The trade deadline has passed, and the Dallas Cowboys, “America’s Team,” sit at a lowly 3-5-1 record. Additionally, this was coming off a lousy loss to the Arizona Cardinals, who, coming into Monday Night, were on a five-game losing streak and were starting their backup quarterback. What many Cowboys fans thought would be an easy win to boost their standings turned into a defensive and offensive “disasterclass.” Dallas Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones was very unhappy with the play, and after teasing a possible trade he had made before the game, Jerry Jones turned his eyes towards Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Monday Night Football
Before the Cowboys faced off against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football, Jerry Jones appeared on the Stephen A. Smith Show and seemed to have hinted at having already made a trade. His exact words: “We certainly have made a trade, and we may make a couple more trades before that deadline. We’ve made one. We possibly could make two more.” Now, for those of you who don’t “speak Jerry,” this was probably just him stirring the pot and getting everybody to talk about the Cowboys. This was also probably him trying to at least distract people from what a horrendous job of roster building he’s done. But boy did he back it up.
Trade Deadline Tuesday
For starters, very early in the morning, it was announced that the Cowboys were acquiring LB Logan Wilson from the Cincinnati Bengals for a seventh-round pick. I don’t know the reactions of other fans, but I know for sure that when I first heard about the trade, I prayed that this wasn’t the “trade” he was talking about. It was a fine move, sure, but it would certainly have been underwhelming if it had been the only move the Cowboys made (thankfully, it wasn’t). Overall, I give the Cowboys a B+ for this trade. Logan Wilson, even though he lost his starting spot to a rookie and requested a trade, he still immediately becomes the best linebacker on the Cowboys roster, so that’s a plus. And for only a seventh-round pick? Lord knows this team can’t draft in the late rounds anyway.
The Blockbuster Trade
Thankfully, that trade wasn’t it as Jerry Jones wasn’t quite done. Cowboys fans had a lot more to celebrate with this next trade. Jerry Jones sent 2023 first-round pick Mazi Smith and two draft picks (2026 second and 2027 first) to the New York Jets for Quinnen Williams. Now, I was ecstatic when I heard about this trade. I, like many, had assumed that we had used the Packers first round pick in this trade. I, like many, was wrong. The Cowboys gave up the better of the two picks. Rather than give them what could very well be the 30-32nd pick in the 2027 draft, they risked giving up a top 10 pick. I can’t get behind that. I don’t see a scenario in which the Quinnen Williams trade makes a real difference. Now, I would like to be wrong, but something tells me I won’t be, so I give the Cowboys a B for this trade.
Back to Jerry Jones
Now, I will give Jerry Jones credit. He heard the boos and the criticism, and he answered the call. Now, he did make a statement with how active the Cowboys were during the trade deadline. A brave statement, as well. But don’t let that distract you from the true mediocrity of these trades. Jerry is riding on these trades making them a contender in 2027, and to be honest, I just don’t see it. Again, I hope I am wrong, but if history serves me right, I won’t be.
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