Cowboys perfect salary carveout for Moore