Cowboys must be active at trade deadline after loss to Broncos

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer looks on before the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Cowboys must consider being active at trade deadline after blowout loss to Broncos

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Oct 26, 2025 10:46 PM ET

The Dallas Cowboys still haven't snapped their unwanted streak against the Denver Broncos.

Following a 44-24 blowout loss in Denver on Sunday, Dallas hasn't beaten the Broncos since the 1995 season, when it won its last Super Bowl. Clearly, these Cowboys (3-4-1) aren't championship caliber.

One of the few ways Dallas could propel itself back into Super Bowl contention is by making a splash before the trade deadline on Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. ET. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, however, didn't clarify if they will.

Jerry Jones discusses Cowboys' trade-deadline plans

"A loss is discouraging, but as far as my temperament, if I saw a proposition for us to help this team, no matter what the score was today, then I would look at the merits of helping this team," Jones said Sunday, via The Athletic's Jon Machota. "If you're talking about trading for a player or trading a player, I would completely look at it on the merits of this team, both for the next week or the week after, or the long term."

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on the impact of today’s game on the trade deadline pic.twitter.com/tvsrJeeFjQ
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) October 26, 2025

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, meanwhile, believes the team doesn't need a trade to improve.

"I trust and like the guys we have. I honestly do, and that's not just a political answer," Prescott said after the game, per Machota. "Our roster is OK. Can it be better? That's for you guys to write about and judge. I trust those guys."

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott when asked if a trade could jump start this team: “I trust and like the guys that we have. I honestly do, and that’s not just a political answer. … Our roster is OK. Can it be better? That’s for you guys to write about and to judge. I trust those guys.” pic.twitter.com/30dVjMmGSn
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) October 27, 2025

Prescott's efforts to uplift his teammates after a frustrating loss are commendable. But the Cowboys shouldn't trust all their guys, specifically the ones on defense.

Against Denver, the Cowboys allowed 426 yards on 57 plays. The Broncos (6-2), led by second-year QB Bo Nix, don't boast one of the more explosive units in the league. Before Sunday's game, they hadn't surpassed 407 yards in a game this season.

Per Fox Sports' Jay Glazer, the Cowboys explored trades for Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby and Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson, but were rejected. Perhaps they should try again.

Dallas needs an elite player to improve a defense that has allowed the second-most points (31.3) in the league this season. Without one, the Cowboys may not contend or finish with a winning record. This team can't even beat the upstart Broncos, who haven't won a playoff game since the 2015 season.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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