With the NFL trade deadline drawing closer, it's been an active few days for teams around the league. Just this week, the Bears have acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons from Tennessee, and the Colts have started what looks like the beginnings of a fire sale by unloading both Quenton Nelson and Deforest Buckner.
Contenders are making what they hope are final-push kind of moves, while lower-tier teams who may be conceding their fate are selling off valuable personnel for trade capital. And whether your team is a buyer or a seller at the deadline can say a lot about where the organization internally believes the season is really headed.
Despite being heavily rumored to be in the market for one more dominant pass rusher, the man calling
the shots for the Cowboys seemed to downplay the likelihood that he'd be brokering any deals one way or the other.
"I don't feel like I have to 'keep up' with anybody," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told K&C Masterpiece on 105.3 The Fan during a phone-in on Friday.
"Where we are right now, it would have to be a dynamic situation for us to give up picks because we've used some of those picks in our future. On the other hand, I don't like the idea of giving up, really, anybody that somebody else might want. We need him as bad as they do."
That would appear to throw water on the notion that Dallas is eyeing a deal to bring Maxx Crosby, Yaya Diaby, or Josh Sweat to town. All have been singled out as potential trade targets for a Cowboys squad that is just 3-4 but has a real chance to make some noise with a favorable schedule in a weak NFC East.
But making a trade would almost assuredly cost draft picks. The Cowboys currently have just four selections in 2027: a first-rounder, a second-rounder, a fourth-rounder, and a seventh-rounder. And they've already given away a second-rounder in 2028 in the deal to land Joey Porter Jr. Parting with even more future draft capital would be a tough pill to swallow unless the Cowboys truly believe they are one new player away from making a real run at a ring.
Still, Jones has admitted to being in a win-now mindset, and he has a history of swooping in late- oftentimes very late- to make a splashy move. In his tenure, Jones has made nine previous trades on the day of the deadline.
Sweat is a particularly interesting option to many, as his 2-5 Cardinals (who have already sent wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. packing) visit AT&T Stadium this weekend for a Week 8 matchup. But Jones says even if the Pro Bowl edge rusher were to go off with a strong performance against his Cowboys on Sunday, he's no more likely to pick up the phone to swing a deal.
"I've seen a lot of opposing players that I would love- if I could snap our finger and make it work- be on the Dallas Cowboys."
In fact, Jones said what he'd much rather see is for his team to put on such a show that it's his phone that's ringing come Monday, with other teams making offers for Cowboys players before the Nov. 10 deadline.
"There's no such thing as not entertaining" trade talks if a team calls, Jones said, no matter who- depth piece or bona fide superstar- a prospective team might be inquiring about.
"I go where I don't want anybody to know I'm going with my mind all the time. Just because you go there doesn't mean you would do it. But it's worth considering or worth thinking about."
And whether it's buying or selling, no matter how he protests publicly, you'd better believe Jones is at least thinking about both.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys' Jerry Jones downplays trade rumors: 'Would have to be a dynamic situation'
