The Dallas Cowboys are sitting on the fence between being buyers and sellers are the NFL trade deadline.
Dallas is 3-3-1 record through seven games and is in second place in the NFC East, and the Cowboys are also in striking distance for a wild-card spot.
Depending on what happens in the next two weeks before the deadline, owner Jerry Jones may get busy ahead of Nov. 4, and if so, he should look to improve what is one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Dallas ranks dead-last against the pass and 30th against the run and in points allowed.
While a lot of attention is rightly on edge rusher, the Cowboys also have a need at cornerback thanks to the ineffective play of Kaiir Elam. Dallas could also simply use more depth behind Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, both of whom have struggled with injury in recent years.
One player who figures to be available at the trade deadline is Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen, who was mentioned as a trade candidate in a rumor by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport last month.
FanSided’s Zachary Rotman predicts the Cowboys will be the team to come away with Woolen at the trade deadline.
The Dallas Cowboys could be a team willing to give the Seahawks something to get their hands on Woolen. They, theoretically, should be set with their starting corner duo of DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs, but their defense this season has been among the league’s worst, and the secondary should shoulder a good amount of blame for that. He wouldn’t fix all of their defensive issues, but an improved secondary paired with how well Dak Prescott has the offense playing could allow Dallas to sneak into the playoffs.
A former Pro Bowler, Woolen has proven himself to be a solid starter in the NFL and he would amount to a sizeable upgrade over Elam.
Over four seasons, Woolen has surrendered a completion rate of 55.3% and a passer rating of 72.8. Compare that to Elam, who has given up completions on 68.3% of the passes thrown his way and has surrendered a passer rating of 108.1 during his lackluster career.
Because Woolen is in the final year of his contract and hasn’t gotten off to an ideal start to this season, he doesn’t figure to cost more than a Day 3 pick.
For that price, the Cowboys would be wise to take a swing on Woolen, who is young enough to be in the team’s long-term plans at the age of 26 if his performance warrants an extension in 2026.
