Trade Winds in Dallas: Four Cowboys Players on the Radar
The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2026 NFL season with a clear ambition: to contend for a Super Bowl. That goal, however, comes on the heels of a disappointing 7-9-1 campaign that saw the team miss the playoffs. According to reporting from Heavy, the front office has made numerous roster moves this offseason, creating fierce competition for spots and setting the stage for difficult decisions as the team trims from 90 to 53 players.
Within this context, Sports Illustrated's Randy Gurzi has identified four players as possible trade candidates: safety Markquese Bell, wide receiver Jonathan Mingo, edge rusher Marist Liufau, and tight end Luke Schoonmaker. The speculation, as carried by Heavy, points to the roster squeeze as the reason teams might look to offload talent for value rather than lose it for nothing.
The Four Candidates in Focus
Markquese Bell, a safety who has been with the Cowboys for four seasons, played in 17 games last season, tallying 41 total tackles, a forced fumble, an interception, and three defended passes. His potential trade value is boosted by his versatility; as noted by Sports Illustrated, he previously showed the ability to play linebacker under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Bell was held out of the second preseason game, which Sports Illustrated suggests could indicate he is expected to make the 53-man roster—or that the team was protecting him from injury in case they want to trade him.
Jonathan Mingo, acquired via trade with the Carolina Panthers in 2024, has so far struggled to secure a consistent role. Last season, he managed only two catches for 62 yards and a touchdown in six games. But the summer has been a different story: Sports Illustrated reports that Mingo has been turning in solid performances consistently and, on Saturday, his efforts were highlighted by a 53-yard touchdown, serving as a reminder of his second-round pedigree. That production could attract other teams looking to shore up their receiving corps.
Marist Liufau, a third-round pick in 2024, has amassed 80 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and three defended passes over two seasons. His roster spot is now uncertain, however, after Dallas added veteran pass rusher Von Miller. As reported by Sports Illustrated, Cowboys On SI's Josh Sanchez specifically named Liufau as the most obvious trade candidate following the Miller signing, a viewpoint also echoed in the Heavy article's analysis.
Luke Schoonmaker, a tight end, has seen his depth chart position challenged. He has played in 51 games, catching 49 passes for 438 yards and three touchdowns, but Sports Illustrated notes that he has fallen behind Brevyn Spann-Ford on the depth chart and caught just one pass for 19 yards in the recent game. There is also the possibility that Schoonmaker could still beat out Michael Trigg for the third tight end spot, but the path is increasingly unclear.
Roster Pressures and the Decision Ahead
With the roster reduction to 53 players before the regular season, Dallas' front office is under pressure to make tough choices. The addition of veteran players and the influx of new talent have created a competitive environment, and some of those who are currently on the bubble are established NFL contributors. That could make them attractive to other teams as trade targets.
Sports Illustrated suggests that the Cowboys could look to move players for future value, perhaps receiving picks or other assets, despite the potential loss of depth. This, however, is so far speculative. No team has officially announced plans to trade these players, but the conversations are emerging as the season approaches.