Players with realistic trade value

[Bobhaze]

As the trade deadline nears, there are several threads talking about trades as if we have a bunch of players that have real trade value. It seems at times that many of our fans overvalue our player, thinking our trash is someone else’s treasure. Or that there are a load of teams just salivating to acquire our not so stellar guys.

But it doesn’t work that way. In fact, compared to most pro sports, like the NBA or MLB, there are very few trades of consequence in the NFL at the mid season deadline.

So, if we were serious about trading some of our guys for an upgrade, who actually would have real trade value? Before listing those guys, let’s look at the big factors and questions other teams are going to look at before agreeing to a trade:

• The age and injury history of the player. A 30+ year old player has very little trade value, even if they are still a pretty good player. Injury history also factors in.
• Contract status. A player who is still a very good player but has a very big contract is usually not very attractive to teams wanting a trade. Most NFL teams do not have the cap space to take on a big contract from a player who may already have diminishing skills.
• Potential off field issues/Team chemistry issues- the poster children of this issue are Antonio Brown and Earl Thomas. Both can probably still play, but most teams don’t want to deal with the headaches and baggage they bring. NEVER FORGET- in a league starved for talent at many positions, if other teams are avoiding someone, pay attention.

So with those general guidelines, who are the players we have that are and aren’t trade-able?
Here are some talented guys who aren’t trade-able for a multitude of reasons:

• D-Law- Big contract, approaching 30 and has some injury history.
• Tyron Smith- age, injury, contract- the trifecta. You couldn’t get a 7th rounder. I actually think he’s going to retire in the off season.
• Zeke- He’s just 25, but he has a big contract no one would want, and like all great RBs, after 5 seasons, his best days are probably not in front of him. We already see a lack of burst. He’s still a very good RB, but not great trade bait.
  
• LVE- two words- Neck injuries.
• La’el Collins- again- injuries. And a sizable contract.
• Amari Cooper- still an excellent receiver, but he’s got a big contract that few if any teams would want. Maybe in the offseason. Maybe.

Guys with great trade value- although we probably wouldn’t want to trade:

• Michael Gallup- still very young, still blossoming, and has a rookie deal for another full season. I would trade Cooper before Gallup if possible, although most teams wouldn’t trade for Coop.
• Zack Martin- contract might be too high, but he’s still a top 3 OL in the NFL and he’s 29. I wouldn’t trade him, but there’s probably some value there.
• CeDee Lamb- no way I’d trade him, but he would have great value at 22, and on a rookie deal for 3 more full seasons. Might be the only player we have that would garner a first round pick.

There are some mid level players we have that have a little value- maybe 6th or 7th round value, but that might be a stretch. Again, home town fans ALWAYS overvalue their own players.

All this to say....I don’t see the Cowboys being able to do much in a trade. Do you?

 

[Vanilla2]

The only person I think they’d get anything of value for is Gallup. And there is no way in heck I’d make that trade. Unless it was to the chargers lol

 

[Bobhaze]

The only person I think they’d get anything of value for is Gallup. And there is no way in heck I’d make that trade. Unless it was to the chargers lol

Gallup would draw a ton of interest. But I wouldn’t trade him unless someone made a stupid offer. Unfortunately those kind of offers usually come from our front office.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Yeah, the people you want to trade 99% of the time have no value. If you wanted to go all in on a rebuild I'd say Gallup, Martin, maybe awuzie(if he comes back healthy) are really your only true trade assets.

Contracts don't move much in the nfl unless it's a star player at their peak. More often than not your stuck with just cutting vets with contracts.

 

[jaythecowboy]

Tyron Smith is definitely tradeable. He only makes $12 million and is still a top 5 tackle when healthy.

 

[Bobhaze]

Tyron Smith is definitely tradeable. He only makes $12 million and is still a top 5 tackle when healthy.

He can’t even walk right now. Seriously, who would want him?

 

[CouchCoach]

One more consideration in trading is the availability of players at the position. WR's a pretty easy to get.

Cooper, Gallup and Lamb would be good candidates except young WRs are coming out of every draft and making noise in their rookie season. With the salaries in the 20M range, a smart team has WR's in their first contract.

The best trade situation is a contender in dire need because they lost their guy for the season.

If anyone here thinks Booger is giving up his draft prize, Lamb, think again. And 16 teams passed on him in the draft.

 

[CouchCoach]

Tyron Smith is definitely tradeable. He only makes $12 million and is still a top 5 tackle when healthy.

He hasn't been 100% in 3 years.

