Cowboys Nation might be wrong about the kind of trade Dallas should be making ahead of deadline

The NFL trade deadline is quickly approaching and as of right now, it's unclear what role the 3-3 Dallas Cowboys should be taking.

Sitting at .500 means they're stuck in the middle of being a buyer or seller. On the one hand, having stars like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb should entice them to be buyers, as they've got enough talent to win ballgames and get themselves in the postseason mix. On the other, the roster is simply not that good right now. Offseason concerns have materialized themselves on several positions, leaving to an incomplete offense and defense. Owner Jerry Jones is lashing out at reporters when questioned about the build of the roster.

Considering they'll have faced the San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons before the trade deadline, set for November 5th at 4 p.m. ET, there's a real chance they get there sitting at 3-5.

If that ends up being the case, Cowboys Nation should know the team should be seriously considering being a seller. After all, they've talked about "doing more with less" and ranking 32nd in free agency spending suggests they looked at 2024 as somewhat of a soft rebuild year.

Personally, I'd be very surprised if they do get proactive and make big moves one way or another ahead of the deadline. But if they're to be sellers, here are five players I'd consider "tradeable."

DT Osa Odighizuwa

This is the biggest name on the list by far so why not start with him? It’s a counterintuitive move for the Cowboys, who many believe to be in major need of defensive tackle help, and rightfully so. However, if the front office fully embraces the fact that they're in a rebuild year, Osa Odighizuwa should be an option starting with the fact that he'd give you the highest return in a trade. He's not a top-tier defensive tackle but is near definitely near that zone, making him a valuable asset for a contender.

Keep in mind, Odighizuwa hits free agency in 2025 and with Micah Parsons on the to-do list, the Cowboys might be gearing up for a farewell with their former third-round draft pick.

To be clear, this would be the ultimate "give up" move from the Cowboys as removing Osa from the equation would be lethal for a defense that has no other proven option at defensive tackle.

Some potential trade partners are: San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings.

LB Damone Clark

This is where we're met with a tough reality for the Cowboys: Most of the players they can realistically deal away are guys that they're not using a whole lot. However, some of them, like Clark, have put on plenty of film on tape to entice somebody. Last year, Clark started 17 games for the Cowboys and he took on just about every LB role on the defense.

With Kendricks out for Week 6's loss to the Detroit Lions, Clark was the coaching staff's choice to replace him because of his understanding of the position. When the LB room is healthy, however, the Cowboys have kept Clark on the bench. Chances are he would net nothing but a late-round draft pick if anything but he could be a legit trade candidate for LB needy teams.

Potential trade partner: Green Bay Packers

S Markquese Bell

Speaking of guys who went from starting to not playing at all, there's always Bell. He's been relegated to the bench upon Dan Quinn's departure and the Cowboys' injection of talent at linebacker. Back at safety, Bell has been buried on the depth chart behind Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson.

He was one of the best cover players in the league last year, albeit by playing linebacker, and could generate some interest in an NFL era where hybrid players are largely valued. He probably wouldn't net anything else than a late-round draft pick, though.

Potential trade partner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

S Juanyeh Thomas

Thomas has been highly promising as a backup for a good while now yet he still can't find his way to the playing field. He's accumulated only 27 defensive snaps, good for a 7% snap count for the 2024 season. He's one of the best backups on the team and you could even argue he deserves a bigger role.

Thomas has been a special teams ace for the Cowboys, playing in 82% of the team's 2024 snaps. He could be a good option for contenders looking for safety help.

Potential trade partners: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

QB Trey Lance

I guess I gotta bring him up, right? I'm not sure who would trade for Lance at this point. He's a particular case as he's clearly not ready for Sundays yet whoever gives him the reps could tap into the potential of his arm and the dual threat element that he brings to the table.

But a team dealing with a QB injury hoping to remain relevant might be unable to resist the temptation.

Potential trade partners: Any team with QB trouble before the deadline, Las Vegas Raiders (?)