The Dallas Cowboys are heading toward the 2026 NFL trade deadline with a clear lane to make a real splash, and the buzz around them is only getting louder. With less than two weeks to go, Dallas keeps popping up in conversations about some of the biggest defensive names available.
The focus appears to be simple: add a difference-maker who can get after the quarterback. That’s where Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat keeps coming up, and the Cowboys will get a firsthand look at him this weekend when Arizona comes to AT&T Stadium. There’s also still the long-shot chatter around Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby, a name that remains more dream than certainty, but still part of the conversation in Dallas.
As always, Jerry Jones makes it impossible to rule anything out. And now there’s even more smoke around the possibility that the Cowboys will actually do something significant. Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report recently labeled Dallas as “heavy buyers” as Week 8 approaches in his breakdown of every team’s deadline approach.
That fits the situation in front of them. Dallas has a chance to take control of a very open NFC East, and if the next two weeks bring the right results, the front office would have a strong case to push all-in.
Gagnon put it plainly: "The Cowboys are still favored to win the NFC East in what may be a make-or-break season for the head coach and the quarterback," Gagnon writes. "In order to finally make waves in January, they likely need another high-impact defender.
They have some cap space to work with, too."
The timing could work in their favor, too. Dallas’ defense is getting healthier after a rough start marked by injuries, which makes the idea of adding one elite pass rusher even more appealing. If the rest of the unit keeps coming together, a move like that could be the piece that changes the feel of this team.
For now, the Cowboys have Sunday afternoon in front of them against the Cardinals. A win would give them their first victory over Arizona at AT&T Stadium in their last 10 tries, and it would also put Dallas in a better spot to chase a deadline move after stacking consecutive wins for the first time this season.
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Joey Porter Jr. Is Giving Cowboys Fans A Reason To Gloat
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Porter has also backed up the hype with production, allowing the lowest completion percentage among corners with at least 75 coverage snaps in 2026. Meanwhile, the Steelers are said to be feeling the sting of the move and are shopping for cornerback help at the trade deadline, which only adds to the sense that Dallas may have landed the better end of this one. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Face A Familiar Cardinals Problem At The Worst Time
The Cardinals have turned into one of those opponents the Cowboys never seem to get a clean handle on, and this weeks matchup arrives with Dallas trying to build momentum and climb in the NFC East. CeeDee Lamb pointed to Arizonas consistent energy and competitiveness in these games, which has been part of the problem for a Cowboys team that has not found much comfort in this series, especially when the game is on their own turf.
Dallas is trying to start a winning streak at the right time, but the history here is hard to ignore. The Cowboys have had their issues with Arizona for years, and the longer that pattern hangs around, the more it adds pressure to a game that already carries weight in the division race. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jones Faces A Cowboys Trade Deadline Problem He Can't Ignore
Jerry Jones has made it clear the Cowboys are at least willing to listen as the trade deadline approaches, but the front office is running into a familiar NFL obstacle: not enough draft capital to make a meaningful move without paying a steep price. Dallas has already spent heavily in previous transactions, and Jones has sounded skeptical about landing a real difference-maker if it means surrendering picks the club would rather keep in reserve.
That leaves the Cowboys in a tricky spot, because the most workable path may be the kind of deal teams almost never pull off in-season. A player-for-player swap would fit the roster math better than a pick-heavy trade, but it would also force Dallas to consider moving a key piece from its own lineup. George Pickens, currently on the franchise tag, is one of the names that naturally comes into that discussion, which is exactly why the deadline feels more complicated than a simple buyer-or-seller decision. [Read more 🡒]