Cowboys' Potential Trade, Cut Candidates After 2023 NFL Draft

According to Spotrac, the Dallas Cowboys have 67 active players. By the time the season starts, that number will need to be pared down to 53.

That means some of the names on the roster will be gone. The Cowboys have $16.7 million in salary-cap space, and there are still needs they could choose to address in free agency.

Running back, for instance, is a position with several viable options in a depressed market, and the Cowboys have signed only Ronald Jones after releasing Ezekiel Elliott.

With the ability to roll cap space over into next season, Dallas might look to tidy up its financial situation or reduce a logjam at a certain position.

Either way, here are three candidates to be cut or traded—based on recent production, cost, the depth chart or a combination of all three—as we enter the quiet period of the NFL offseason.

CB Jourdan Lewis

Michael Owens/Getty Images

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: Jourdan Lewis #2 of the Dallas Cowboys lines up during an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

It doesn't seem likely that Jourdan Lewis will be released. The slot corner brings value to the defense, though the team would save $4.7 million by parting ways with him.

He has just one season left on his contract anyway, and the Cowboys might not use him in their starting lineup.

The addition of Stephon Gilmore via trade plus DaRon Bland's stellar rookie season might make Lewis obsolete. Gilmore was clearly brought in to pair with Trevon Diggs on the outside, leaving Bland to fight with Lewis for the starting nickel position.

Bland had five interceptions and seven passes defended in 2022. He gave up a passer rating of 82.2 when targeted and limited opponents to 6.5 yards per target.

Given the Cowboys' cap situation and that Lewis isn't that expensive at $5.9 million this season, it doesn't seem like Dallas would do well to cut him; depth can be critical at corner. That was evident when Lewis went down for the season with a foot injury in Week 7 last year.

But the Cowboys should listen to offers if they find a team willing to give up a draft pick to add the experienced slot defender. Veteran free agents such as Casey Hayward and Bryce Callahan could be cheaper options to back up Bland.

DT Neville Gallimore

AP Photo/Brandon Wade

Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Neville Gallimore (96) is seen during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. Dallas won 28-20. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

Teams can't help but send messages with certain draft picks. For instance, the Cowboys' first-round selection of Mazi Smith clearly said, "We need to upgrade at defensive tackle."

That can't be easy for Neville Gallimore to hear.

Gallimore was a promising prospect as a third-round pick in the 2020 draft. Dallas needed tackle help even then, and the Oklahoma Sooner was supposed to have the versatility to play anywhere from head-up on the center to 3-technique.

Now he's entering the final year of his rookie contract after playing a career-low 37 percent of the defensive snaps. Quinton Bohanna wasn't too far behind at 30 percent and could fill that backup nose tackle role.

The Cowboys have added several young tackles over the last few offseasons in hopes of finding solutions. Osa Odighizuwa has been the most promising with 29 starts, six sacks and 79 tackles in two seasons.

He's a 3-tech, though. And at 6'2", 280 pounds, he is undersized. With Smith (6'3", 337 lbs) on the roster, there's a clear one-two punch on the inside. Add veteran Johnathan Hankins to the mix, and it's hard to see where Gallimore is going to fit.

Dallas might decide it's time to move on and could save $2.7 million against the cap.

TE Sean McKeon

AP Photo/Christopher Szagola

Dallas Cowboys tight end Sean McKeon (84) in action during the NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Christopher Szagola)

Sean McKeon has been a fringe contributor for three years. He's primarily played special teams and logged 44 percent of those snaps in 2022.

That might not be enough to keep him on the roster.

The 6'5", 238-pound Michigan product hasn't developed much as a tight end. He has registered just six catches for 38 yards and one touchdown. Last season, he garnered a Pro Football Focus grade of 48.8 in 128 snaps.

The Cowboys' selection of Luke Schoonmaker in the second round this year created a logjam at the position. Dalton Schultz is gone, but Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot remain on the roster. Seth Green was on the practice squad for most of last year and signed a reserve/future contract in January.

Both Ferguson and Hendershot played more than 25 percent of the offensive snaps last year.

The learning curve for tight ends can be steep. So, if Schoonmaker isn't ready to contribute from Week 1, Ferguson and Hendershot could play the most, and Green could be the preferred player to continue to develop on the practice squad.

That makes McKeon the odd man out.