Dallas Cowboys In the Market For Marquee Defensive Piece At NFL Trade Deadline
Jerry Jones and his Cowboys front office just got served two ice-cold slices of rejection pie, and honestly, it’s about as surprising as watching your favorite team blow a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter.
According to Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer, the Cowboys made desperate phone calls to both the Las Vegas Raiders for Defensive End Maxx Crosby and the Cincinnati Bengals for Edge Rusher Trey Hendrickson. The response? A resounding “thanks, but no thanks” from both organizations.
Cowboys Defense Desperately Needs Help
The #Cowboys made trade calls to the #Raiders on Maxx Crosby and the #Bengals on Trey Hendrickson, but were rebuffed by both teams, per @JayGlazer.
Dallas is in the market for defense. pic.twitter.com/hjqcZf3W0t
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 26, 2025
Let’s be real here – Dallas is drowning defensively this season. They’re allowing more yards than a Pee-Wee football team playing against college seniors. Through seven games, they’re dead last in total defense and have managed just 15 sacks, which ranks them a mediocre 16th in the league.
The root of their problems? Trading away defensive superstar Micah Parsons to Green Bay in August. That move left a gaping hole in their pass rush that’s about as obvious as a neon sign in a blackout.
Jerry Jones, being Jerry Jones, tried to downplay any interest in pass rushers during a recent interview with The Athletic. “I would say, without incriminating any area of it, it would be a defensive player. But not a pass rusher,” Jones said with the confidence of someone who definitely called about pass rushers.
Why Crosby and Hendrickson Said No
Here’s where it gets interesting, folks. Maxx Crosby, the Raiders’ absolute beast of a defensive end, apparently told his team he has zero interest in being traded. The guy’s got loyalty thicker than Texas barbecue sauce. Raiders Owner Mark Davis has been fielding these calls all season, and his patience is wearing thinner than a defensive coordinator’s playbook after giving up 500 yards.
“I don’t know how many times I’ve got to say it,” Davis said to reporters. “It’s really hard to keep getting asked the same question every month or week when the answer’s going to stay the same.”
As for Hendrickson, despite his offseason contract drama with Cincinnati, the Bengals aren’t budging either. After their upset victory over Pittsburgh in Week 7, team executives made it clear they’re keeping their defensive weapons intact.
The Micah Parsons Factor Still Stings
You can’t talk about the Cowboys’ defensive struggles without mentioning the elephant in the room – or should I say, the All-Pro linebacker who’s now wearing green and gold. Trading Parsons was supposed to net them Defensive Tackle Kenny Clark and some draft picks, but watching your former star terrorize other teams while your defense gets shredded weekly has to sting worse than stepping on a Lego barefoot. Jones defended the trade recently, saying he “expected” both sides would benefit.
What’s Next For America’s Team?
With the trade deadline looming on November 4, the Cowboys are running out of time and options. They’re sitting at 3-4 and facing the Denver Broncos this Sunday, desperately trying to string together consecutive wins for the first time all season.
The Cowboys aren’t the only team scrambling for defensive help. Washington and Philadelphia are also making calls, turning the trade market into something resembling a defensive coordinator’s fever dream. But here’s the harsh reality: when elite players like Crosby and Hendrickson don’t want to come to your organization, it says something about either your team culture, your championship prospects, or both. The Cowboys’ reputation as a dysfunctional franchise with more drama than a daytime soap opera doesn’t exactly scream “come win a ring with us.”
Bottom Line
The Cowboys’ failed attempts to land marquee defensive talent highlight their desperate situation. They’ve got holes on defense bigger than the ones in their playoff hopes, and time is running short to patch things up before this season spirals completely out of control.
Jones can deny calling about pass rushers all he wants, but when you’re hemorrhaging yards like a broken fire hydrant, everyone knows you’re shopping for help. The problem? Nobody’s buying what Dallas is selling right now.
