It’s only Week 5 but the some NFL teams are already putting players for sale ahead of the post-Week 9 trade deadline. And a recent high-profile trade opens the door for the Dallas Cowboys to go shopping.

The Cleveland Browns sent quarterback Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals for a Day 3 pick swap. Flacco—who started four games for the Browns before being benched by rookie Dillon Gabriel—now heads to the Bengals, who are expected to be without Joe Burrow until December. And though Cleveland was already ready to move on from Flacco, the deal could mean they’re taking calls from any teams looking to go shopping.

The Cowboys should be interested in the Browns’ talent on defense. Dallas ranks 32nd in the NFL in defensive EPA/play and though there are many issues with Matt Eberflus’ unit, one of the most notorious one is linebacker play.

Through five weeks, the Cowboys have started Jack Sanborn (a largely unproven player who has struggled early on) at middle linebacker and Kenneth Murray (a former first-round draft pick who has failed to live up to expectations and is on his third team). Second-year player Marist Liufau Fifth-round rookie Shemar James have also seen playing time. None of the team’s linebackers has been consistently good, however.

Meanwhile, the Browns have Devin Bush, who is playing quality football for Cleveland. To learn more about the Browns’ situation and Bush, I reached out to A to Z Sports Cleveland’s Brandon Little, who warns the team isn’t in “full-on seller” mode just yet.

Browns expert on potential Devin Bush trade

Little: The Joe Flacco trade was simply Cleveland getting a draft pick for a player whose time with the team had run its course. The Browns brought Flacco back hoping he could replicate his 2023 success, but that never materialized. He was benched after the Week 4 loss to the Detroit Lions and spent one game as the backup to Dillon Gabriel before being traded. This move shouldn’t be viewed as the Browns becoming full-on sellers — they had already signaled that they were done with Flacco under center following eight turnovers in four games. Cleveland isn’t going anywhere in 2025, and their offseason moves showed that a small-scale rebuild was already underway.

Cleveland’s draft class from April looks stellar, highlighted by linebacker Carson Schwesinger, who’s emerging as a potential future All-Pro quickly. The Browns have often thrived with one standout linebacker and solid depth behind him under position coach Jason Tarver, who has always found a way to have suitable linebacker play in Cleveland. They’ve also received strong play from veteran Devin Bush this season, who could become a trade candidate at the deadline as a player on a one-year deal. Bush is playing some of the best football of his career, recording 36 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. According to Pro Football Focus, Bush ranks No. 8 out of 137 linebackers with an overall grade of 84 through five starts.

Cleveland could likely net a late draft pick swap — perhaps sending a sixth-round pick for a fifth-rounder — if they move Bush before the deadline. The former first-round pick is on a one-year, $3.25 million deal with $2.9 million guaranteed. A major injury earlier in his career impacted the player he’s become, but this season Bush has proven to be a strong run-stopper with the ability to cover when needed. While not the fastest linebacker, he plays with aggression and physicality and can be a force behind a stout defensive line. Missed tackles happen at times with bad angles but he’s a player you can trust in the middle of the field. Trading Bush isn’t a move the Browns have to make — and they may not — but it’s one that shouldn’t be ruled out given the circumstances.

Cost would make sense for the Cowboys

There’s no question the Cowboys have an elite offense right now and they should do everything in their power to boost the defense and make it competitive before it’s too late. However, it’s likely the Cowboys and potential trade partners wait a little bit longer to make deals closer to the deadline.

With that in mind, the Cowboys need to focus in what they can control for now. Win games. So when Week 9 comes around, they’re in a spot where a deal makes sense.