OCTOBER 26: Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer confirms (video link) the Cowboys made calls about both Crosby and Hendrickson. To little surprise, those inquiries were rebuffed in each case. Dallas could still be in the market for a less splashy acquisition over the coming days, especially if the team’s defense continues to struggle.
OCTOBER 23: Ranked first in the NFL in yards and second in points, the Cowboys’ offense has been one of the league’s best during the first seven weeks of the season. The other side of the ball has been a different story. Thanks to a defense that ranks last in yards allowed and 30th in points given up, the Cowboys are a middling 3-3-1 and sitting in 10th place in the NFC.
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.
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.
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.
Just stand pat
Double down on defense next draft or trade back and acquire more draft picks for defense rookie contracts
Worst thing you can do is force a situation right now.
I wouldn’t hate them trading for Wilson from Cincy, but gutting those firsts seems hasty. I agree with you. Keep what you have and build in the draft/offseason.
Hahahahahah here you are looking goofy trying soo bad to get a defensive piece. JERRY JONES SHOULDVE PAID THE MAN PARSONS AND YOU GUYS WOULDNT BE WITH THIS BS
The Cowboy defense is so overwhelmingly bad I don’t think Parsons would have made a difference. Mazi Smith – the kid who doesn’t like to play football – would have been the starter as well as Osa who has underperformed as well.
Bring back Leon Lett… but don’t let him put his hands on the ball 🙂
Hendrickson had to come out of today’s Cincy game with a hip injury. Pokes are thankful they don’t have to deal with damaged goods.
I wouldn’t touch Hendrickson with a 10 foot pole! At 31 and now dealing with a hip injury, he could not help the Cowboys. Watch Cincy now try to hoodwink old Jones that he is damaged goods.
If only they had a guy who could be relentless in pursuing the QB but also could drop back into coverage. You know, the kind of guy that makes teams change their entire offensive strategy, making everyone around him better. That kid from Green Bay would fit in nicely. I think his name is Parsons or something like that? Anyway, just a pipe dream…..