The outlook for the Dallas Cowboys in the upcoming season appears bleak, necessitating bold moves to stay competitive within the NFC East, where the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders are expected to have robust performances, leaving Dallas trailing.

A major concern for the Cowboys is their ground game, and they’re in dire need of a standout player to inject energy into their 2025 offense. Recently, the NBA made waves with a major trade between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers, swapping Luka Doncic to the California-based team. A similar scenario might unfold in the NFL.

The Cowboys might execute a surprising trade before the upcoming Draft. As per Aaliyan from Sporting News, they could trade their 76th overall pick and a future third-rounder to the San Francisco 49ers to acquire Christian McCaffrey, potentially altering the market landscape.

“The Cowboys need a drastic overhaul in their backfield after enduring one of the league’s worst rushing offenses in 2024. A substantial trade for a star running back could be the key.”

During free agency, the Cowboys brought in Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. However, forecasts for both aren’t promising, and Jerry Jones’ squad requires a true leader for their rushing offense. Last year, they were ranked as the sixth-poorest rushing unit in the league.

Both the Cowboys and 49ers failed to make the playoffs last season for the first time since 2020, which was particularly disappointing for San Francisco, who had just been Super Bowl contenders but ended up last in the NFC West.

A significant factor in the Cowboys’ struggles was their dismal rushing attack, averaging just 95.7 yards per game—a dismal statistic for a team with championship aspirations. Hence, pursuing Christian McCaffrey could significantly alter the franchise’s fortunes.