Dallas City News

After finishing tied at ninth-worst in the NFL with just seven plays of 40 yards in the passing game, and only one rush of over 40 yards in the running game, the Dallas Cowboys offense has a need, a need for speed. Fortunately for them, there are players out there who could be signed via free agency or acquired via trade that could help them in this area.

Today, we are going to identify and discuss one player still available on the open market the Cowboys should consider signing, and one they should consider trading for to add some much-needed speed on the offensive side of the ball.

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WR Mecole Hardman

Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images

At 5’10”, 187-pounds with 4.33 speed, Mecole Hardman is built more like the deep threat that is more commonplace around the league in the NFL. The former second-round pick (56^th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 has a career catch percentage of 68% and a yards per reception of 13.3 yards in his five years in the league. What may set him apart the most though is his special teams value as both a punt and kick returner.

Mecole Hardman might be just a slightly bigger and more proven version of what the Cowboys already have in KaVontae Turpin, so he may or may not be of interest to them. Despite that, if they are indeed looking to potentially add more speed and upgrade their WR position, Hardman shouldn’t be ruled out. He is the type of offensive weapon and return man who can take it to the house any time he touches the ball. Dallas could use more players like that on their roster.

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RB Israel Abanikanda, New York Jets

Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Israel Abanikanda was a fifth-round draft pick (143^rd overall) by the New York Jets in 2023. The 5’11”, 215-pound RB only appeared in six games as a rookie last season, rushing for 70 yards on 22 attempts. With Breece Hall set as the Jets RB1, and after drafting Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis in the 2024 NFL Draft, Abanikanda could be sitting on the roster bubble, possibly making him available via trade for a team looking for a young, unproven running back with potential.

The Cowboys RB position lacks the explosive element in the running game after Tony Pollard signed with the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Re-signing Ezekiel Elliott and bringing back Rico Dowdle to add to the mix of Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis does nothing to inspire much confidence in the Cowboys rushing attack this year. By trading for Israel Abanikanda they’d at the very least be investing in a player with speed (4.45 40-yard dash) and upside to the position.