If the Houston Texans are looking for young cornerback to help to trade for, they may not need to look further than the northern terminus of I-45.
According to Patrik Walker of CBS Sports, there are five Dallas Cowboys that would make sense for the NFC East club to trade. One of them is cornerback Anthony Brown, a 2016 sixth-round pick who is in the final year of his contract. At 25 years old, Brown would help the Texans’ cornerback room get younger, and his 5-11, 195-pound build is comparable to what they have now in Bradley Roby. Brown has collected 166 combined tackles, four interceptions, 31 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and 3.0 sacks in his 53 games with the club.
In a vacuum, Jourdan Lewis beats out Brown for the nod as starting nickel cornerback. Unfortunately for Lewis, he’s a smidge smaller (height + length) than Brown, and passing game coordinator Kris Richard has a type. Brown has had solid seasons in two of his past three, though, and that means he has value in a trade. Talented NFL corners don’t fall from the sky, and that also adds to his worth on the market. The Cowboys should entertain the thought of moving Brown and starting Lewis, followed by promoting Donovan Olumba from the practice squad to aid in cornerback depth.
The question is what would the Cowboys ask in return? Whatever it is, the Texans have nine draft picks in 2020 to deal, and the five-man general manager committee heavily influenced by coach Bill O’Brien has shown a willingness to part with picks.
Houston is also in a situation where Roby will be out for around a month’s time as he recovers from a hamstring injury sustained in the 31-24 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 6. Just as the Texans’ secondary was coming together, it continues to see upheaval with the temporary loss of Roby. Adding a figure such as Brown would fill this void while also building a bride to a younger cornerback room in the future.
