Cowboys Trade Pitch Lands 26-Year-Old Star Who is Expected to be Traded

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Reports have indicated over the past month that the Seattle Seahawks could move on from former star cornerback Tariq Woolen. Woolen was highly regarded just a few seasons ago, but simply hasn’t played the type of football that he’s been expected to in recent years. After being selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he was a Pro Bowler as early as his rookie season.

Given how poorly the Dallas Cowboys‘ defense has looked this season, there’s reason to believe that Woolen could be an excellent piece for what Dallas is looking to accomplish. Its secondary has been banged up, the defense hasn’t performed well, and it’s obvious that things need to change. That’s why Sports Illustrated proposed the idea of Woolen being traded to the Cowboys.

“Dallas is working on scheme changes in the secondary, but that might not be enough. At this point, they need to consider making a major change with Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland both struggling to play to their full potential.

“Perhaps they need someone to push them for their spots, which is what Riq Woolen could do. The 6-foot-4 cornerback tied for the league-lead with six interceptions in 2022 but doesn’t appear to be in the long-term plans for Seattle. That could be a huge win for Dallas, who could use his talent to help clean up the secondary,” Randy Gurzi wrote .

Is Tariq Woolen Available in the Trade Market?

Regarding the availability of Woolen for the Dallas Cowboys and other teams around the league, it sure sounds like the Seattle Seahawks will move on from him in the upcoming weeks.

The trade deadline is Nov. 4, giving the Cowboys and other teams about three weeks before they have to make a trade.

“Clubs are monitoring Seahawks CB Riq Woolen as a possible trade target by the deadline, which this year falls on Nov. 4, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported Sunday, per sources.

“Rapoport added that Woolen’s playing time should decrease now that Devon Witherspoon, who returned from a two-game absence for Thursday night’s 23-20 win over the Cardinals, is healthy, and other organizations believe the fourth-year corner could be attainable in the final year of his rookie deal,” Bobby Kownack of NFL.com wrote.

What Would the Cowboys Need to Give Up for Tariq Woolen?

The question for the Dallas Cowboys will likely come down to what they have to move on from to get something done for Woolen.

According to NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, it sounds like it could be a fifth-round pick that turns into a fourth-rounder.

“To me, it feels more like you get a five that turns into a four,” Jeremiah said . “At the most, I would think a four that would turn into a three, (but) that seems like maybe that coffee’s a little rich. But I think that’s the family of which you’re looking at in terms of compensation.”

If he’s on a new team and has an opportunity to learn a new system, there’s a chance that Woolen might be able to find his form from his earlier years. He’s still very young, talented, and other factors could be playing a role in why he hasn’t played well in Seattle recently.

Jon Conahan covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Since 2019, his sports coverage has appeared at Sports Illustrated, oddschecker, ClutchPoints and Sportskeeda. More about Jon Conahan