The Dallas Cowboys are 3-4-1 but feature one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL, so they have one side of the ball nailed down in a big way. Despite the brutal loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 8, The Cowboys can still rebound and stack some wins here.
However, their ceiling will be limited if this defense does not improve. It's been the worst unit in football in many metrics this year, as defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has not been able to put his players in positions to succeed, but the talent is also lacking.
This could force Jerry Jones to buy a player or two on defense at the 2025 NFL trade deadline, which is on November 4th, the Tuesday following Week 9 action. This latest trade deadline bold prediction would potentially give Dallas a missing piece on that side of the ball and could propel them to a playoff appearance.
Cowboys trade for Jets' pass-rusher Jermaine Johnson in latest deadline bold prediction
Here is Brad Gagnon in Bleacher Report on the Dallas Cowboys swinging a trade for Jermaine Johnson in his trade deadline bold predictions:
Why it could happen: With more of an eye for Will McDonald IV among their edges on rookie deals, the Jets could decide to escape Johnson's contract before an expensive fifth-year option kicks in for 2026. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are looking to fill that void left by Micah Parsons.
Why it's bold: The Cowboys couldn't lock Parsons into a long-term deal and would be immediately placed in a similar scenario with Johnson, who missed much of last season due to injury and will cost $13.4 million in 2026, per Spotrac.
Prediction: Johnson costs the Cowboys a Day 2 pick and delivers on occasion for a team that should be in the playoff hunt.
Jermaine Johnson is 26 years old and was a first-round pick by the New York Jets in the 2022 NFL Draft. Johnson broke out as a second-year player, amassing 7.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 16 QB hits, and a Pro Bowl berth.
However, he tore his Achilles just two games into the 2024 campaign and has played in seven regular-season games since the start of 2024. In five games this year, Johnson has one sack, 19 tackles, one tackle for loss, and two QB hits.
He's an expendable player, and the upside here is obvious. Johnson would be another year removed from his Achilles injury in 2026, so he'd likely be a lot closer to his 2023 form. He'd also likely not cost a lot to acquire, has a history of getting to the QB, and is under contract for a modest number in 2026.
While Jermaine Johnson might not be the splash move that Cowboys' fans would want, he's a realistic target and is a piece of the puzzle.