1 last-minute trade Cowboys must make before Week 1 of 2026 NFL season

The joint practice between the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints took a chaotic turn, resulting in both teams being fined $500,000. Several fights broke out, causing the practice to stop multiple times, and Dallas players Caelen Carson and Donovan Ezeiruaku were among those ejected. Jerry Jones described the punishment as “stiff” and confirmed that the Cowboys plan to appeal.

Jones has also indicated that Dallas is not done reshaping its roster, even after signing Von Miller. The Cowboys’ owner is open to making another significant addition if the right opportunity arises, even if it means sacrificing future draft picks for a team he believes can contend immediately. If the Cowboys make another move before Week 1, it is likely to be less high-profile than acquiring another former Super Bowl MVP, but could still be very beneficial. One potential target is Miami Dolphins linebacker Tyrel Dodson.

Cowboys should trade a 2027 fifth-round pick for Tyrel Dodson

After signing Miller, the temptation for Dallas could be to pursue another high-profile player, especially given the aggressive approach Jones has taken with roster construction over the past year, but the Cowboys don’t need to create another blockbuster acquisition just for the sake of it. What they really need is a reliable off-ball linebacker who can seamlessly integrate into Christian Parker’s defense, communicate assignments effectively, and help mitigate injuries that could expose roster vulnerabilities. Jones has already indicated that signing Miller doesn’t rule out additional acquisitions, as he’s open to reallocating future assets into the present if it significantly enhances the Cowboys. Dallas and Jones have expressed growing confidence in the roster and believe it has the potential to contend for a Super Bowl if circumstances align.

Dodson aligns with this strategy without carrying the high cost associated with the other recent defensive moves Dallas has made because the 28-year-old just completed the most productive season of his career, tallying 129 tackles, five sacks, and three pass breakups for Miami in 2025. With 43 career starts, he brings the kind of experience that Dallas could quickly rely on if their linebacker rotation is disrupted. More importantly, Dodson has experience with green-dot responsibilities, meaning he’s capable of communicating defensive calls on the field, an invaluable asset when joining a new system close to the start of the season. Currently, Dallas has DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters leading its inside linebacker group, and third-round rookie Jaishawn Barham has received positive reviews during his first summer with the team. Acquiring Dodson acknowledges the difference between having sufficient talent when everyone is healthy and having enough proven depth to endure a full 17-game season.

Overshown’s talent has never been in question, but his availability has often been unpredictable throughout his young career. Building the linebacker unit with the expectation that he will remain healthy all season would pose unnecessary risks. Barham may eventually evolve into a key player in Parker’s defense, but depending on a rookie to resolve every depth issue immediately is also a risky strategy, particularly when Dallas is prepared to contend now. Meanwhile, Miami has its own reasons to at least entertain calls regarding Dodson.

The Dolphins recently committed to Jordyn Brooks with a long-term extension before training camp because they also used draft capital from 2026 to select linebackers Jacob Rodriguez and Kyle Louis. As a result, Dodson is entering the final season of his current contract in a linebacker group that suddenly has younger competitors vying for future roles, and while there have been no reports indicating that Miami is actively shopping him, discussions have emerged around the possibility of a trade. They might find that acquiring another draft asset is more advantageous than keeping an established veteran they may not retain after this season, and this makes a 2027 fifth-round pick a reasonable request for Dodson.

Previous discussions regarding Dodson’s potential availability suggest that his value lies somewhere in the mid-to-late Day 3 range, rather than the Day 2 compensation that was once speculated in connection with a potential Jordyn Brooks deal. This means that Dallas could add an experienced starter without giving up the premium draft capital that Jones has indicated he would consider parting with for a major acquisition. For Miami, trading a player approaching free agency in exchange for a future selection makes sense because acquiring Dodson would also provide more lineup flexibility for Dallas, as he wouldn’t impose constraints like another player might.

He could rotate with Winters, serve as insurance behind Overshown, handle heavier workloads during injuries, and improve communication if Dallas opts to deploy its younger defenders in specialized roles, and a Cowboys defensive front featuring Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark should keep linebackers cleaner than many other defensive interiors, creating an appealing environment for a player who has proven capable of piling up tackles while also contributing as an occasional blitzer.

The recent signing of Miller actually makes this type of move more logical, not less, because Dallas has invested significantly in transforming its defensive front and has added another proven pass rusher just before the season starts, and it would be unusual to neglect a thinner position behind that front. In the end, the Cowboys would be paying a modest price to eliminate uncertainty in a position where one injury could otherwise thrust an inexperienced player into a much larger role. There are bigger names Dallas could pursue, and Jones has shown he is willing to consider significant trades, but the best late-summer acquisition isn’t always the one that creates the most buzz. Sometimes, it’s the move that solidifies a well-rounded roster.

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