Jerry Jones Adamant The Dallas Cowboys Are Still In The Playoff Hunt After Week 6 Dud
The Dallas Cowboys are in a strange position. With a record of 2-3-1, the team is far from where they hoped to be. Yet, thanks to the stellar play of quarterback Dak Prescott and a wide-open NFC East, owner and general manager Jerry Jones is anything but ready to throw in the towel. In recent comments, Jones expressed a mix of frustration with the team’s current state and surprising optimism about their future, signaling that he is open to making a significant move to bolster the team’s struggling defense. This openness to trade has ignited speculation and hope among a fanbase desperate for a turnaround.
A Tale of Two Units
The story of the 2025 Dallas Cowboys is one of extreme contrast. On one side of the ball, Dak Prescott is playing at an MVP level, leading an offense that is efficient, explosive, and capable of winning any shootout. On the other side, the defense has been one of the worst in the league, consistently failing to stop opponents and undermining the offense’s best efforts.
The numbers are damning. The Cowboys’ defense currently ranks last in the NFL in yards allowed per game (411.7) and second to last in points allowed per game (30.7). These struggles have been evident at every level of the defense. The pass rush has been inconsistent, generating only 11 sacks through six games. The linebacker play has been a significant weakness, and the secondary has been susceptible to big plays. The controversial preseason trade that sent superstar linebacker Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers has left a void that the team has been unable to fill, and the consequences are now on full display every Sunday.
This defensive ineptitude is squandering what could be a special season for Prescott. Despite the team’s losing record, the quarterback has been exceptional. A recent loss to the Carolina Panthers, where the defense gave up 30 points, served as a perfect microcosm of the team’s season: an elite quarterback doing everything he can, only to be let down by the other side of the ball.
Jerry Jones Remains Optimistic and “In It”
Despite the frustrating 2-3-1 start, Jerry Jones is not conceding the season. In his recent comments, he pointed to the parity across the league and the Cowboys’ position within a struggling NFC East as reasons for optimism. The division-leading Philadelphia Eagles are 4-2 but have lost two straight, and the Washington Commanders, whom the Cowboys play next, are just 3-3.
“It just reminded me that we are still in it,” Jones said, referring to Washington’s recent loss. “The last thing that I’m thinking about is in any way being out of the hunt.”
Jones’s confidence is largely fueled by the elite play of his quarterback and the potential for the division to remain competitive. He believes that with a few breaks, particularly regarding injuries, the team can still make a run. This “all-in” mentality is exactly what has Cowboys fans buzzing about the possibility of a major trade.
The Door is Open for a Defensive Trade
Recalling a similar situation in 2018, when the 3-4 Cowboys traded a first-round pick for wide receiver Amari Cooper—a move that sparked a late-season surge—Jones made it clear he is willing to be aggressive again. When asked about the possibility of a similar trade to fix the defense, his response was direct.
“Well, if there is a trade that would help the defense, we’re in position to make that trade,” Jones stated.
The Cowboys are uniquely positioned to make a significant move. Thanks to the Micah Parsons trade, they hold extra first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, giving them valuable ammunition. Furthermore, according to NFLPA figures, the team has approximately $31 million in available salary cap space. This financial flexibility, which Jones directly credited to moving Parsons’s contract, means the Cowboys can absorb a large salary without significant maneuvering.
“That alone has increased our flexibility of being able to look at potential trades right now whereas you might have had hand cramps before,” he explained. “So we’re in position to look at a trade. That doesn’t mean we’re going to make one.”
Weighing Options Before the Deadline
While Jones is open to a trade, he also emphasized that the team will evaluate all its options. This includes banking on the return of injured players to provide a boost. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and rookie cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. are both potential candidates to return later in theseason, and their impact will be weighed against the cost of acquiring an external player.
“We will weigh what are the likelihood of the players we’ve got coming back, how will they impact where that will put this team as opposed to should we add a player in a trade?” Jones said.
He was quick to clarify that no trade is imminent, stating, “I don’t have a trade in mind. At all.” However, his public acknowledgment that the team has the assets and the willingness to make a deal sends a clear message to the rest of the league: the Dallas Cowboys are open for business.
As the trade deadline nears, the pressure on the front office will only intensify. With a franchise quarterback playing the best football of his career, the window to win is now. A bold trade could be the move that transforms a season of frustration into one of championship contention. For now, Cowboys Nation can only wait, watch, and hope that their famously aggressive owner makes the right call.
