Cowboys' Jerry Jones expands on trade-deadline mindset

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones indicated earlier this week he won't actively pursue an aggressive move ahead of this coming Tuesday's trade deadline. 

Jones again addressed the matter while speaking with reporters on Thursday. 

"I don’t think there’s anything at a level...that I would expect to do anything," Jones explained, as shared by Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "I don’t see anything heated up to a level that would cause something to happen."

The Cowboys split their last four games to enter their Week 7 bye at 4-2, while the Philadelphia Eagles sit atop the NFC East standings at 6-1. Jones insisted Thursday he likes the Dallas roster as it exists today but also hinted he will pick up the phone if other team executives call before the deadline. 

"Would I improve it if given an opportunity and it made a lot of sense? Of course, we would," Jones continued. "But if we don't do anything at this trade deadline, we've got a team in my mind that can get us where we want to go."

As of Thursday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the Cowboys third among the betting favorites at +600 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LVIII this coming February. The Eagles topped the list at +300 odds, and it sounds like Jones understands he may need some help to catch the division rival in the conference standings by Week 18. 

"I’m by nature a risk taker," Jones acknowledged. "Don’t come by unless you want to be struck at. So we will trade. There’s no mistake about it. We will make a deal but it’s certainly got a high bar because I like our team."

Few in NFL circles expected Jones to acquire quarterback Trey Lance from the San Francisco 49ers for a 2024 fourth-round draft pick this past August. Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper mentioned that the results of games through Monday night could turn multiple teams into sellers before Halloween, and it's possible Jones is merely waiting to receive an offer he ultimately can't refuse from such a club. 

The Cowboys host the 3-4 Los Angeles Rams this Sunday.