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Dallas Cowboys edge rusher, Dante Fowler, Jr., celebrating after securing a sack in the fourth quarter against the Washington Commanders on January 7, 2024.
The Dallas Cowboys have already traded one edge rusher earlier this offseason in All-Pro, Micah Parsons, now residing with the Green Bay Packers, who come to Dallas for the Sunday night game in week 4.
In this trade proposal, the team sends away a second defensive end to a fellow NFC West team, the San Francisco 49ers, as they look to keep the team going after former Defensive Player of the Year, Nick Bosa was ruled out for the season with a torn ACL on Monday.
Although the Cowboys moved on from Parsons just prior to the start of the season, the team is still reasonably stacked depth-wise at the position, boasting three former second round picks in Marshawn Kneeland, Sam Williams and rookie, Donovan Ezeiruaku – all of whom are still on their first contracts.
So, in order to make the most out of the playing time for the young up-and-comers, the team could be willing to part ways with one of their veteran edge rushers, Dante Fowler Jr., who was acquired by the team in free agency this past offseason.
Why A Cowboys-Niners Trade For Veteran EDGE Makes Sense
Despite registering 10.5 sacks last season in Washington, the former 3rd overall pick was unable to find a big-money deal on the open market, and settled for a one year, $6 million contract with Dallas.
So far, Fowler has been unable to do a whole lot on the pitch, but he has an upside that few other readily-available players at the position can match – even at age 31.
And San Francisco defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh, has a long-held reputation for always being able to get the absolute very best out of almost every defensive lineman that he brings in.
The 49ers are currently starting a tandem of rookie first round pick, Mykel Williams, and veteran, Bryce Huff, who was traded to the team this past offseason after being unable to replicate his impressive form with the Jets in Philadelphia.
Adding a player like Fowler – who has experience and pedigree as a starter in the league – takes much of the pressure off of Williams to go out there and be an immediate threat on the perimeter.
It also means that the 11th overall pick does not have to play as many snaps, meaning that he is able to recoup his energy within games and not get too burned out early on in his career.
Why Dallas Can Afford To Relinquish Fowler Jr
The team just bought in Jadeveon Clowney as their sixth defensive end, with former Cleveland Browns pass-rush specialist, James Houston, also forming part of the rotation.
With a massive six competent edge rushers on the active roster, the team can certainly afford to move off one of them. And whilst Fowler Jr. remains the starter, alongside fourth year pro, Sam Williams, losing him – in all likelihood – impacts the team’s future the least, given that he is in a contract year and will be 32 years of age in 2026.
This also allows Kneeland and Ezeiruaku; two players who the team are still very high on; to get more opportunities to flourish and become that multi-player replacement for Parsons’ immense production, whilst both still on cheap rookie deals.
San Francisco 49ers receive: Dante Fowler Jr., 2026 seventh round pick
Dallas Cowboys receive: 2027 fifth round pick, 2027 seventh round pick.
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas
