The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of noise around them right now. Super Bowl talk. Quinnen Williams on the defensive line looking like a monster. But if you look at the roster closely, there are some spots that could get exposed fast. And the front office has shown it’s not afraid to make a move before the season starts. Remember the Micah Parsons trade last year? That came out of nowhere.
So who might be on the move this time around? Here are three names that could pop up in trade talks before the Cowboys kick off 2026.
Luke Schoonmaker
The Cowboys liked Schoonmaker enough to take him in the second round back in 2023. Pick No. 58 overall. That’s real investment. But the production hasn’t matched the draft capital. Eight catches as a rookie. Twenty-seven in 2024. Fourteen last season. The guy is not a factor in the passing game.
Part of it is the guys around him. Jake Ferguson is firmly ahead of him on the depth chart. And Brevyn Spann-Ford, who has that rare combination of size and quickness, is pushing from behind. Schoonmaker’s role is basically undefined at this point.
He knows this is a make-or-break year. He told dallasnews.com it’s ‘big time’ for him. Said he’s doing everything to the best of his ability and making tweaks. Going all out. But will that be enough for Dallas to keep him around? Probably not if a decent offer comes in. The trade market for a tight end who hasn’t popped might not be huge, but there’s always a team that thinks they can fix someone.
James Houston
Houston had a solid 2025. Five and a half sacks and he didn’t start a single game. That was actually the second-best total of his career. But here’s the thing: he’s been on three teams since 2024. And the Cowboys just drafted Malachi Lawrence and LT Overton. The writing is on the wall.
What helps Houston is that he’s a good locker room guy. He was just named the NFLPA’s 2026 Black College Football Pro Player of the Year. That honor means a lot to him, especially given his time at Jackson State. He said as much in a statement, thanking the NFLPA for supporting HBCU programs.
But the NFL is a business. Those 5.5 sacks from last season could look like a good bargaining chip for the Cowboys. Some team out there might see him as a rotational piece who can get after the quarterback. That could be enough to get Dallas a mid-round pick.
Joe Milton III
Milton is fun to watch. Big arm. Great athlete. Can make plays with his legs. But he’s not seeing the field in Dallas unless Dak Prescott gets hurt. And if that happens, the season is basically over anyway. So why not try to get something for him?
He went 15 for 24 for 183 yards last season with a touchdown and two interceptions. Chris Amaya of dallasnews.com noted that Milton showed impressive arm strength but needs work on his pocket presence. The question is whether he can take a step forward in 2026.
Sam Howell could easily beat him out for the No. 2 job. And if that happens, Milton becomes a trade chip. The 2027 draft class is supposed to be loaded, so any extra pick carries more weight than usual.
The downside is that Milton hasn’t exactly developed the way Dallas hoped. Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated pointed out that while Milton flashed in a 2024 Week 18 start for New England, his accuracy issues showed up in preseason games with the Cowboys. Still, teams get desperate. Somebody will look at that arm and those legs and think they can fix the rest.
Milton will stay on a roster somewhere. The question is whether it’s in Dallas or somewhere else.
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