2024 proved that the Dallas Cowboys have a lot of ground to catch up if they want to compete in the NFC East, let alone the NFC.
Jan 5, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones before the game against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Even before Dak Prescott’s season-ending injury, the core of Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons wasn’t threatening the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles, the two competitors in the NFC Championship Game.
The Dallas Cowboys were supposed to be searching for a suitor
Following the “All-In” embarrassment last season, the Cowboys chose to part ways with head coach Mike McCarthy. On April 22, Jones suggested he wanted to pull off a trade to help out new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
“We’re looking at two things that could happen before or after the draft,” Jones said via Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Two pretty substantive trades. Been working on today.”
Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones indicating that Dallas isn’t done in the trade market and outside deals are in the works:
“We’re looking at two things that could happen before or after the draft. Two pretty substantive trades. Been working on today.”
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) April 22, 2025
The draft finished on April 26. Dallas has not made a trade, and there have been no reports of the Cowboys being close to pulling off a deal in the post-draft “trade market.”
Jerry Jones called out for not making a trade
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk put Jones on blast for leading Cowboys fans on by hinting at a trade that wasn’t close to fruition.
“It may have been exactly what we thought it was: An attention grab at a time when people were paying attention to things other than the Cowboys,” Florio wrote. “And it worked. He created a headline. Made a stir. And then failed to deliver.
“Maybe it’s still coming. Maybe he’ll find the right time to give everyone an update. Even if there’s no update. At this point, it makes sense as to most veterans to wait until after June 1. That will result in a lower cap charge in 2026.”
Maybe Jones didn’t think a trade was necessary after the Cowboys appeared to have had a solid draft, selecting offensive lineman Tyler Booker in the first round. They added much-needed help to the defense on Day 2 with defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku and cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. before taking Texas running back Jaydon Blue in Round 4.
Still, Dallas needs extra playmakers if it wants to contend with a Commanders team that is set to become strong in Jayden Daniels’ second season in the league and an Eagles team that is coming off a Super Bowl victory and is reloading for another run.
Where’s the smoke, Jerry?
