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4 Realistic Trades the Cowboys Could Make Before the Deadline, Ranked by Likelihood
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- 4 Realistic Trades the Cowboys Could Make Before the Deadline, Ranked by Likelihood
Jerry Jones has never needed much convincing to make a deadline deal, which is why his answer this week stood out. "At this particular time, I don't see anything," the Dallas Cowboys owner said of trades, per The Athletic's Jon Machota , after a 14-point collapse against the Cardinals dropped Dallas to 3-5 .
"At this particular time" leaves plenty of room before Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. ESPN's Todd Archer wrote that the Cowboys "could be all over the map" at the deadline, but they have only four 2027 draft picks, per ESPN's deadline preview . Dallas does have $17.1 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap, and the 2027 first-round pick acquired from Green Bay in the Micah Parsons trade gives Dallas additional leverage. Before Sunday's trip to Indianapolis, here are four deals ranked from the one that won't happen to the one that should.
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Nonsense: George Pickens gets moved
Oct 8, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) reacts against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
ESPN's Archer called George Pickens' future the biggest question facing the Cowboys, and every loss brings out a new round of trade chatter. Pickens has 39 catches for 533 yards and two touchdowns on 62 targets, while CeeDee Lamb leads the team with 92 targets.
Jones' answer this week points the other way. "He needs the ball coming his direction more," Jones said, per Archer , and the owner named one fix for the offense that runs through Pickens. He also earned an 80.1 PFF offensive grade against Arizona, the best on the team that day. A franchise that wants its offense to carry it isn't shipping away one of its two best receivers in November.
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Unlikely: Jordyn Brooks becomes the alpha
Oct 11, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks (20) takes the field to face the Cincinnati Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Dallas has been linked to Jordyn Brooks as the type of tone-setting linebacker its defense is missing. The Dolphins linebacker was a first-team All-Pro in 2025, has a 75.3 PFF grade this season and is on a 1-5 Miami team, and his 2026 base salary is only $1.215 million.
The future money is the issue. Brooks signed a three-year, $51.3 million extension in July, and his cap number jumps to $17.9 million in 2027, according to Over the Cap . Miami would also absorb about $20.6 million in dead money. The Dolphins have little reason to eat that for the limited picks Dallas has to offer, and a team with four 2027 selections can't afford to spend a premium one on a linebacker.
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Realistic: Josh Sweat fixes the pass rush
Nov 1, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat (10), defensive line L.J. Collier (91), safety Budda Baker (3) and linebacker Baron Browning (5) celebrate a sack during overtime at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
This is the name with real reporting behind it. Arizona has received trade interest in Josh Sweat, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported, and Fowler called the edge rusher a natural fit in Dallas. One NFC executive told him, "Sweat to Dallas makes a lot of sense to me. That's a profile fit," per Bleacher Report . The need is real, too. ESPN's Aaron Schatz ranks the Cowboys 31st in pass rush win rate.
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There are reasons to hesitate. Sweat has three sacks and a 60.0 PFF pass-rush grade that ranks 76th among 111 edge defenders, well off his 12-sack 2025 season. He also wants a new contract , and his $17 million base salaries in 2027 and 2028 aren't guaranteed. The Cardinals' overtime win in Dallas also pulled them to 3-5, which complicates a sale. Fowler's reporting makes this a real possibility, but the price would test how much Jones wants to spend with so few picks.
Likely: Luke Schoonmaker brings back a pick
Jul 29, 2026; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker (86) at training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Fowler named Luke Schoonmaker the Dallas player most likely to be traded, and the reasons are simple. The 2023 second-round pick is the Cowboys' third tight end behind Jake Ferguson, has three catches for 30 yards this season and is in the final year of his rookie deal with a $1.99 million cap hit, according to Over the Cap.
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Teams around the league are shopping for blocking tight ends, which makes Schoonmaker a useful chip for a team short on draft capital. Fowler didn't see Dallas moving key defensive players, and Jones has made it clear the offense is supposed to carry this team. A late-round pick for a player outside the core is the type of deal that adds to Dallas' 2027 haul without changing the season, and it may be the only one Jones signs off on before the deadline passes.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
