Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Wednesday he would be willing to make more trades before the Nov. 10 deadline if the right deal could help a Dallas team that enters Week 7 at 2-4. Jones spoke at the NFL‘s annual fall meeting in New York, addressing the Cowboys trade deadline plans directly for the first time since the team dealt a second-round pick for cornerback Joey Porter Jr. three weeks ago.
“I’ll be real clear: I would be active if we could get a chance to help the team this year. That’s important,” Jones said, according to NFL.com.
Jones’ Comments On Dallas’ Trade Deadline Approach
Jones said he is willing to part with significant draft capital again, pointing to the Porter trade and last year’s deal that sent Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks. Asked whether another blockbuster trade is on the table, Jones did not rule it out.
“No, no, I don’t see that. But I don’t rule it out now. If somebody comes along and offers you one of those deals, like the one I made a year or so ago, then it’s just too much,” Jones said.
Those remarks are a statement of willingness, not a sign the Cowboys are shopping any specific player. That distinction matters for wide receiver George Pickens, who is playing the season on the franchise tag after Dallas let the July 15 extension deadline pass without a long-term deal. Pickens has 33 catches for 428 yards and one touchdown through Week 6. Jones’ comments leave the door open to a move involving any player if an offer meets the Cowboys’ price, but nothing in his remarks indicates Pickens or anyone else is currently being shopped.
What It Means For A Struggling Defense
Dallas ranks 30th out of 32 teams on defense, the clearest explanation for why Jones is willing to spend draft capital before the deadline. He attributed the unit’s struggles to structural and scheme issues rather than a lack of effort or depth, a distinction that points toward personnel and coaching fixes rather than simply more practice reps.
The Cowboys already made one coaching move this month, hiring defensive assistant Mike Pettine. Jones called the hire strategic, noting Pettine’s prior relationships with Dallas’ coordinators and spring work with the team.
“It fit. He wanted to come help. That’s a pretty significant qualifier for somebody that has that kind of background with everybody involved.
So, it was as much about his uniqueness as it was about what we wanted to do to help us play better,” Jones said. He added that he does not expect any additional coaching changes this season, a point covered in more detail in Total Apex Sports’ report on the Pettine hire.
Context: A Soft NFC East
Jones said he remains encouraged despite the record, citing a weak NFC East. The Giants lead the division at 3-2-1, followed by the Eagles at 2-4 and the Commanders at 1-4-1. The last two weeks marked the first time since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger that every team in a division played twice in a stretch and none won a game.
“It gives me a lot of promise. I see opportunity. And I see it legitimately because I know the things that we have the potential to do, both with our talent, both our schemes, adjustments I’ve seen us do in the spring, the kinds of adjustments that you might want to do between the halves,” Jones said, according to FOX Sports.
Jones also described himself as disappointed and frustrated with where the team stands at 2-4, a sentiment detailed by Yahoo Sports. That frustration, paired with the division’s weak record, appears to be driving his stated openness to further deals.
What’s Next
The NFL trade deadline falls on Nov. 10. Jones has not named specific positions or players Dallas is targeting, and no further trades have been reported since the Porter Jr. deal. The Cowboys’ defensive performance over the coming weeks, following Pettine’s addition to the staff, will likely shape how aggressive Jones is willing to be before the deadline passes.
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