The Dallas Cowboys have spent the early part of the 2026 season searching for consistency on both sides of the ball. With a 3-4 record heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, the team sits in second place in the NFC East, trailing the New York Giants but still very much in the mix for a postseason berth in a wide-open division. Quarterback Dak Prescott and the offense have produced at a high level at times, while the defense has struggled to generate consistent pressure and stop the run.
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones has repeatedly signaled that he wants this year’s roster to compete now rather than wait for a longer rebuild. That approach led to several offseason and in-season moves, including the addition of cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier in the fall.
As the calendar turns to November, attention naturally shifts to the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10 and whether Dallas will look to add help before the window closes.
Sunday’s game at AT&T Stadium offers a chance for the Cowboys to even their record against a 2-5 Cardinals team that has also dealt with inconsistency. A win would keep Dallas firmly in the division conversation heading into a stretch that includes home games against the San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans before a Thanksgiving rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles.
On the pregame show on 105.3 The Fan, Jones addressed the trade deadline and left the door open for potential additions, according to a report shared by The Athletic’s Jon Machota.
“We certainly are gonna take (a look at) any opportunity to improve our team,” Jones said.
He added that the timing of any deal would not be a barrier if the fit made sense for the current roster.
“If we think it’s now … it wouldn’t keep me from making a trade,” Jones said.
Jones also expressed confidence in the group already in the building.
“I think we can be an outstanding team,” he said.
The comments arrive less than two weeks before the deadline and follow a stretch in which Dallas has already parted with significant draft capital in previous deals. The Cowboys currently hold limited picks in the 2027 draft after earlier moves to bring in players such as Porter, wide receiver George Pickens and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
League observers have pointed to the pass rush as one area where an addition could make an immediate difference. Dallas ranks near the bottom of the league in sacks and pressure rate through seven games, even after investments in the defensive line over the past two seasons.
Jones has described himself as open to activity at the deadline if the right opportunity appears, while also noting in earlier appearances that finding willing trade partners can be difficult this time of year. Teams that are out of contention often hold on to key contributors rather than sell low, and contenders may not be eager to part with difference-makers.
The Cowboys’ next two games, against Arizona on Sunday and at Indianapolis the following week, will shape the picture before Nov. 10. A strong showing over that stretch could increase the urgency for Jones to explore the market, while continued inconsistency might reinforce a focus on internal improvements and scheme adjustments.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer’s staff has worked to maximize the current roster, particularly on defense, where young players and recent additions are still finding their roles. The addition of Porter has strengthened the secondary, but generating more pressure on opposing quarterbacks remains a priority.
Jones’ willingness to consider deals that help immediately aligns with the team’s stated goal of competing in the NFC East this season. The Giants currently hold the division lead, while the Eagles and Washington Commanders sit below Dallas in the standings, leaving room for the Cowboys to climb with a strong finish to the first half of the schedule.
Whether any trade materializes will depend on the availability of players who fit both the scheme and the salary-cap picture. Dallas has shown it is willing to move future picks when the player in question can contribute right away, as it did with Porter.
The Nov. 10 deadline falls the day after the Cowboys host the 49ers, giving the front office one more game to evaluate the roster before finalizing any decisions. Until then, Jones’ latest remarks indicate that the possibility of a move remains on the table.
