Cowboys Go Big: 3 Bold Trades Change Everything

Cowboys Eye a Defensive Overhaul

The Dallas Cowboys could be on the verge of one of the boldest defensive shakeups in franchise history.

With the offense ranking among the NFL’s best, owner Jerry Jones is exploring trades to rebuild the defense around proven veterans — could those players be Maxx Crosby, T’Vondre Sweat, and Minkah Fitzpatrick?

Each move would fill a critical void: Crosby would restore Dallas’s edge pressure, Sweat would anchor the interior alongside Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa, and Fitzpatrick would take over as the Cowboys’ top safety, replacing Donovan Wilson.

With tradable assets like Trevon Diggs, Jalen Tolbert, and Mazi Smith, and multiple future high draft picks, Dallas has both the means and the motivation to make major moves before the 2025 trade deadline.

Maxx Crosby: The Elite Edge Dallas Needs

Maxx Crosby is everything the Cowboys defense has been missing since parting ways with Micah Parsons — a relentless, emotional leader who sets the tone every snap.

The Las Vegas Raiders continue to insist he’s untouchable, but the Cowboys may force their hand with a massive offer involving future first-round picks.

Crosby recorded 12.5 sacks and over 80 pressures last season, ranking among the top three edge rushers in both total pressures and pass-rush win rate.

His relentless playstyle and durability make him a perfect fit in Dallas, where physical toughness has too often been inconsistent.

Potential Trade Scenario 1:

• Cowboys receive: Maxx Crosby
• Raiders receive: 2026 1st-round pick (Dallas) and 2026 1st-round pick (via Green Bay)

Why it works: Dallas gets an All-Pro pass-rusher still in his prime and under contract through 2029. Las Vegas gains valuable draft capital for a potential rebuild.

Fit: Crosby opposite Jadeveon Clowney, with rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku in rotation, would give the Cowboys one of the NFL’s most feared edge units.

T’Vondre Sweat: Power for the Interior

One Cowboys’ defensive weakness has been their run defense, and T’Vondre Sweat could solve that overnight.

The 6’4”, 360-pound defensive tackle from Texas has quickly developed into a powerful run defender for the Tennessee Titans, capable of clogging lanes and collapsing the pocket.

Sweat would join Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa in a three-man rotation that finally gives Dallas the interior stability it has lacked.

Potential Trade Scenario 2:

• Cowboys receive: T’Vondre Sweat
• Titans receive: DT Mazi Smith and a 2027 2nd-round pick

Why it works: Dallas upgrades instantly with a young, dominant tackle, while Tennessee gains a developmental replacement and a valuable future pick.

Fit: Sweat’s presence would allow Clark and Osa to rotate more efficiently, keeping the front line fresh deep into games. For Dallas, this move would finally transform the defensive front from soft to stout.

Minkah Fitzpatrick: New Leader in the Secondary

With the Miami Dolphins facing roster and cap pressure after multiple major extensions, the Cowboys could pounce on an opportunity to land Minkah Fitzpatrick.

The veteran safety is one of the NFL’s most intelligent and versatile defensive backs, capable of playing single-high, man coverage, or in the box.

Potential Trade Scenario 3:

• Cowboys receive: Minkah Fitzpatrick
• Dolphins receive: CB Trevon Diggs, WR Jalen Tolbert, and a 2026 4th-round pick

Why it works: Dallas upgrades at safety, replacing Donovan Wilson with an All-Pro who brings more range, communication, and consistency on the back end.

Miami, meanwhile, gets a younger Pro Bowl corner and valuable depth for its offensive system.

Fit: Fitzpatrick’s arrival would push Wilson out of the starting lineup, creating a safety trio of Fitzpatrick, Malik Hooker, and Juanyeh Thomas — giving Dallas flexibility and experience across the board.

Building a Championship-Caliber Defense

If Dallas pulled off even two of these trades, the defensive identity would completely change.

• Crosby gives Dallas the edge terror it’s lacked since Parsons’ departure.
• Sweat turns the interior into a wall with Clark and Osa.
• Fitzpatrick commands the secondary with experience and playmaking ability.

Each trade represents a short-term gamble with long-term potential payoff — exactly the kind of aggressive approach Jerry Jones has long been known for.

Time for Bold Moves

Trading two 2026 first-rounders for Crosby, Mazi Smith and a 2027 second for Sweat, and Diggs, Tolbert, and a 2026 fourth for Fitzpatrick would reshape the Cowboys defense overnight.

It’s costly. It’s aggressive. And it’s exactly the kind of move that can turn a playoff team into a Super Bowl threat.

With Dak Prescott playing some of the best football of his career and the offense firing on all cylinders, this may be Dallas’s best window to win big.

Adding stars like Crosby, Sweat, and Fitzpatrick could make the Cowboys’ defense as dangerous as their offense — and finally make them true contenders again.