Cowboys Face One Trade Deadline Question On Defense

With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the Dallas Cowboys weigh the strategic value of acquiring Cole Holcomb from the Pittsburgh Steelers to bolster their linebacker depth.

If the Cowboys decide to shop for help before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10, linebacker could be one spot worth watching - and the Steelers may have a name available.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Pittsburgh could be willing to move at least one player next week, even though the team sits at 6-2. The player Breer pointed to is veteran linebacker Cole Holcomb.

“Then there’s the Steelers, who, again, are sniffing around at receiver, and could deal veteran LB Cole Holcomb,” he said.

The Cowboys and Steelers have already done plenty of business together, with Dallas landing George Pickens, Broderick Jones and Joey Porter Jr. from Pittsburgh since 2025.

Holcomb’s situation makes him a logical candidate to be moved. He has no real role on defense, and he has played on just 4.3% of snaps this season.

Dallas does have bodies at linebacker with DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters, Jaishawn Barham and Shemar James, but the group has not been perfectly stable. Overshown has once again dealt with injury trouble this season, has already missed several games in 2026 and is back on the Week 9 injury report with a hamstring issue.

That could push the Cowboys toward a smaller move at the position. Holcomb would fit that description, especially since linebacker is not their top need and Dallas does not have a lot of draft picks to work with in the coming years.

The price would likely be modest. Holcomb could probably be had for a late Day 3 pick, which would not cost the Cowboys much from a shrinking stash of selections.

He would bring depth on defense, but his biggest value may come on special teams, where he has been at his best.

Even so, the expectation is that Dallas will probably look elsewhere, with edge rusher still the bigger need. And there’s also the possibility the Cowboys simply stay put, since there may not be a player available who can truly fix what ails them.

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