Cowboys’ Jerry Jones may be aggressive at trade deadline

With an eye on returning to the playoffs after missing the postseason in 2024, owner Jerry Jones has been making calls around the league to acquire defensive help before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Cowboys swing a deal for a defender by then, Adam Schefter of ESPN says.

Dallas, which is tied for 14th in the league in sacks, is among many playoff hopefuls angling for a pass-rushing addition over the next week-and-a-half. The Cowboys have predictably struggled without all-world edge-rusher Micah Parsons, whom they sent packing to Green Bay before the season amid a contract dispute.

Potential targets are off the market

While the Cowboys received defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks in the swap, moving Parsons left a massive void in their defense. Jones said earlier this month that he’d consider parting with those draft choices for immediate help.

With the Cowboys seeking a Parsons replacement, rumors have connected them to elite edge players in the Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson and the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby. Hendrickson is likely to remain in Cincinnati, though, and Las Vegas isn’t moving Crosby. The Cowboys “presumably” inquired about Crosby in their extensive search for an “impact” defender, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. 

They’re out of luck on that front. Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons has also come up as a potential fit for the Cowboys, but he’s reportedly not available.

Although Jones is focused on an outside acquisition to improve the Cowboys defense, the team regards it as an “ascending” unit, Schultz says. The Cowboys liken soon-to-return linebacker DeMarvion Overshown to a “superstar midseason acquisition in a trade,” according to Schultz.

DeMarvion Overshown should return to action soon

During his first NFL action last year, Overshown piled up 90 tackles and five sacks in 13 games before suffering a torn ACL, MCL and PCL. It was the second major knee injury for Overshown, who missed his rookie campaign in 2023 with a torn ACL. The 25-year-old returned to practice as a limited participant on Wednesday, setting up a season debut sometime soon.

Overshown is on his way back, but if the Cowboys have their way, he won’t be the only addition to their defense in the coming weeks. With the draft capital the Cowboys have on hand, not to mention the second-most cap space in the league, Jones may be in for an aggressive deadline.