...
By Matthew Schmidt
Contributing Sports Writer
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The Dallas Cowboys have surprised some people by actually being in serious playoff contention this season, but their success is really because of one side of the ball only: their offense.
Thanks much in part to an MVP-caliber campaign from Dak Prescott, the Cowboys boast the No. 1-ranked offense in football and don't seem to be showing any signs of slowing down. And keep in mind that they have achieved this feat with CeeDee Lamb missing three games.
Read more: Philadelphia Eagles’ Top Trade Deadline Priority Revealed
Cowboys linked to two monster trades that would revamp their defense on NFL
However, defensively, it has been another story for Dallas. The Cowboys rank last in the NFL in yards allowed, very similar to last year when they were 28th. This time, though, they don't even have Micah Parsons, who they traded to the Green Bay Packers shortly before the 2025 campaign began.
So, how will Dallas fix its defensive issues before the trade deadline? Well, Mike Jones and Jeff Howe of The Athletic have proposed two huge trades for the Cowboys to get much nastier in the trenches: acquiring Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals and also landing Cameron Jordan from the New Orleans Saints.
...
"As soon as the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons for a pair of first-round picks, Jerry Jones floated the idea of using some of that capital on a current player," Howe wrote. "Well, the Cowboys are desperate for help on defense and can make a swing for Henderson, who is coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons. Jordan is on the back end of his career and isn’t nearly as productive anymore, but he would provide enough punch and leadership up front to make an impact. Quarterback Dak Prescott has been rolling this season, so the Cowboys need to back him up with defensive reinforcements."
Jones and Howe have Dallas sending a first-round pick and a fourth-rounder to the Bengals in exchange for Hendrickson and a 2027 fourth-round selection to the Saints in order to nab Jordan.
Hendrickson has logged 15 tackles and four sacks through six games this season and has made four straight Pro Bowl appearances. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting last year. The catch is that the 30-year-old is in the final year of his deal, so the Cowboys could potentially lose him for nothing come free agency.
Read more: Packers Urged to Make Contentious Trade Deadline Decision
As for Jordan, the 36-year-old is not close to the All-Pro defensive end he once was, but he is still productive, having posted 19 tackles and 2.5 sacks in seven contests this season. He last registered a double-digit sack campaign in 2021.
A Hendrickson-Jordan duo would definitely transform Dallas' defensive front and make the Cowboys a much more formidable opponent moving forward.
For more on the Dallas Cowboys and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines