Cowboys: Only one of two proposed wide receiver trades makes sense
The Dallas Cowboys need a wide receiver. And although they rarely make any aggressive roster-building moves, a couple of wide receivers expected to be in the trade block could raise their interest. NFL.com Adam Rank put together an article listing five players around the league that could and should be traded. In it, he included […]
The Dallas Cowboys need a wide receiver. And although they rarely make any aggressive roster-building moves, a couple of wide receivers expected to be in the trade block could raise their interest.
NFL.com Adam Rank put together an article listing five players around the league that could and should be traded. In it, he included two wide receivers and even suggested the Cowboys as a specific candidate to land one of them.
But upon further review, only one of them makes sense. Let's dive in, shall we?
WR Mike Evans
- Cap Savings (for Bucs): $2 million
- Cap Number 2023: $23.7 million
- Free Agency: 2024 (Void)
"Evans actually would be a great acquisition for a number of teams, including some seriously looking to make a Super Bowl run," writes Rank in his article for NFL.com. "Like the Dallas Cowboys, who are desperate to venture beyond the Divisional Round for the first time since Bill Clinton's first term."
But I'll be honest here. I don't see Evans being moved from Tampa Bay. The financials aren't there, as Bucs insider Greg Auman points out below.
The Bucs are about to move on from the short-but-successful Tom Brady era and things don't look pretty. Brady alone will occupy $35.1 million in dead money and extending Evans' contract is one of the easiest ways Tampa Bay can get cap space.
Plus, as they prepare to lose plenty of talent in free agency, why lose Evans as well? He's never had a down year and even at 29 years old, he's someone Tampa can build around.
WR DeAndre Hopkins
- Cap Savings (for Bucs): $8 million
- Cap Number 2023: $30.8 million
- Free Agency: 2025
Contrary to Evans and the Bucs, the Arizona Cardinals should be interested in moving D-Hop. He'd open up $8 million in cap space and the Cards know Kyler Murray's injury could take a long time.
Reports have already emerged about Murray planning to take it slowly with his rehab after tearing his ACL in December. Can Arizona get a return on investment by trading him away?
While Hopkins' cap number is very large, the Cowboys could bring it down with a reworked deal that would bump up his guaranteed salary (he has none left on his deal).
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Featured image via Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
