With the NFL trade deadline quickly approaching, Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys appear ready to make big moves — but not every call is being answered the way they’d like. According to Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer, the Cowboys reached out to both the Las Vegas Raiders and the Cincinnati Bengals in hopes of landing two of the league’s top pass rushers, Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson. Both teams, however, reportedly said no.
The Cowboys’ attempts show a clear sense of urgency from Jones and his front office, who are desperate to strengthen a defense that’s been struggling all season.
Cowboys Trade Rumors Heat Up Before NFL Deadline
During Fox’s Sunday broadcast, Glazer revealed that the Cowboys have been aggressively exploring defensive upgrades. “Dallas is trying. They’ve actually called around,” Glazer said. “They called the Raiders for Maxx Crosby, was told no. They called the Bengals for Trey Hendrickson, was told no. They are calling around for help on defense.”
Crosby has made it clear that he wants to stay in Las Vegas, and the Raiders view him as a franchise cornerstone. Hendrickson, meanwhile, remains under contract with the Bengals through this season, and Cincinnati isn’t interested in moving one of its key defensive players.
Still, the fact that Dallas even attempted these trades signals how seriously Jones views his team’s defensive shortcomings. Heading into Week 8, the Cowboys ranked near the bottom of the NFL in multiple defensive categories — allowing over 400 yards per game, 29.4 points per game, and the third-most rushing yards in the league (141.3).
Jerry Jones Addresses Cowboys’ Defensive Struggles
Since trading star pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in August, Dallas hasn’t been the same defensively. Opposing quarterbacks have posted an average passer rating of 110.6 against the Cowboys — a staggering number considering no quarterback in NFL history has a career rating above 103.
Despite the disappointing stats, Jones insists his approach to roster moves remains steady. “If there is a trade that would help the defense, we’re in position to make that trade,” Jones said on October 15, via the team’s official website. “It doesn’t mean we’re going to make one, but we certainly had in mind that we were going to have ammo to be more flexible with the roster this year.”
After Sunday’s 44-24 blowout loss to the Denver Broncos, Jones reiterated that the team’s decision-making won’t be dictated by emotion. “A loss is discouraging but as far as my temperament, if I saw a proposition to help this team, no matter what the score was today, I would look at it on the merits,” he told reporters, in clip shared by Clarence Hill Jr. on X. “Today would not affect decisions on trading for a player.”
Dallas allowed 426 total yards to Denver, extending the Broncos’ win streak to five games. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw two interceptions and was sacked twice by a Denver defense that now leads the league with 36 sacks.
With the November 4 deadline looming, the Cowboys still have time to make a move.
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