A Dallas Cowboys insider believes the lack of a veteran player in a key position could force the Cowboys to pursue a trade deadline addition.

During his recent appearance on 105.3 The Fan on July 3, Cowboys analyst Bryan Broaddus identified the lack of depth at the pass rusher position after trading linebacker Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.

"I can see a world where they all of a sudden look at the trade deadline and go get a legitimate pass rusher that the defense might be something," Broaddus said. "I think you'll know very, very early about this defense... I think by Week 5. And if they're struggling in certain areas, if they play the run great and the pass rush is not getting there, they might have to go make a deal."

He believes Dallas could explore a trade before the deadline if the defense hasn't generated enough pressure through the first five weeks.

Broaddus said that the Cowboys could pursue a pass rusher if that position turns out to be the only issue in the defensive scheme, after analyzing the system for the first five weeks, until the game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"The question I have is - is it going to be good enough to where you can force teams into obvious passing situations and then be able to disguise that back end enough?" Broaddus said during the same podcast (YouTube video @1053TheFan). "Because my worry is that you don't have enough pass rush."

Though the Cowboys are speculated to land a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders to secure Maxx Crosby, Broaddus wasn't positive about the move, considering his failed physical before his trade to the Baltimore Ravens.

Broaddus believes that the Cowboys wouldn't try to trade for him at this point, though they need an elite pass rusher who could land 10-plus sacks each season.

"If Crosby hits the ground running and shows that he's healthy and he's back to close to his normal self - now that's a guy that I'm looking at," Broaddus said.

Broaddus believes the pass-rush question is closely tied to how Dallas' revamped defensive front performs in Christian Parker's new scheme.

Cowboys' defensive front must deliver in Parker's scheme

Broaddus said he has concerns about the Cowboys' "run defense with the defensive front" under defensive coordinator Christian Parker's 3-4 scheme.

"But a couple of things do worry me here," Broaddus said in the 105.3 The Fan podcast. "But it's really going to start inside because that whole thing - those defensive tackles work for the linebackers."

He stressed that the defensive tackles Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark must consistently occupy blockers and stop the run, allowing the linebackers to make plays by pursuing the ball.

Broaddus believes that if Dallas' interior defensive line can consistently control the line of scrimmage, the Cowboys may avoid needing the midseason pass-rush addition he believes could otherwise become necessary.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Rudra Dubey