Despite the Cowboys not being over .500 all season, Jerry Jones has been peppered for weeks with questions about the trade deadline. Does part of Jerry love putting feelers out there? Absolutely. Does he also love stirring the pot? You bet.
But there's actually some merit to the idea of the Dallas Cowboys being buyers, so long as they take care of the lesser teams on their upcoming schedule. Monday night's win in Philly was a good start. As long as the NFC East is still within reach by November 10, you better believe the Joneses will be open for business.
At this point, it's clear that the defense needs more firepower. Their coordinator isn't doing them many favors right now, but improved personnel could go a long way.
So, which targets make the most sense for Dallas? I've created a big board and ranked five names to keep an eye on.
Dallas Cowboys 2026 Trade Deadline Big Board
Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|
Tuli Tuipulotu | EDGE | Chargers |
Jordyn Brooks | LB | Dolphins |
Alex Highsmith | EDGE | Steelers |
Khalil Mack | EDGE | Chargers |
Josh Sweat | EDGE | Cardinals |
5. Josh Sweat, EDGE, Cardinals
Surprised not to see Sweat higher? The trade deadline is still three weeks away, and yet multiple insiders have linked the former Super Bowl champ with the Cowboys. That hinges on Dallas being in contention, but it's clear by now that Sweat could end up repping The Star.
The Cowboys could push that closer to reality by handing Sweat and the 2-6 Cards another loss this Sunday at AT&T Stadium.
Jerry Jones and Co. would be smart to tread lightly, however. Sweat is in the midst of a down year, logging a 10.5 percent pressure rate and just an 8.5 percent pass-rush win rate, with two sacks. He doesn't look all that explosive, almost like he's laboring, which makes me wonder if he's battling an injury.
At 29 years old, he should still have plenty of gas in the tank. Has he completely checked out in Arizona? It's possible. He reportedly wasn't happy over the offseason after head coach Jonathan Gannon was fired. Maybe it's all come to a head with Arizona still being a lousy team.
Sweat has a long track record of success, and his ties to Dallas earned him a spot on this big board by default. But they'd better do their homework ahead of time to get to the bottom of his poor start to the season.
4. Khalik Mack, EDGE, Chargers
Mack makes more sense for a true contender, not a Cowboys team that needs everything to break perfectly for them to get a seat at the contender's table.
That notwithstanding, Mack would still be a quality addition to an edge room whose presence you seldom feel during games. Dallas' pass rush is way too reliant on Quinnen Williams right now. We all think the world of Williams, but he shouldn't be any team's top pass rusher.
Even at 35 years old, Mack would fix that.
According to Sūmer Sports, Mack is tied for 16th among edge rushers with 17 impact plays and tied for 29th with 20 pressures, while ranking 21st in pressure rate and 17th in pass-rush win rate. He's been even more impressive against the run, ranking tied for third in run stops and tied for eighth with four stuffed runs. pass rush win rate, tied for third in run stops, and tied for eighth with four stuffed runs.
With Mack on an expiring contract, the acquiring team would only be on the hook for $6.2 million. In other words, he'll have plenty of suitors. The Cowboys should be one of them.
3. Alex Highsmith, EDGE, Steelers
The Steelers have exceeded expectations, sitting at 5-2 through six weeks. It's hard to imagine them selling off pieces, but they also have T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig headlining their edge room, which leads me to wonder if they would leverage Highsmith to address another need.
Maybe, just maybe, general manager Omar Khan would entertain an offer built around draft capital. After all, he just traded Joey Porter Jr. with his Steelers firmly in win-now mode.
Highsmith's 66 percent snap share would be his lowest since his rookie season. He's currently 11th among edge defenders with a 15.5 percent pass-rush win rate. He gets after the quarterback at a high clip and is comfortable playing as a stand-up outside linebacker.
Not to mention, Highsmith sets an edge with authority and excels at navigating traffic to make stops in the run game. The Steelers may rebuff any inquiries, but if there's one position they can afford to shed some talent, it's edge rusher. Watt and Herbig are plenty dynamic to carry the load.
Highsmith should be one of Dallas' top targets.
2. Jordyn Brooks, LB, Dolphins
DeMarvion Overshown's impact was palpable in his return from injury Monday night. He only managed six tackles, but five of those were stops, and he effectively iced the win for Dallas with a fourth-quarter interception. He batted down another pass as a blitzer.
That said, the Cowboys could really use a stud linebacker to shore up the spine of their defense. It seems they are reconsidering Jaishawn Barham as a three-down MIKE, and Shemar James is still hit or miss.
Enter Jordyn Brooks, whom Dallas checked in on over the offseason before he inked a contract extension with the Dolphins. The 29-year-old has been steady for a Miami defense that has punched above its weight class under Jeff Hafley.
Per Sūmer Sports, Brooks has compiled nine run stops, three run stuffs, 13 impact plays and five pressures on 25 pass rush snaps.
With the Dolphins ready to hand the keys to the defense to Jacob Rodriguez, the current favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, they can afford to offload Brooks. Now is the perfect time to pass off the baton to Rodriguez.
1. Tuli Tuipulotu, EDGE, Chargers
Don't be fooled by the sack numbers.
Tuipulotu only has two quarterback takedowns over the Chargers' first six games, but he's been a force off the edge, tying for eighth at the position with 22 impact plays, while ranking 14th with 26 pressures, third with a 20.2 percent pressure rate, and ninth with a 16.3 percent pass-rush win rate.
The 24-year-old has also made his presence felt against the run, ranking among the top 10 edge defenders in both run stops and stuffed runs. He's in the final year of his rookie contract, though, so any team trading for him would presumably do so with a long-term extension in mind.
Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku just aren't giving you enough as pass rushers or defending the run. They are rotation players cosplaying as every-down starters.
Tuipulotu would slot in as the Cowboys' top edge defender and give them a top 10-ish player at the position for the foreseeable future, joining Quinnen Williams, Caleb Downs, Jaishawn Barham, and potentially Joey Porter Jr. as their building blocks.
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