Ever since training camp broke over the summer, the Dallas Cowboys have been expected to be major players at the 2026 NFL trade deadline. The holes in their defense were apparent over the summer and while the Cowboys were optimistic some holes would be filled through internal development during the season, outside solutions via trade appeared to be the most likely.

To the surprise of no one, the Cowboys began the year a little up and down. Hoping to push the needle in the direction of up, Jerry Jones and company traded for star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. following their Week 3 game in Brazil. Sickness impacted Porter’s onboarding but overall, he’s been as brilliant as advertised. Yet problems with the pass rush persisted, placing potential targets like Maxx Crosby, Khalil Mack and Josh Sweat on Dallas’ radar as the Nov 10 trade deadline loomed.

Two losses later and the deadline is looming in a completely different way. Sitting at 2-4, Dallas is poised for another losing season. The defense is dysfunctional in all the same ways as before, only this season the offense and special teams are having issues of their own as well. Instead of the deadline looking like a chance at acquisition, it’s starting to look more like a chance to cut bait and salvage a losing situation.

Before the season even began there was an element of “prove-it” with this Cowboys team. In order to justify massive investment in another player at the deadline, Jones probably wanted to see something to indicate his club was just one more player away. Keep in mind, this is a team that hates mortgaging the future by sending draft assets and cap costs into upcoming seasons. The fact they’ve sent as much as they have is already a step outside the comfort zone for this franchise and more draft pieces will seriously inhibit what Dallas can do in coming seasons.

November 10 is still three games away. If the Cowboys can run the table against the Eagles, Cardinals and Colts, all who have a similar 2-4 record, Dallas will be 5-4 and likely division leaders. That could be enough for Jones to justify one more big investment. But anything shy of a winning record would be hard to justify and frankly, be cause for sell-off.

George Pickens can still fetch a nice price on the open market. Receivers are in big demand and more than a few have missed time around the league this year. Malik Hooker is someone who could fit as a top three safety on most teams. Like Pickens, he’s just a one-year commitment. Even dynamic return man KaVontae Turpin could fetch a reasonable return. His speed and change of direction is something everyone covets.  

The Cowboys only have four draft picks in the 2027 NFL draft. Trading off a handful of players would go a long way in recouping some of those missing picks. A trade deadline of hope is fast becoming a salvage project. If the Cowboys can’t get a winning record by the deadline, there may be no other logical solution.