The Cowboys could be staring at two very different paths as the November 10 NFL trade deadline gets closer, and which one they take may come down to the next four games.
Dallas is set to face the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, and Indianapolis Colts before the deadline. Those results, especially the showdown with the Eagles, may decide whether Jerry Jones keeps pushing chips into the middle or starts pulling pieces out of the deck for next year.
Jones has never come off like the type to sit quietly and wait things out. He’s already made several aggressive moves this year, dealing for Rashan Gary, Dee Winters, Broderick Jones, and most recently Joey Porter Jr.
That leaves Dallas with only four picks in the 2026 NFL Draft: one each in the first, second, fourth, and seventh rounds. Even with that reduced stash, Jones has made it clear he’s willing to keep spending if it helps the present.
That’s why Dallas could still be in the market for more help. Maxx Crosby has been floated as a possible target, and Josh Sweat is another name that has come up, especially with the Cardinal season going the way it is.
Either move would probably cost at least Dallas’ first-round pick next year, plus more. It would also chip away at an already thin future draft cupboard.
There’s no question that kind of swing is possible. The bigger question is whether it’s smart.
Dallas has struggled defensively, and the offense hasn’t matched its talent level either. A splash move could help them get into the playoffs, but another quick postseason exit would leave the team without much to show for it and without many tools to reset for the future.
On the other hand, the Cowboys could decide the opposite makes more sense and become sellers.
If the next four games go poorly, it would open the door for Dallas to move some of its better trade pieces and collect more draft capital. Next year’s class is considered strong, especially at positions of “need” for the Cowboys. And because Dallas has spent years building through the draft, adding more picks could be the cleaner long-term play.
George Pickens sits at the top of the list of possible trade assets. He could bring back a strong return, though the franchise tag limits how much value he carries because of the restrictions that come with a new contract for a new team.
T.J. Bass is another player who could draw interest, along with others Dallas might be willing to move.
At the moment, selling would fit the way this season has gone. There’s little reason right now to believe this group can make noise in the playoffs, and reloading for next year may be the more sensible route.
Still, none of it matters until Jerry Jones decides which way to lean. He may believe the season can still be turned around. The game against the Packers on Sunday should tell us a lot.
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Michael Irvin Just Said What Cowboys Fans Are Thinking About Dak
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What stood out even more was where Irvin wanted the focus to stay. Rather than getting caught up in the back-and-forth around the tunnel, he pushed the attention back to the game and to the larger story of a franchise still trying to shake decades of disappointment. For a team that has spent far too long hearing the same complaints, it was another blunt reminder that the arguments off the field only matter because of what keeps happening on it. [Read more 🡒]