 

[ClappingCarrot]

If you were in tank mode, I could see moving Martin or Gallup.

But RG and WR is literally the bright spots of the team at the moment and I wouldn't move those guys while in first place.

 

[Sydla]

Some of those guys you can't trade because of the contract - not because another team might see them as too expensive, but because the cap implications for us stink. You try to trade Elliott? You have to then take a hit for the full signing bonus, etc.

 

[jazzcat22]

No one worth trading right now. This team has a lot of upside. Yes they ned defense real bad. However we are getting some players back.
We should get 4 comp picks in the draft. and should be a 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th or 2 5th's.

We do not need to have another 1st or 2nd. And if they were to make any trades, it would before or during the draft. But no way would I trade a player now, unless it is an absolute insane trade where we come out way on top. And that will not happen. Would be insane to trade away Gallup at this point, as he is probably the only player that would fetch a 1st round.

 

[BigTimeBlues]

No one worth trading right now. This team has a lot of upside. Yes they ned defense real bad. However we are getting some players back.
We should get 4 comp picks in the draft. and should be a 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th or 2 5th's.

We do not need to have another 1st or 2nd. And if they were to make any trades, it would before or during the draft. But no way would I trade a player now, unless it is an absolute insane trade where we come out way on top. And that will not happen. Would be insane to trade away Gallup at this point, as he is probably the only player that would fetch a 1st round.

I absolutely love Gallup. He's a stud with a bright future. I want him to wear a gold jacket one day, because he had an excellent career as a Dallas Cowboy.

That being said, if a team comes at me with an Adams/Fitzpatrick type trade haul? No hesitation, I'm taking that trade.

Dallas has some odd 12+ contracts coming up, and with no idea what the Cap is going to be like next year..they need as many picks as they can get. Especially for blue-chip talent.

 

[Bobhaze]

One more consideration in trading is the availability of players at the position. WR's a pretty easy to get.

Cooper, Gallup and Lamb would be good candidates except young WRs are coming out of every draft and making noise in their rookie season. With the salaries in the 20M range, a smart team has WR's in their first contract.

The best trade situation is a contender in dire need because they lost their guy for the season.

If anyone here thinks Booger is giving up his draft prize, Lamb, think again. And 16 teams passed on him in the draft.

Since the convoluted salary cap has been implemented, trades in the NFL are relatively rare. And trading for a WR at midseason is usually considered not so smart...unless your name is Jerral Wayne Jones. If we have a first round pick, there’s always room for another WR on the Jones Fantasy Football Squad.

 

[Future]

The Cowboys would almost certainly lose any trade involving Michael Gallup.

You're talking about needing to get back a first-round pick (that hits) AND pro-bowl defensive player to get the value, and even then, you probably aren't better.

 

[Jake]

Tyron Smith is definitely tradeable. He only makes $12 million and is still a top 5 tackle when healthy.

He hasn't played a full season since 2015, is out for this one, is over 30, and has a history of neck and back issues. His cap hit over the next 3 years exceeds $45 million.

None of that puts him in high demand for the future, regardless of what he was in the past.

 

[fivetwos]

Doesnt matter.

Because if you ask Jerry....next year is the year that the defense is all fixed, the staff gets a full offseason, and they will win it all.

Every year is like that according to Jerry.

 

[GMO415]

Season's done. Perhaps trades next year.

 

[Bobhaze]

Doesnt matter.

Because if you ask Jerry....next year is the year that the defense is all fixed, the staff gets a full offseason, and they will win it all.

Every year is like that according to Jerry.

He’s been saying that for two decades. He could sell sand in the desert but couldn’t put a great roster together to save his money.

Season's done. Perhaps trades next year.

I posted this thread to try and show some Cowboys fans how unrealistic most trade ideas are. This team doesn’t have many players with real trade value.

 

[jaythecowboy]

He hasn't played a full season since 2015, is out for this one, is over 30, and has a history of neck and back issues. His cap hit over the next 3 years exceeds $45 million.

None of that puts him in high demand for the future, regardless of what he was in the past.

He only missed like three games last year if I'm not mistaken and the top tackles are making $20 million+ now. Obviously health is a concern which would drop his value down but still wouldn't be untradeable imo.

 

[McKDaddy]

Accurate list IMO.

Of the tradeable option, I would be more willing to trade Zack primarily due to his age. If someone would trade for Tyron, I would do that as well. As they say, trade while you can still drive it onto the lot.

Gallup - I would be very reluctant but for the right return, yes.

Jaylon - I would be willing to take some cap hit to move him unless he really balls out the rest of the season.