Todd Archer
FRISCO, Texas — More often than not, dialogue across the commerce deadline is in regards to the gamers who could possibly be dealt to the Dallas Cowboys.
Let's take a unique take a look at the probabilities as Nov. 4 approaches: Who could possibly be traded away?
This isn't advocating for a commerce, however somewhat elevating the query of which gamers the Cowboys might transfer on from, as they take a look at the make-up of their roster past 2025.
Trevon Diggs, CB
Diggs has not made a lot of an affect since signing his extension in 2023. He tore his left ACL that yr and missed 15 video games. He missed six video games final season and wanted a chondral-tissue graft in January. He noticed a $500,000 discount in his base wage as a result of he opted to skip the Cowboys' offseason program. He missed final week's sport due to a concussion suffered after an accident at his home, and he was positioned on injured reserve Saturday, that means he'll miss at the least the subsequent 4 video games.
At his finest, Diggs was a quarterback-baiting interception machine, a Professional Bowler. However it has been a while since he has been that man. However he was not requested to play to his energy (man protection) sufficient early this season, because the Cowboys performed zone protection 82% of the time over the primary six video games.
He's scheduled to make $14.5 million in 2026. If the staff cuts him and not using a post-June 1 designation subsequent yr, it will save $12.5 million towards the cap.
The query turns into what might the Cowboys get for him in a commerce? Perhaps a greater query is that this: If the Cowboys are going to maneuver on from him after this season for wage cap functions, why not take a Day 3 choose again in return if they'll get it? If he's minimize, then the Cowboys would get no compensation in return.
Jalen Tolbert, WR
He's within the ultimate yr of his contract and shall be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Ryan Flournoy has come on at receiver to the purpose the place he might take the No. 3 or 4 position that Tolbert presently holds.
Final season, Tolbert led the Cowboys in landing catches (seven) however his alternatives have diminished drastically behind receivers CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, tight finish Jake Ferguson and working again Javonte Williams.
However the Cowboys would should be cautious about making such a transfer as a result of an damage to Lamb or Pickens would go away them very weak in the event that they moved on from Tolbert.
Would a receiver-needy staff take a half-season take a look at Tolbert, a third-round choice, for a fifth-, sixth- or seventh-round choose?
Sam Williams, DE
The Cowboys thought of signing Williams to an extension throughout coaching camp, however he needed to see how this season seems. Like Tolbert, he's coming into the ultimate yr of his contract. The Cowboys have second-round edge rushers from the previous two years, Marshawn Kneeland and Donovan Ezeiruaku, who're signed by means of 2027 and '28, respectively.
Williams has one sack and has been credited with 15 tackles, 17 pressures and 1 sort out for loss. Like Tolbert, if he isn't within the Cowboys' plans past 2025, maybe it is smart to take a look at what they may get, though it's doable they may recoup a compensatory choose for him in 2027.
Mazi Smith, DT
The primary-round choose is on a completely assured contract and signed by means of 2026. He has been credited with three tackles, and within the 4 video games he has performed, he has seen wherever from 15 to 21 snaps.
A change of surroundings may do everybody some good if there is a staff that believes Smith can discover the shape he had at Michigan.
Paying homage
As Dak Prescott walked down the corridor to the Cowboys' locker room previous to final week's 44-22 win over the Commanders, he pointed again towards Ferguson.
The tight finish was sporting a Prescott jersey from Haughton Excessive College (Louisiana), full with the No. 6.
“It was simply excellent timing that I pulled up behind him [in the parking lot],” Ferguson mentioned.
Dak Prescott arrives and so does Jake Ferguson, carrying a Prescott throwback to Haughton (La.) Excessive College. pic.twitter.com/RbtI4OHBoA
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) October 19, 2025
When requested how he procured the jersey, Ferguson mentioned, “I've obtained my sources.”
And regardless that he caught two landing passes towards Washington, it was not worn to butter up the quarterback.
“It was extra of like displaying respect to him and what he does and the way he carries himself and the love I've for him and who he's as a person,” Ferguson mentioned. “Yeah, it was just a bit throwback love is what that was.”
When will Lamb and Pickens get their Haughton jerseys?
“We would simply present up subsequent sport in all Haughton uniforms,” Ferguson joked.
By the numbers
7 — The Cowboys have misplaced seven straight video games to the Denver Broncos, their longest present shedding streak versus an opponent. A loss Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS) would match the longest shedding streak to a staff in franchise historical past. The Eagles beat the Cowboys eight consecutive instances from 1987 to 1991.
7 — At working again, Williams' seven touchdowns are tied with working again Herschel Walker and receiver Bob Hayes for probably the most by a non-QB Cowboy in a participant's first seven video games in Dallas.
16 — The Cowboys have the longest lively quarter scoring streak within the NFL at 16, which dates again to the second quarter of their Week 4 tie towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
50 — Ferguson is the one tight finish in NFL historical past with at the least 50 receptions and 6 receiving touchdowns within the first seven video games of a season.
