NEW YORK — At the entrance to the Intercontinental Barclays hotel in Midtown Manhattan, Jerry Jones fielded questions from reporters.

Will the Cowboys consider trade activity again before the NFL's Nov. 10 deadline?

"I don't have a specific [trade in mind], but certainly I'll be real clear: I would be active if we could get a chance to help the team this year," said Jones, the team's owner and general manager. "That's important, I think."

Jones' caveat of "this year" is important. It also might lead to an answer other than what the consummate entertainer Jones wants to promote.

Players commonly traded before the deadline tend to meet one or more of the following criteria: 

• A talented player's contract is expiring the coming offseason, and his team determines draft capital (or salary cap space) is worth more than another half-season of production.

• A talented player's contract is coming up, and while he's valuable, his belief on his market value strays so far from his team's willingness to pay.

• A player loses favor with a coaching staff, either because that staff did not draft him or a younger, more affordable player begins to provide the services the first player once did.

• A talented player's peak misaligns with his current team's roster lifecycle (often, because his team doesn't have a quarterback solution) and thus his team moves him to better time the growth of its resources.

Keep all this in mind and consider: Who will help the Cowboys this year? Is it a receiver for a high-flying offense, the likes of which the Cowboys already traded for in May 2025 when they acquired George Pickens? Is it a defensive tackle who can help the Cowboys' dead-last run defense, the likes of Quinnen Williams whom they already acquired at the deadline last Nov. 4 in exchange for a 2026 second-round draft pick, a 2027 first-rounder and defensive tackle Mazi Smith?

Or is it a shutdown cornerback for the struggling secondary, a piece who can give first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker more similar talent availability to what Parker coached last year in Philadelphia? Oh wait, the Cowboys acquired one of those, too, on Oct. 1, when they sent a 2028 second-round pick and 2027 sixth for cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

The Cowboys' list of trade acquisitions over the last 18 months goes on, including edge rusher Rashan Gary (2027 fourth), linebacker Dee Winters (2026 fifth), defensive tackle Kenny Clark (part of the return for Micah Parsons) and offensive tackle Broderick Jones (a 2027 third and sixth, with a fourth in return).

Where has all of that left the Cowboys? At 2-4, with the third-most yards allowed on defense and an offense coming off a two-game slump, both of which were in prime time.

Jones admitted he was surprised by that offensive dip.

"Yes," he said Wednesday, but "I've seen it not be what it's been the last couple of games. Not only do I have expectations, I have a really sound basis of saying we're better than that and we can improve in the areas that have really frustrated us, especially last week."

Cowboys' fix might not be as simple as one player

What exactly is Jones' plan to salvage a team that's fallen to the New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers — beating only a Washington Commanders team that lost Jayden Daniels and a Houston Texans team that had yet to notch its first win?

It was always unrealistic, if fun for fans, to expect an immediate fix on defense. This isn't only about Parker calling defensive plays for the first time. It's also about the Cowboys transitioning from a 4-3 base defense to a 3-4 defense for the first time in 14 years. Philosophies and responsibilities have changed for returning players, an occurrence that historically sends players initially to think more, play fast and free less. Trades and the draft have overturned the defensive side of the roster rapidly, so it shouldn't be surprising if playing in rhythm takes time. Is it fair to expect more improvement than the Cowboys have shown in six games? Absolutely. But will that answer come via trading for another piece? There's reason to be skeptical.

Aside from spending more draft capital after the Cowboys have already dealt multiple future picks (at times for average and below average return), a new player would also need to get up to speed. Parker would still be the defensive coordinator. The scheme would still be the one that either hasn't yet caught on for players or doesn't yet fit the talent in the house (transitioning schemes often requires transitioning talent, particularly along the defensive front).

And then there's the Cowboys' offense, which followed up three 30+ point outings in Weeks 2 through 4 with 16 points when they gave the Buccaneers their first win and 13 points at Lambeau Field on Sunday Night Football. In those games, the Cowboys entered the fourth quarter with 10 and 7 points, respectively. Their defense held the Bucs and Packers below 25 points apiece, and the offense couldn't surpass that.

What did head coach and offensive play-caller Brian Schottenheimer tell Jones about those performances? 

"He's explained that as far as what we were doing and what we need to do better, he was just as tactical," Jones said. "There was no, 'We've got to have more effort, we've got to have more of that.' Our conversation is more about just really the structure, the schemes, the calls, things like that."

Perhaps also, the answer is not "more" players.

Historically bad NFC East leaves Jones feeling Cowboys have 'promise' 

Perhaps the best argument for the 2-4 Cowboys acquiring a player at the deadline to help this year is the state of the NFC East.

You may have heard: The NFC East just became the first division in which every team played across two weeks and none won. The New York Giants and Washington Commanders tied when playing each other.

The division is wide open after the Giants lost quarterback Jaxson Dart to a season-ending tear of multiple ligaments in his knee and the Philadelphia Eagles lost Jalen Hurts to blood clots that have spread from his calf to his lungs. Neither quarterback is his team's only major injury. And while Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has returned from his latest dislocation of his left (non-throwing) elbow, the Commanders lost top receiver Terry McLaurin on Monday night to a season-ending torn patellar tendon. 

The Cowboys, despite weathering short-term injuries to a handful of players, have stayed remarkably healthy relative to their division and against the backdrop of the violent sport they're playing. Dallas' offense has sputtered despite having quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, Pickens and running back Javonte Williams available. Their defense has played every game with anchors including Quinnen Williams, first-round rookie safety Caleb Downs, Clark and Gary.

Their schedule could offer a get-right period, their games between now and the trade deadline featuring the no-Hurts Eagles, the quarterback-questionable Arizona Cardinals and the just-fired-their-GM Indianapolis Colts. If the Cowboys can find schematic and rhythmic answers on both sides of the ball in those games, they may not need another piece at the trade deadline. Porter has played only two games for the Cowboys, including limited snaps in his first. If he can continue to settle their defense, the club may feel like it has a deadline acquisition without spending more.

And if the Cowboys can't figure out how to string together wins against teams like the Eagles, Cardinals and Colts? Then they shouldn't be trading for another piece to help this year anyway. There will be bigger questions about leadership for the organization to answer; save capital for the decision-makers who will be here to apply it to next year. (Jones has the luxury of knowing he'll be here, should he choose to balk at this.)

For now, count Jones among those drawing hope from a hopeless division. At 2-4, the Cowboys are 1.5 games out of the division lead. The Giants, at 3-2-1, are about to start their third quarterback of the season.

"Oh, it gives me a lot of promise," Jones said. "I see opportunities and I see it legitimately because I know the things that we have the potential to do, both with our talent, both with our schemes, adjustments. I've seen us do in the spring the kinds of adjustments that you might want to do between the halves.

"I'm frustrated and I'm disappointed that we're sitting here with this record, but I sure know what we have in place. It's internal. It's from within. The mirrors is what everybody's got to look for."