The Dallas Cowboys' offense has shown enough through five games that it's fair to assume they will be fighting for a playoff spot until the end of the season as long as Dak Prescott stays healthy.
Of course, a top-five scoring offense should have bigger aspirations than just getting in the tournament. Major upgrades on defense are needed before Cowboys fans can even think about resetting expectations. Micah Parsons would certainly help, but the Nov. 4 trade deadline presents Jerry Jones' last best opportunity to go for it.
Well, if the latest rumors are true, Jones shouldn't find much trouble making a trade. NFL insider Adam Schefter told ESPN radio that he's expecting upwards of 10 trades to get done before the deadline.
Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones can't afford to sit tight at the NFL trade deadline
You can add one trade to the tally after the Bengals traded for Browns quarterback Joe Flacco on Tuesday. The Bengals acquired Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round pick for a 2026 fifth-round pick.
Cowboys fans can all but guarantee that the Eagles will be major deadline players. The 49ers, who are surprisingly 4-1, will surely be in the mix to overcome their injury crisis. The point is that if Schefter expects between 10-12 trades to get done, Dallas has no excuse not to be involved.
The offense is perfect as is. But the defense could use help at linebacker, defensive end, and potentially cornerback. Linebacker, though, is the biggest need. You can't point to one player in the LB room who's having a good season.
Teams have figured out how to expose Jack Sanborn's lack of athleticism. Kenneth Murray is way too slow in processing what's in front of him, Damone Clark has only played 75 snaps this season, and Marist Liufau, though he hits like a truck and has a penchant for splash plays, plays out of control and isn't disciplined enough to be trusted as a three-down player.
DeMarvion Overshown is aiming to return around Thanksgiving, but he shouldn't be viewed as the defense's savior. He's going to need a ramp-up period. The front office has another thing coming if it expects Overshown to play at an All-Pro level the second he's reinserted.
As the cornerback room gets healthier, this defense can begin to show signs of competency if it gets better linebacker play. With Schefter expecting a lot of action between now and Nov. 4, Jerry Jones has no excuses.