Top 4 Dallas Cowboys Trade Candidates Entering Preseason Week 3

Every year, some tough decisions must be made as teams trim their rosters from 90 to 53 ahead of the regular season. That will be the case for the Dallas Cowboys this year, especially after they added plenty of depth during the offseason.

The new faces will make it hard for several of their returning contributors to make the roster in Week 1. Many of those players who are on the bubble have proven they can be contributors at the NFL level, meaning they will get a chance to shine elsewhere if Dallas moves on.

Some of the bubble players are also talented enough to warrant trade consideration. Here's a look at four such players, who the Cowboys could potentially find trade partners for ahead of roster cutdowns.

Markquese Bell, S

Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell celebrates after an incomplete pass to Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Markquese Bell was held out of the second preseason game, which is a strong indicator that he's going to make the 53-man roster. It could also mean that Dallas didn't want to expose him to a potential injury in case they wanted to use Bell in trade talks.

The former undrafted free agent has been a reliable player in an ever-changing secondary and even showed enough versatility to play linebacker under Dan Quinn. Ideally, he would make the roster, but if the Cowboys are facing some tough cuts (and they will be) he could be someone other teams would show interest in.

Jonathan Mingo, WR

Dallas Cowboys receiver Jonathan Mingo at training camp at the River Ridge Fields. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Jonathan Mingo has made things very interesting this summer. He's been turning in one solid performance after another, and recorded a 53-yard touchdown on Saturday to remind everyone why he was a second-round pick in 2023. He's still fighting for a spot on a crowded depth chart, and could be someone other teams are willing to bring in to shore up their receiving corps.

Marist Liufau, EDGE

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau at training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

As soon as the Cowboys added Von Miller, Marist Liufau's spot on the roster became incredibly shaky. That's why Cowboys On SI's Josh Sanchez named Liufau the most obvious trade candidate following the Miller signing.

After playing a traditional linebacker role during his first two seasons, Liufau moved to the edge under Christian Parker. To his credit, he's shown progress every week, but the depth is too much for him to make the 53-man roster which is why he could be shopped to avoid losing him and getting nothing in return.

Luke Schoonmaker, TE

Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker delivers a stiff arm to Arizona Cardinals safety Kitan Crawford. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

A second-round pick in 2023, Luke Schoonmaker has yet to live up to his draft status. Schoonmaker has fallen behind Brevyn Spann-Ford on the depth chart, but he's been able to perform well when given a chance. That included Saturday night when he made one catch for 19 yards before taking a seat.

The question now is whether he beats out Michael Trigg for the TE3 spot. If Trigg has the edge, the Cowboys would be wise to see if a team in need of help at the position would give up a Day 3 pick for Schoonmaker.

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