The trade every Cowboy fan expects — and the haunting reminder staring Dallas right in the face.QQ
We’re only days away from the NFL trade deadline set for end of day on Nov. 4. And we’re still wondering what will the Dallas Cowboys’ approach be.
At 3-4-1, the Cowboys don’t seem to be prime “buyer” candidates. But with games against the 2-5 Arizona Cardinals and 2-5 Las Vegas Raiders coming up, it’s not crazy to think about this team wanting to get better. Then again, they enter the toughest stretch of the 2025 schedule right after that. So which is the right answer?
Below are three things I think I think about the Cowboys’ imminent decisions.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently told 105.3 The Fanhe doesn’t believe the team is one defender away from fixing its problems. This is crucial to understand because despite reports of Dallas targeting high-profile targets like Trey Hendrickson (Cincinnati Bengals) and Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas Raiders), such a costly move is unlikely given the potential cost for a defense with many struggles.
Giving up first rounders for band aids for a serious disease is unwise. If the Cowboys are going to make a trade at all, expect it to be smaller prey. Additionally, expect it to be a move that helps the team in 2026, as well. Specifically, that means being under contract beyond this season.
Keep in mind, a big motivator for the Jerry Jones-led front office could be keeping the fans’ interest alive. He did, after all, described the team as a “soap opera” that runs 365 days a year. And what sales pitch did he use for both the Jonathan Mingo and Kenny Clark trades? The one about these players helping out in the future as much as in the present.
2. WR Jonathan Mingo being a healthy scratch was a reminder of why they should sit tight
As good as Jones’ sales pitch about a better today and a better tomorrow may sound, it should be taken with a grain of salt. Following the Clark trade, ESPN reported the Cowboys viewed the veteran’s contract as a win in part thanks to the flexibility offered by a deal with no guaranteed money beyond 2025.
And Mingo? He was a healthy scratch in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos. When the Cowboys gave up a fourth-round draft pick for him last year, the consensus was Mingo’s best asset wasn’t anything football-related. It was that he was on a rookie deal. The fact that he isn’t one of your 48 players on gameday despite him being ready to go should be a reminder of why they shouldn’t make such a trade.
Frankly, the Cowboys are better off not trading for players if their lone intention is to keep fans’ interest alive this season. A middle-of-the-road kind of deal would not make a difference for this team’s chances this year nor next. It’s either a big swing or a Day 3 swap kind of small move, in my opinion.
3. If they do make a trade, these are the positions of need Cowboys should address:
- Linebacker: Even with DeMarvion Overshown set to return in Week 11, I’d prioritize a middle linebacker who can play the run better than Kenneth Murray. I genuinely believe a Day 3 pick could get that job done. Maybe the New Orleans Saints want to part ways with Demario Davis?
- Defensive end: The Micah Parsons trade aged horribly for the Cowboys and it isn’t even a surprise. Rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku is quickly improving but the defense needs someone else who can generate pressure consistently and of course, set the edge.
- Defensive tackle: The Cowboys signed DT Solomon Thomas in free agency. They extended Osa Odighizuwa to a $80 million deal. They traded for Clark as a part of the Parsons’ deal. But they still need a true nose tackle to stuff the run.
