3 Players the Cowboys Should Target at the 2022 NFL Trade Deadline

The Dallas Cowboys are off to a 4-1 start despite plenty of reasons to be much worse.

After an offseason marked by player departures and losing Dak Prescott to injury in the first game of the season, the Cowboys have still managed to win four in a row. Cooper Rush has filled in admirably for the franchise quarterback, while the defense picked up right where it left off under Dan Quinn.

As the November 1 trade deadline approaches, the Cowboys are in the category of buyers. If they make a move before the deadline, it should be with contention in mind.

After all, if Prescott can return and elevate the offense, they are in a strong position to challenge the Eagles for the division or at least earn a wild-card berth.

With that in mind, here are three targets who could help raise the potential of Mike McCarthy's squad.

WR D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 02: DJ Moore (2) of the Carolina Panthers looks for room to run the ball after making a catch during a football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals on October 2, 2022, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. (Photo by David Jensen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Let's start with the biggest swing possible. The Cowboys made a controversial move by trading away Amari Cooper this offseason for a fifth-round pick.

Despite the team's success, it still looks like a questionable move. CeeDee Lamb has taken over as the team's top receiver nicely, but the passing game lacks the punch it did when Lamb, Cooper and Michael Gallup were threatening defensive backfields.

The Cowboys are 22nd in net yards gained per pass attempt, 25th in passing touchdowns and 20th in passer rating.

Those numbers have been good enough to win behind a great defense, but they'll have to be better to find success in the playoffs.

D.J. Moore is the kind of electric talent who could once again give the Cowboys an elite receiving corps. He has a three-season streak of 1,100 yard campaigns but has floundered in Carolina this season with Baker Mayfield at quarterback.

The Panthers just fired Matt Rhule, making a fire sale at the deadline possible. That could put Moore on the trade block. As Dan Orlovsky of ESPN noted, the Cowboys should be among the teams giving Carolina a call.

The Cowboys have the third-most cap space in the league right now, so they are one of a few teams who could find a way to add Moore's salary to their payroll.

DT Daron Payne, Washington Commanders

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LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 25: Daron Payne #94 of the Washington Commanders takes the field before the game Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on September 25, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

This is an unlikely scenario. The Cowboys' front office just hasn't shown they value the defensive tackle position enough to give up the kind of resources they would need to trade for and sign Daron Payne.

That doesn't mean it wouldn't greatly benefit the defense, though.

Micah Parsons is a cheat code as a pass-rusher, but adding a dominant interior presence like Payne could open things up for all rushers.

Here's a look at the top defensive tackles in the league when it comes to pass-rush win rate and double-team rate:

Payne is in the upper quadrant when it comes to win rate while still drawing a double team on over half of his reps.

If he were in the middle of the Dallas defense, teams would have to decide between double-teaming Parsons or putting Payne in one-on-one situations. It's a pick-your-poison dilemma that offenses don't want to have.

Inter-division trades can always be tricky, but the 1-4 Commanders could be looking to unload regardless of trade partner.

WR Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers

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CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 22: Chase Claypool #11 of the Pittsburgh Steelers rushes ahead of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #28 of the Cleveland Browns during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

If the Panthers rebuff efforts to acquire D.J. Moore, there are other receiver options on the market who could bolster Dak Prescott's arsenal.

The Pittsburgh Steelers could be another seller at the deadline after a dreadful 1-4 start that includes a 38-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

While Pittsburgh has plenty of problems on offense, a wide range of young receivers with potential isn't one of them. In addition to Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool, they have an emergent George Pickens along with fourth-round rookie Calvin Austin III who has been on injured reserve this season.

Tony Romo noted on the CBS broadcast that Claypool was not "quarterback friendly" during the blowout loss to Buffalo. The receiver's rookie contract expires in 2023. It would make sense that the Steelers might be willing to deal him with an eye toward elevating Pickens and gaining draft capital to help quarterback Kenny Pickett out next season.

The Cowboys could offer a fresh start in a better situation to the young receiver. He could be the physical, possession receiver to complement the speedy Michael Gallup and shifty CeeDee Lamb.

That would make the offense scary to opposing secondaries again.