Cowboys are reportedly interested in Jaylon Johnson trade, could it happen?
The Dallas Cowboys have publicly made it seem like they have no interest in trading for somebody ahead of Tuesday's NFL trade deadline to make a deal happen. NFL insider Benjamin Allbright is reporting the Cowboys are actually interested in pulling off what would be a major trade for a rising defender: Chicago Bears cornerback […]
The Dallas Cowboys have publicly made it seem like they have no interest in trading for somebody ahead of Tuesday's NFL trade deadline to make a deal happen.
NFL insider Benjamin Allbright is reporting the Cowboys are actually interested in pulling off what would be a major trade for a rising defender: Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
Allbright added the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills also have interest in the fourth-year player.
How likely are the Cowboys to trade for Jaylon Johnson?
Despite the report, I'll go ahead and say I am skeptical they pull the trigger. For one, Johnson is legitimately good and consistently getting better. That means the price tag won't be cheap, even if he's on a contract year and is soon to become a free agent.
The Cowboys have usually been very quiet at the trade deadline and both the 49ers and Bills appear the most aggressive decision-makers of the three. I wouldn't bet on Stephen Jones outbidding them for Johnson.
The Cowboys could use cornerback help, however. While they have one of the best starting cornerback trios in the NFL even without Trevon Diggs, depth is a legit concern. Having somebody like Johnson opens up many interesting possibilities for the short and long term.
Where would Jaylon Johnson fit?
This is a very intriguing aspect of this potential trade. At this point, you probably don't want to mess around with what DaRon Bland is cooking, do you? Since he moved to the outside after Diggs' season-ending injury, he's balled out.
Bland has four interceptions for the year, including three pick-sixes. He's playing tight coverage and making plays consistently. Moving him to nickel again could work as he's already proven he can play inside, but is that shaking things up too much?
If the Cowboys get Johnson and want to start him, they'd have to move Bland or Johnson himself, who has logged 331 snaps as a wide corner and only seven in the slot. They could also be targeting Johnson as a potential backup but the price tag might not justify it.
Having said that, there's also the matter of Stephon Gilmore's future. He's 33 years old and is signed only through 2023. Could Johnson be a long-term play for the Cowboys who could be in line to start next year if Gilmore decides not to stick around for another year?
