The Dallas Cowboys have moved a step closer to securing quarterback Dak Prescott a new offensive weapon – after the Miami Dolphins shocked the football world by bringing Darren Waller out of retirement.

Miami had been in the market for a tight end after a blockbuster trade saw Jonnu Smith, a standout for the Dolphins in 2024, reunite with former coach Arthur Smith, who is now offensive coordinator at Pittsburgh.

TE Smith, who registered an NFL career-best 884 yards in the Dolphins’ 8-9 season, moved to the Steelers along with safety Jalen Ramsey and a 2027 seventh-round draft pick; in return, Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-rounder were given to the AFC East outfit. As eye-catching as the swapping of safeties were – Ramsey and Fitzpatrick are both three-time All-Pros – it was Smith’s move which raised eyebrows given the Steelers already have local hero Pat Friermuth in that position, and had previously been linked with a trade for Kyle Pitts of Atlanta Falcons.

Pitts, who had mixed fortunes under the coaching of Arthur Smith during the latter’s two-year head coach tenure with the Falcons after being drafted fourth in 2021, has been subject to trade rumours throughout the offseason after registering 602 receiving yards last year, just 13th amongst his position.

But Miami have chosen a left-field option in Waller, who retired from the sport in June 2024 aged 31 after announcing on YouTube he was stepping away after spending nearly four days in hospital due to a “very scary situation” which gave him clarity about life.

Waller, now 33, had spells with the Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants, most notably clocking back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Raiders in 2019 and 2020.

His arrival in south Florida was truly unexpected, with CBS Sports heralding it an “unexpected gamble”, and now leaves Pitts with one less landing spot, after the 24-year-old was tipped to replace Steelers-bound Smith, with Miami very much needing a new tight end.

But with Waller now about to become a Dolphin, the rumours of the Cowboys looking to supplement existing tight end Jake Ferguson with another in Brian Schottenheimer’s maiden year as head coach will now continue, and gives owner Jerry Jones one fewer roadblock if he wished to make the trade for Pitts.

Dallas as a potential landing spot has been considered a possibility by experts – and fans – after NFL insider Jordan Schultz revealed in May he could be on the trade market after his team received offers. Jeremy Fowler, of ESPN, added fuel to the fire by confirming: “I don’t think it’s a situation where the Falcons are aggressively shopping, [but] it appears, talking to some other teams, they think Atlanta is at least open to the possibility and Pitts might be as well.”

Pitts and the Cowboys has been a long-considered partnership, as far back as 2023, when Cowboys legend wide receiver Dez Bryant went viral voicing his desire to see Pitts with his former team; Bryant posted a screenshot of Pitts free and ignored on the field with the caption: “Get @kylepitts__ to Dallas please!!! This is unacceptable!!! He deserves better.”

Meanwhile, the brother of Micah Parsons, Terrence Parsons, was also busy on social media, posting: “Imagine Jerry trading a 2nd round pick for Pitts we in the bowl.” CBS Sports also named Dallas as one of three potential Pitts landing spots after news of trade interest emerged.

The Cowboys appear to remain in the market for pass-catchers for Prescott as they look to bounce back from a third-place finish in last year’s NFC East – a division topped by Super Bowl champions and hated rivals Philadelphia Eagles.

Despite acquiring George Pickens from Pittsburgh for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick, the veteran QB will be desperate for more help as their receiving options look limited beyond their newly-acquired WR and superstar Ceedee Lamb.

Jalen Tolbert (610 yards), Jonathan Mingo (147 yards) and Jalen Brooks (177 yards) are all bit-parts in the offense.

Ferguson, meanwhile, has proven his ability as a blocker but clocked just 494 yards with no touchdowns last season; Luke Schoonmaker, a second-round draft pick in 2023, has caught just 35 balls from 51 targets in his two years in Dallas.

Pitts has also been linked with the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants, but the Cowboys have significantly more cap spend and could offer a much more attractive financial package as they seek to return to the playoffs in the 2025 season.