The Dallas Cowboys entered the season with one of the best cornerback duos in the league, but they now – according to CowboysSI.com – find themselves looking to add at the position (and on the defense in general) as the trade deadline approaches.
With the addition of 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore to pair alongside former All-Pro Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys seemed to be set at cornerback. However, their fortunes changed when Diggs suffered a season-ending torn ACL in practice last month. While Gilmore and the rest of the secondary have held up decently, some added guns on the back end would certainly help.
The dream scenario in Dallas would be to acquire Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain, who’s just 23 years old and coming off his first All-Pro season. But assuming the price there is too high (rumor has it Denver would want two first-round picks and a player!) … There are other quality options as well, though, with one such option being Chicago Bears starter Jaylon Johnson. Kevin Patra of NFL.com even identified Johnson and the Cowboys as a good fit for each other in a recent article.
“It’s rare a starting-caliber corner as good as Johnson could be available, but with the 24-year-old seeking a new contract, perhaps the 2-5 Bears would be willing to trade the impending free agent and recoup assets now instead of potentially seeing him walk in the offseason,” Patra wrote. “This would be a dream scenario for the Cowboys after losing Trevon Diggs for the season.
A trio of Johnson, Stephon Gilmore and DaRon Bland would be huge for Dan Quinn’s defense.” The No. 50 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Johnson has quietly emerged as a very strong cornerback in the league. The Utah product is in the midst a career year, allowing only 11 completions for 105 yards on 23 targets, good for a passer rating of 24.7. He’s also coming off an exceptional performance against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, recording two interceptions including a pick six.
Would it be feasible for the Cowboys to acquire Johnson, though? Well, the fourth-year corner said on The Parkins & Spiegel Show earlier this week that he and the Bears are working on a contract extension, which would instantly take him off the trade market. Even if that extension doesn’t work out, though, Chicago would rightfully be looking for a sizable return if it was to deal him.
Acquiring Johnson may be a long shot, as even NFL.com admits by calling the proposal “the biggest pipe dream on this list.” But given the price on Surtain and the credentials on Johnson? If contract talks in Chicago don’t work, trade talks for a “No. 1 target” in Dallas might.
