The Dallas Cowboys have become, quite literally, the definition of being “one player away” when it comes to their playoff hopes.
We all know the Cowboys have one of the NFL’s elite offenses. We all also know they have the NFL’s worst defense.
Get some help on that side of the ball and the Cowboys might be working with something.
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon predicts that help could come in the form of a trade for New York Jets edge rusher and former first round pick Jermaine Johnson II.
“With more of an eye for Will McDonald IV among their edges on rookie deals, the Jets could decide to escape Johnson’s contract before an expensive fifth-year option kicks in for 2026,” Gagnon wrote. “Meanwhile, the Cowboys are looking to fill that void left by Micah Parsons … Johnson costs the Cowboys a Day 2 pick and delivers on occasion for a team that should be in the playoff hunt.”
Cowboys Seem Destined to Add Edge Rusher
While the Cowboys have been the primo trade rumor destination for the 2 top edge rusher who might be available — Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson — in all reality they’ll probably have to give up the 2 first round picks they got in exchange from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for Parsons if they want Crosby.
For Hendrickson, it would likely be at least one of the first round picks plus an expensive contract extension.
The confusing part for everyone is why the Cowboys still don’t have Parsons, who was traded to the Packers on August 28 and signed a 4-year, $186 million contract extension the same day.
It’s confusing because the Cowboys could have signed Parsons to an extension at any point after the 2023 season but didn’t. The result was they lost out on what looks like a future Pro Football Hall of Fame pass rusher in his prime.
There is, however, a school of thought that says if the Cowboys could get Crosby or Hendrickson as a byproduct of the Parsons trade — and not have to give up both first round picks — it’s not as bad of a deal as it appears to be.
Johnson Battled Through Major Injury in 2024
The “Buyer Beware” portion of of any trade for Johnson starts with the fact he’s coming off a major injury suffered in 2024, when he missed 15 games with a torn achilles tendon.
Drafted by the Jets in the first round (No. 26 overall) out of Florida State in the 2022 NFL draft, Johnson is in the final season of his 4-year, $13.1 million rookie contract, with a fifth year option for approximately $13.411 million in 2026.
The Jets are 1-7 and, with first year head coach Aaron Glenn, seem like clear sellers ahead of the NFL trade deadline. On Wednesday, October 29, they started the fire sale by trading starting cornerback Michael Carter II to the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Johnson, who had 7.5 sacks and 25 QB pressures in 2025, shouldn’t be far behind. He’s also only 26 years old, under contract for another season and the price tab of $13 million is about what teams are paying for middle of the pack edge rushers these days.
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