While other teams in the NFC are making huge moves to fix their rosters, the Cowboys owner says he feels no rush to follow suit. He told 105.3 The Fan that he does not believe Dallas needs to make a trade just to keep up with the rest of the league. This stance comes right after the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, and Chicago Bears a ll pulled off massive deals to upgrade their rosters. Jones sees those moves but says they do not change his plan for Dallas.
The Price Tag Is Too High
Jones has set a very high bar for any deal to happen before the Nov. 10 deadline. He made it clear that giving up draft capital is not something he wants to do lightly. “It would have to be a dynamic situation to give up (draft) picks,” Jones said. The Athletic’s Jon Machota relayed this message from the radio appearance. Other teams are trading first-round picks for top-tier players, but Jones seems willing to let Dallas fall behind in the arms race rather than deplete his future assets. He would rather wait for the right moment than force a bad fit.
Some insiders think the Cowboys should be more aggressive. Mike Fisher of Yahoo Sports predicts Dallas might still circle back for Raiders star Maxx Crosby. Fisher wrote, “I’ve predicted all along that the Cowboys will circle back with an offer for Crosby.” However, he also warned that paying two premium picks for Crosby would be an overpay. The Cowboys currently sit at 3-4 and have only recorded 10 sacks through seven games. Adding an elite pass rusher could help, but the cost might be too steep for Jones to swallow.
A Make-or-Break Season Looms
The division is wide open, and Dallas still has a shot to run away with the NFC East. Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report noted, “The Cowboys are still favored to win the NFC East in what may be a make-or-break season for the head coach and the quarterback.” The team faces the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Nov. 1, at AT&T Stadium. A win there could set the tone for a late-season push. But if the defense continues to struggle without new help, the window to win might close fast.
Jones is also looking at the bigger picture beyond just the trade deadline. He recently spoke about bringing Troy Aikman into the front office as a possibility. Jones told Cowboys team reporter Tommy Yarrish, “I’ve seen his image and had it in my eyes since I walked in the NFL.” Aikman said he had a good talk with the owner before the Eagles game. Jones is holding back on short-term trades. He wants to build a winner, but he refuses to pay a premium price for it right now.
