Grading the Trade: Cowboys make the most out of a bad situation right before roster cuts deadline
The Dallas Cowboys made a trade that complements their recent addition of OT Broderick Jones very well.
Make that two offensive tackle related trades for the Dallas Cowboys in a 24-hour span. Acquiring offenisve tackle Broderick Jones from the Pittsburgh Steelers was bound to send a shockwave through the offensive line depth chart, and now we know who is being pushed out.
The Cowboys are trading OT Nate Thomas, a seventh-round draft pick in 2024, to the Houston Texans, according to Ian Rapoport from NFL Network. The Cowboys are getting a 2027 seventh-round pick in return per Joe Hoyt from The Dallas Morning News.
Why the Cowboys made the trade
The trade puts a bow on a tumultous offseason for Thomas. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced early in the offseason Thomas would get a chance to compete for the left tackle starting job. One padded practice into camp, Schottenheimer suggested that was over. Thomas did not help himself throughout the preseason.
From there, Thomas was switched to right tackle in the preseason, where inconsistencies continued. After acquiring Jones, Thomas’ spot on the team became redundant. The Cowboys were never going to keep three backup tackles on their 53.
Thus, the move makes it easier to keep fourth-round rookie Drew Shelton around. I would expect him to make the 53-man roster once cuts are finalized.
Though Shelton is highly unlikely to contribute as a rookie, he’s a developmental tackle with good agility. His technique and play strength need to drastically improve before he takes the field, though.
Grading the trade
I’m not going to sit here and pretend a seventh-round pick is game-changing compensation. But the Cowboys likely cut Thomas if the Texans don’t make the trade. So props to them for getting something in return for the fourth-year tackle.
I also view this as a way of reducing the “cost” of acquiring Jones. All in all, it seems like the Cowboys traded back from the third-round to the fourth and from the sixth to the seventh in exchange of more upside at backup tackle. Jones has struggled recently, but he remains a highly athletic tackle with first-round pedigree who could make things work with time.
With the deal, the Cowboys recover a seventh in 2027, which they didn’t have before the deal. Solid move.
GRADE: B
