Dallas Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones revealed that the team has completed one trade and is working on up to two additional deals before the NFL trade deadline, with a clear focus on bolstering a defense ranked near the bottom of the league.
Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones offered a rare moment of candour ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, acknowledging that the club has finalized at least one deal and is preparing for possibly two more before the clock strikes.
He delivered the message on The Stephen A. Smith Show, stating: “We certainly have made a trade, and we may make a couple more trades before that deadline.”
Jerry Jones said he made a trade and is working on two more for the Cowboys pic.twitter.com/AMHqcJ1JkI
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) November 3, 2025
Jones did not reveal the player involved, but he confirmed the focus is on the team’s struggling defense, which has ranked 31st in defensive EPA per play through Week 8.
The decision to speak publicly reflects an urgency rare in Jones’s typical Season-long optimism. With the Cowboys battling to salvage a playoff run, the timing suggests the front office views this as a critical pivot point rather than routine roster tinkering.
Strategic urgency behind Dallas’s trade push
Since the offseason trade that sent Pro Bowl pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, Dallas has struggled to generate consistent pressure.
Analysts have linked the Cowboys to several defensive names, including Bradley Chubb and Malcolm Koonce.
I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’ve been writing all day.
Jerry Jones has a secret trade that he isn’t telling anyone yet???
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 3, 2025
Jones emphasized discipline and assignment-sound play as key traits in the players the Cowboys are targeting. “We are trying to get a player and have players that are getting to where they can be in the right place,” he said.
From a roster-construction front, the timing is logical. The Cowboys entered Week 9 with a 3-4-1 record and face a congested slate ahead. Addressing the defensive weakness now increases the odds of short-term improvement and long-term institutional stability.
Equally important, making a move before the deadline can provide the new player time to acclimate rather than riding the summer wave into the postseason.
Conclusion: Deadline day is a showdown for Dallas’s competitive window
By publicly acknowledging trade activity and outlining a clear direction, Jerry Jones has raised expectations and sharpened the focus on a key moment for the franchise. The impending deadline is not merely a transactional milestone; it becomes a barometer for how serious the Cowboys are about fixing their defense and preserving their contention cycle.
Whether one trade or three, the moves Dallas makes in the coming hours may well define this season’s trajectory and shape the team’s competitive identity for years to come.
