There’s no need to rule out the Dallas Cowboys as potential movers at next week’s NFL trade day.
“I think we have a team that is a contender,” owner Jerry Jones told Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan Tuesday morning. “I would really like to expand now to improve our team.”
And yet, Jones’ definition of “extension” may differ from that of fans. While the owner/general manager of the hybrid 4-2 Cowboys could consider a move, he also insists he won’t be looking for a player in the final days before the deadline.
“It has to come to us,” Jones said. “The launch of the business opportunity that is helping us now basically has to start from the other end.
“It doesn’t show a lack of aggressiveness. That’s where it starts. I like where we are today with our staff. So I don’t think there’s any way we should update our roster.”
Jones added that he is “waiting for the phone to ring, so to speak.” If Jones’ feelings about the extension and waiting seem conflicted, welcome to the reality of how the Cowboys quarterback often talks. He wants fans to know he feels good about his chances in the NFC — “we’re in the top tier,” he said Tuesday, cautioning against feeling too good.
“I’m not saying we belong in San Fran and haven’t played Philly,” Jones said. “I guess Philadelphia is what they look like, so I don’t want to go that far. But we’re up.”
The Vakersand; defense began the season with strong presentations against the New York Giants and New York Jets. The New England Patriots also couldn’t beat the weak Dallas D.
But the surprising loss to the Arizona Cardinals highlighted questions about Dallas’ running defense and red zone offense. A 42-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 5 triggered flashbacks to the past two seasons in which the Niners swept the Cowboys each time.
The Cowboys made calculated offseason trades for veteran quarterback Brandin Cooks and cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore secured the game-winning interception in Dallas’ last win over the Los Angeles Chargers, filling a role the Cowboys needed even more after losing star cornerback Trevon Diggs to a season-ending ACL tear. Is Jones motivated to add firepower at cornerback, linebacker (since Leighton Vander Esch is on injured reserve) or elsewhere?
AD
“I have areas on this team that we can improve in certain situations,” Jones said. “You know your best chance to make it is when it’s yours and you grab it. If you’re willing to go out and push it, the odds of making it at the price or terms you want are a dream.”
The Cowboys moved up at the deadline in the league’s distant past, using a first-round draft pick to acquire Amari Cooper in 2018. Dallas, on the other hand, made the final Cooks trade for the Houston Texans before returning to secure it. hit a lower salary cap in the spring. Is Jones too risk-averse or too conservative? He said he doesn’t view any decision through that lens, although his proudest moments in business often involve risk. What Jones confirms:
The Cowboys are not in a rebuilding phase and would not trade away top talent, but would instead prioritize what they believe to be the future over opportunity in a year when every NFL team lost at least one game in Week 6.
“You have a lot of intrigue that you work with every day,” Jones said. “Would I do something that would take away from this team to help us in the future? Probably not.”
