Desperate times call for desperate measures and boy, are the Dallas Cowboys desperate for some edge rusher help following injuries to Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
The problem? Trading for one is tough in Week 5 as teams that might be sellers at the trade deadline, which is now even deeper into the season, might be hesitant to wave the white flag this early in the year. It's too early to know if they should sell, in other words.
That's why A to Z Sports Dallas' morning show host Will Steele had a very interesting proposal during his "Dave's Hot Chicken Hot Take" segment last Friday, when he suggested the Cowboys should swing for the fences and target two-time Pro Bowler Haason Reddick.
"The Dallas Cowboys should pick up the phone, call the New York team that shares a stadium with the New York Giants — that is, the New York Jets — and inquire about Haason Reddick," Will 'Skywallker' Steele said on Friday. "Whoa, whoa, what are you doing, Sky? This ain't Madden, what are you talking about? He needs to get paid, we can't pay him. You're right, this isn't Madden. He does need to get paid, and we aren't going to pay him."
Despite Steele knowing it would be a very tough move to pull off, he argues the Cowboys owner might just pull off a sales masterclass to get the same man who isn't playing for the Jets due to the lack of a contract extension, to do so for Dallas.
"But this is where you need the salesman, Jerry Jones, to sell Haason Reddick to the Cowboys," Steele added. "You’ve got to sell him on national TV with the Cowboys. 'I can get you some real estate going on here. If you do well, you get a big contract next year, maybe we will pay you.' Hey, the Cowboys need another pass rusher anyway."
Would trading for Haason Reddick be realistic for the Cowboys?
It's a wild idea and if we're being real, an unlikely one with the way the Cowboys like to do business. But considering they do have a desperate need for an edge rusher at the moment, it's impossible to rule out. Back in 2018, when the team went for Amari Cooper, it was out of desperation. So hey, there's a chance!
Additionally, with the way the things have gone in New York, trade compensation could be conditional to Reddick actually playing. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported league execs believe Reddick is likelier to end up being traded than he is to play for New York.
Reddick costed the Jets a conditional 2026 third-round draft pick. If the Cowboys were to throw their hat in the ring for the edge rusher's services, chances are they'd be looking at a similar price tag.
Overall, I don't think the Cowboys would go down this route but given the lack of other options, I also wouldn't be shocked if they did. What is clear is Mike Zimmer's defense unit could use some help as Parsons and Lawrence are expected to miss time, with the latter's timetable being anywhere between four to eight weeks.
