Before the start of the season, the Dallas Cowboys had plenty of reasons to be optimistic on the defensive front, mostly on the edge.

Players like Micah Parsons, Demarcus Lawrence, Sam Williams and second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland provided Dallas with plenty of opportunities to disrupt opposing offenses and pursue quarterbacks.

Eight weeks into the season, the team is struggling with injuries.

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Lawrence and Parsons have been sidelined since Week 4, Kneeland was injured a week later and has yet to return, and Williams was lost for the season during training camp.

While the defense waits for a few of these pieces to return, the Cowboys should look to invest in the trade market to help fill the void.

Insert Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney into the picture.

A former number one pick in 2014 by the Houston Texans, Clowney is currently in the middle of his 11th season and could be a name to watch for teams in need of an upgrade as the Panthers currently face a rebuild.

The former All-Pro recorded 19 tackles, one sack, three tackles for loss and six quarterback pressures. During his career with six different teams, Clowney recorded a total of 382 tackles, 53.5 sacks, 102 tackles for loss and 130 quarterback hits.

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