With Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence potentially heading to injured reserve and Micah Parsons listed as week-to-week, the front office is reportedly “exploring outside options” for assistance in pass rushing.One intriguing candidate is Haason Reddick, a holdout from the New York Jets.

Reddick stands out as one of only three players in the league to record 10 or more sacks in four consecutive seasons.

The Jets traded a conditional third-round pick for him, which could upgrade to a second-round pick if he plays at least 65% of the games.

Reddick’s name has surfaced following a “misleading” report from ESPN, as described by Mike Fisher from Cowboys Country.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler mentioned that the Cowboys are considering options outside the organization, loosely tying Reddick to that discussion, while also noting that the search for help “will start in-house.”

Fisher highlights that the Cowboys have $25 million in cap space, allowing them to easily accommodate Reddick’s $14 million salary.

However, he notes a few challenges: first, Reddick is holding out because he does not want to play at that salary; second, acquiring him would mean trading away an asset for a short-term solution, given his age; and third, the Cowboys are avoiding long-term contracts for older players as part of their “Blow It Up/Remodel” plan for 2025.

Given this strategy, Fisher suggests that fans should expect to see more playing time for rookie Marshawn Kneeland and Chauncey Golston at the end position.

Young players like Tyrus Wheat are also likely to be involved, alongside veterans Carl Lawson and Carlos Watkins.

Additionally, there’s another Lawson—Shaq—currently available as a free agent. Signing him could be a much more realistic option than trading for Reddick.

Other potential signings might include veterans Shaka Toney and Al-Quadin Muhammad, both of whom participated in the Cowboys’ training camp.

Fisher’s analysis is grounded in the Cowboys’ current reality, urging fans to look beyond ESPN’s coverage and pay attention to the Cowboys’ own statements to discern the real situation.

The Cowboys seem focused on leveraging their young talent rather than pursuing costly trades for established players.