2 Urgent Trades to Fix The Cowboys’ Defense Woes

Maxx Crosby is the obvious choice if Dallas wants to stop playing around and go for the NFC East crown.

The Cowboys lost Micah Parsons last year, and while Gary gives them a proven edge rusher, no player matches the void Parsons left. Crosby would immediately change that, with NFL.com listing Dallas as one of the best potential fits if Las Vegas makes him available.

Crosby brings pressure, but the bigger thing is his ability to play the run. Dallas is giving up almost 170 rushing yards per game, so adding another pure pass rusher doesn’t fully solve the problem. Crosby can set the edge, chase runners from behind, and still create pressure on third down.

In Crosby’s last season, he recorded 113 tackles (including sacks, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles) and secured a Pro Bowl spot. So while the price would be ridiculous, a player like Crosby could end up costing multiple premium picks, ruining Dallas’s draft capital.

Still, if Jerry Jones believes this team can contend, this move proves it.

Josh Sweat Makes More Sense Financially

If Crosby is too expensive, Josh Sweat would be a much more realistic option.

Dallas needs another edge defender who can win without being constantly schemed open. At a 16.6% pass rush win rate, Sweat has shown that he can create pressure from the outside while also holding up against the run. That balance matters for a Cowboys defense that has been bad in both areas.

The main argument here is simple. Gary cannot be the entire pass rush by himself. Rookie Malachi Lawrence has upside, but expecting a first-year player to become a consistent difference-maker immediately is asking too much.

Adding Sweat would give Dallas another veteran rusher and make it harder for teams to slide protection toward Gary every passing down. He has already been mentioned as a possible deadline target if Dallas decides to keep buying.

Cowboys Defense Still Needs Another Linebacker And Cornerback

Dee Winters was supposed to help stabilize the middle of the defense, but the Cowboys are still getting destroyed on the ground.

A linebacker trade may not be the exciting move fans want, but it could be the most practical one. Dallas needs someone who can diagnose the run quickly. It’s basic, but the Cowboys have failed at that in five games.

New defensive coordinator Christian Parker is already under pressure, and Dallas just brought in Mike Pettine as a senior defensive assistant. Adding a veteran linebacker who understands run fits could make the entire front seven less chaotic.

The main issue also appears to be depth, time and time again. The Cowboys defense has already dealt with injuries to Cobie Durant and Shavon Revel, while opposing quarterbacks are completing more than 70 percent of their passes against this defense. One cornerback cannot fix all of that.

If a cheap veteran becomes available, Dallas should still be interested. 

The Cowboys Should Not Touch The Offense Unless It Is Cheap

Dallas does have offensive problems, but the defense is clearly the emergency.

Dak Prescott already has enough weapons to move the ball. Spending premium draft capital on another receiver or running back is hard to justify while the defense gives up 27.2 points per game and lets opponents control the ball.

The offensive line has also gotten healthier with Tyler Smith returning from injured reserve. Broderick Jones gives Dallas more tackle depth, so another major offensive-line trade isn’t necessary unless an obvious bargain appears.

This team needs stops more than it needs another toy for Dak.

The Draft Pick Problem

The biggest problem is that Dallas has already spent a lot.

The Cowboys traded draft capital for Gary, Winters, Broderick Jones and Porter. Dallas now has only a limited number of 2026 selections remaining, so every additional move makes the future a little more expensive.

Dallas also already traded a 2028 second-round pick and a conditional 2027 sixth-rounder for Joey Porter Jr., so cornerback is not the biggest need anymore. Porter gives Dallas a legitimate outside starter, especially with injuries affecting the secondary.

That is where basic opportunity cost comes into play.

Trading another first-round pick for Crosby might make the defense much better today, but it can’t be used on a cheap young starter next April. Dallas has to decide whether this roster is good enough to justify sacrificing more of the future.

End Of My Cowboys Trade Rant

The Cowboys do not need to make another trade just so Jerry Jones can say he did something. Dallas needs someone who can stop the run, create pressure and make life easier for a secondary that has been getting exposed every week.

The offense is good enough to keep Dallas competitive, but the Cowboys defense is the main reason this team is 2-3.