The Dallas Cowboys are set to open training camp on July 24. After a quiet foray into free agency and a need-oriented draft, the Cowboys' roster still includes a few question marks as the preseason approaches.

The Cowboys need to sort out a backfield rotation, could use additional depth at wide receiver and need to identify a dependable starting offensive line group.

Ideally, Dallas will find answers in-house. If they don't, adding significant pieces via free agency could prove difficult. The Cowboys have only $10.1 million in cap space available. Dallas could, however, look to the trade market and/or create cap space by trading away players before Week 1.

With that in mind, let's examine three sensible trade candidates that Dallas could conceivably move in the coming weeks and why.

WR Brandin Cooks

When it comes to generating cap space, wide receiver Brandin Cooks is arguably Dallas' top trade option. Cooks had a decent enough season in 2023—he caught 54 passes for 657 yards and eight touchdowns—but he wasn't exactly the top-tier second option Dallas was hoping for.

Now that June 1 has passed and the Cowboys can prorate dead money over the next two seasons, trading Cooks would save $8 million in 2024 cap space.

That extra financial flexibility could be huge for the Cowboys ahead of training camp. For one, it would give them more freedom to add talent via the free-agent or trade markets. Secondly, it would give Dallas a little more room with which to work out contract extensions.

As most readers are well aware, Dallas has yet to extend quarterback Dak Prescott or receiver CeeDee Lamb, who are both scheduled to be free agents next offseason. Star pass-rusher Micah Parsons is also extension-eligible.

The Cowboys would, of course, need to replace Cooks in the starting lineup. That could mean more opportunities for Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks and/or rookie Ryan Flournoy. It could also leave Dallas looking to add a receiver or two before or after camp.

An ideal situation it is not, but i the Cowboys find themselves desperate for cap room, moving Cooks could be the best solution.

Edge Sam Williams

Trading third-year pass-rusher Sam Williams would only save $1.3 million in cap space. However, the 2022 second-round pick might be a valuable trade chip in a move to add talent.

Williams hasn't quite lived up to his draft status, but he's shown flashes in two seasons as a rotational player. He had four sacks as a rookie and 4.5 sacks last season. After losing Dante Fowler Jr. and Dorance Armstrong in free agency, the Cowboys are probably hoping to see Williams make a jump this season.

At the same time, though, the second-round selection of Marshawn Kneeland in April could make Williams somewhat expendable. Though not an overly polished prospect, Kneeland has enough physical traits to make an early impact.

"With his combination of strength and power, Marshawn Kneeland is a bull in the trenches," Matt Holder of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote. "He has a handful of reps on film where he just overwhelms offensive tackles at the point of attack and refuses to get blocked by tight ends."

Again, Dallas would probably prefer to keep Williams. If it needs to add a player at a different position, however, Williams' upside and draft pedigree might help get a deal done.

QB Trey Lance

If the Cowboys are looking to cash in on draft pedigree, backup quarterback Trey Lance is the perfect trade candidate. The 2021 third overall selection has shown little at the pro level with Dallas and the San Francisco 49ers—the team that traded up to get him—but former first-round picks do tend to generate interest.

Lance isn't likely to play a significant role behind Prescott and No. 2 QB Cooper Rush in 2024, and he's set to be a free agent next offseason. Therefore, he could be viewed as expendable if the right offer comes along.

The right offer would probably require an injury to another team's starter before the start of the regular season, of course. However, given the litany of QB injuries we saw last season, that's entirely possible.

The big question here is whether the Cowboys believe they can develop Lance themselves and keep him as insurance in 2025—when Prescott could depart for another franchise. According to NFL Media's Bucky Brooks, Dallas has "thrown around" the idea of Lance being a long-term successor to Prescott.

If the Cowboys don't trust Lance in that role or manage to lock up Prescott in the coming weeks, however, moving Lance could potentially help them strengthen another position via a trade.

*Cap and contract information via Spotrac.