Dallas Cowboys Struggle to Rebuild Offense After Costly Trades

The Dallas Cowboys face critical challenges and transitions heading into the 2025 NFL season, marked by a series of questionable trades and a changing roster. Their 2018 trade of wide receiver Amari Cooper, who later thrived with the Cleveland Browns, is widely regarded as their worst trade in the last decade, having cost them a reliable No. 2 receiver for several seasons. More recent trades have brought players like George Pickens and Kenneth Murray, with Pickens seen as a potential key contributor alongside CeeDee Lamb, though he remains under scrutiny for his on-field behavior. The Cowboys also look to bolster their linebacker corps with offseason acquisitions such as Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray, aiming to improve the defense. Meanwhile, All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey is poised to make NFL history by breaking the record for most field goals in a kicker's first three years, providing a bright spot for the team. Despite these moves and emerging talent, the Cowboys enter the season with tempered expectations, including a low projected chance to win key revenge games, reflecting ongoing doubts about their ability to return to postseason success under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.