Trader Jones might be closed for the season.
Jerry Jones hasn't hidden his desire to be active in the trade market if it means improving his Dallas Cowboys, but it does take two to tango. The team's owner and general manager already found a dance partner once, swinging a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers for cornerback Joey Porter Jr. on Sept. 30.
Finding another trade partner before the NFL trade deadline at 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 10 seems unlikely, at least according to Jones. The owner spoke about the trade deadline during a Tuesday, Oct. 27 appearance with "Shan and RJ" on 105.3 The Fan.
“It’s unlikely we’ll get the opportunity from outside coming in, but if it’s there, I’ll do it," Jones said.
He noted that the team needs to pressure the quarterback
more. However, Jones believes that the existing talent in the building can get better with some changes to the scheme and improvement with player technique.
Notably, Jones' solution to fixing Dallas' defensive struggles has nothing to do with the defense. It's the other side of the ball.
“The defense is really not where we expected it to be," Jones said. "But we can win, and we can get to where we want to go, with that offensive side of the ball. And that's where we've got a real emphasis on proven players that can do things that we know how to do."
Jones also wasn't shy about his faith in head coach Brian Schottenheimer and the personnel on offense, calling it "strong" with Dak Prescott and the supporting cast.
"We also have an outstanding offensive play caller in our head coach," Jones said. "And that’s our strength."
What Jerry Jones said about the Cowboys' defense
The owner did seem resigned to the idea that the defense is what it is at this point.
“It is evolving [defensively]," Jones said. "Probably we were all too ambitious to think that you could have better results than what you’re talking about. But that's what we are.
"We can get better. We have the potential to get better. We've got players over there that are talented, as good a overall group talent-wise as we've had in several years."
Jones pointed to a run-first approach on offense as the key to unlocking the defense, bleeding the clock and not allowing the game to get out of hand.
“In my mind, we can win it with this combination and a significant but not unattainable defensive progress.”
Dallas is two games behind the New York Giants in the loss column for the NFC East lead after seven weeks, but it's a division that is there for the taking as injuries have taken a toll. A soft schedule and some defensive improvement from the Cowboys could be enough to claim the title this season.
Whether the Cowboys could make any noise in the playoffs as currently constructed is another story, making the trade deadline an especially key date for this team.
And if that phone rings, Jones will be ready to pick up.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jerry Jones calls another Cowboys trade 'unlikely' despite his wishes
