Jerry Jones Has 3 Games to Shape the Cowboys’ Trade Deadline Plan

Jerry Jones still wants to improve the Cowboys before the NFL trade deadline. But with Dallas at 2–4, the smartest next move may depend on what happens over the next three games—not on how loud the pressure gets.

Jones said this week that he could see Dallas being active before the November 10 deadline if a deal would help the team this season. He described himself as disappointed and frustrated with the club’s start, but he has not abandoned the idea that the Cowboys can climb back into the NFC East race.

That optimism has a narrow window to prove itself. Dallas visits Philadelphia on Monday, October 26, hosts Arizona on November 1, and travels to Indianapolis on November 8. The trade deadline arrives two days later.

Dallas has already shown it will spend draft capital

This is not a front office waiting for its first opportunity to act. On October 1, Dallas acquired cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from Pittsburgh, sending a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick to the Steelers.

That move addressed a real need in the secondary, but it also raised the cost of the Cowboys’ attempt to rescue the season. A future second-round pick is a meaningful asset. The next trade has to be judged against both the help it could provide now and the options Dallas would be giving up later.

Jones has made clear that he is willing to trade draft capital for a player who can improve the 2026 team. That is a different standard from making a move simply because the team is under pressure. A deal should solve a defined problem, not just generate a headline.

The defense still needs evidence, not another headline

Dallas’ defensive performance has been a central concern. NFL.com reported this week that the problems had become serious enough for longtime defensive coordinator Mike Pettine to come out of retirement and assist first-year coordinator Christian Parker.

That context matters when evaluating another trade. A proven player at a position of need can help, as Porter is intended to do. But one addition cannot automatically fix missed assignments, communication breakdowns or inconsistent execution across a unit.

Dallas should use the next three games to identify whether the biggest remaining weakness is a specific role that can be upgraded—or a broader issue that requires more than one player. That distinction is where disciplined team-building differs from deadline-day urgency.

Three games, three different tests

These games should not become a rigid pass-fail test based only on wins and losses. A close loss with improved defensive execution can tell the front office something different from a win built on turnovers that are unlikely to repeat. The film and the quality of the performance matter as much as the record.

Buy, wait, or sell? The decision should be specific

Buy if the next three games show that Dallas is close enough to contend and a realistic trade target addresses a clear, high-impact weakness at a fair price.

Wait if the roster has the talent but the defense still needs to prove that its communication and execution are improving. Spending more picks before the problem is clearly identified could add cost without creating a real solution.

Consider selling only if the market changes the calculation. Jones has said he does not expect the Cowboys to be sellers, while leaving room for an offer that is too valuable to ignore. That is not the current plan, but a front office should still weigh an unusually strong return against the needs of the team.

The NFC East remains unsettled, which gives Dallas a reason not to give up on the season at 2–4. It does not make every available trade a good one. The division’s weakness is an opportunity only if the Cowboys can play more consistently.

Sportimatic’s take

Jerry Jones has already shown he is prepared to use future picks to upgrade the roster. The next step should be more selective, not louder. If the Cowboys improve over the Eagles, Cardinals and Colts stretch, a targeted move before November 10 could make sense. If the same problems remain, one more headline-grabbing trade may do little to change the season.

The deadline is a date, not a strategy. Dallas has three games to earn a clearer answer.

Sources

• NFL.com: Jerry Jones on adding to the Cowboys roster before the deadline
• DallasCowboys.com: Joey Porter Jr. trade details
• NFL.com: Dallas Cowboys 2026 schedule
• NFL Football Operations: 2026 important dates and trade deadline