After a 7-9-1 record during the 2025 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys have been in the market to upgrade their defense, which has been dreadful despite adding Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark last year. The team has been specifically targeting upgrades to its edge rushers, and one player they’ve been linked to is the reigning two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett.
Why the Dallas Cowboys Are a Potential Trade Destination for Myles Garrett
In the 2025 season, the Cowboys ranked last in the league according to the PFSN NFL Defensive Impact metrics. With an impact score of 62.1 and a letter grade of D-, the Cowboys gave up 30.1 points per game (32nd), 265.9 passing yards per game (32nd), 125.5 rushing yards per game (23rd), and only had 31 sacks on the season (22nd).
As a result, the Cowboys have been trying to upgrade their defense, and CBS Sports’ John Breech believes that Garrett could be on the move to Dallas. Here’s what the writer has to say regarding a potential trade:
“The Cowboys were firmly in the hunt for Maxx Crosby, showing Jerry Jones’ strong interest in adding a star pass rusher. Their reported offer included a 2026 first-round pick (No. 12 overall) and a 2027 second-rounder. They’d likely need to increase that for Garrett, but with two first-round picks this year, they have the capital to get a deal done.”
“Garrett would transform the defense and could make Dallas the NFC East favorite. And the most Jerry Jones move imaginable would be trading for Garrett just seven months after dealing Micah Parsons, so don’t rule it out.”
Breech also notes that a restructuring of Garrett’s contract makes a potential trade easier. Essentially, before the restructuring, the Cleveland Browns would have faced a much larger dead cap hit. Now, it’ll be much cheaper, and trade facilitation will be easier to manage.
If the Browns consider trading Garrett, the Cowboys should immediately champ at the bit. As Breech noted, they have the draft capital to make the move happen, and he’d be an instant game changer.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
In the PFSN NFL EDGE Impact metrics, Garrett ranked as the top edge rusher in the league with an impact score of 95.6, equating to a letter grade of A. Along with winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, he recorded 60 tackles, three forced fumbles, one pass defended, and a new single-season record of 23 sacks.
Additionally, Garrett signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension with the Browns last season. Garrett on the Cowboys wouldn’t be a one-year rental; he’d be under contract until his age-35 season in 2030.
