The NFL trade deadline is less than a week away on Nov. 4, and the Dallas Cowboys are in position to make an addition before the 3 p.m. CST cutoff.
The Cowboys have put a lot of focus on the defensive side of the ball in trade conversations, as team executive vice president Stephen Jones has said that they have called all 31 other teams to see what is available on the market.
Specifically, there’s been a lot of focus on the defensive line, as the Cowboys are looking to get more out of a group that currently ranks 22nd in sacks and has been a part of why the run defense is ranked 29th going into week nine.
Also, with where the Cowboys season is headed at 3-4-1, it may not make a ton of sense to spend draft capital on a one-year contract. As teams look to offload expiring deals, don’t expect the Cowboys to be fishing in those waters. Instead, look at some with multiple years left.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at five trade candidates that would make sense ahead of the deadline on Tuesday.
Patriots OLB Anfernee Jennings (contract expires after 2026)
The Patriots have already moved an edge defender in recent days, as Keion White is now with the San Francisco 49ers. But given how Anfernee Jennings has been passed up in favor of guys like K’Lavon Chaisson and Harold Landry III, they could look to gain some compensation for him as well.
Jennings is an early-down run defender that could provide some needed assistance off the edge with his instincts against the run. Since his 6-foot-2, 255-pound frame isn’t the biggest on the trade market along with his non-existent production in the pass rush department, there would certainly be some better options out there. But if the Cowboys are looking for a cheap way to add a body to the edge room, this could be a potential fit.
Jets OLB Jermaine Johnson II (contract expires after 2026)
Depending on where you look, the buzz around the New York Jets and what they plan to do around the trade deadline varies. But if they decide to move off some of their more talented pieces to acquire draft capital, the Cowboys should see what the price is for Jermaine Johnson II.
Quinnen Williams isn’t a likely option to get moved even if the Jets start selling, but Johnson could make sense as one New York would offload. Since a breakout Pro Bowl campaign in 2023, he’s dealt with injuries that have limited him to just seven games in the last two seasons. But given where the Cowboys are in finding help on the edge, taking a swing on Johnson while his price is low could prove fruitful.
It also doesn’t hurt that Johnson has experience with Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton who coached for the Jets last season.
Bengals ILB Logan Wilson (contract expires after 2027)
The Cowboys could make a strong case for adding an instinctual player in the second level of their defense, and Logan Wilson is one of the most public trade candidates on the market entering the deadline.
Wilson’s time in Cincinnati is all but certainly coming to a close, and Wilson’s clear displeasure could lessen the price tag to acquire his services.
In 2024, Wilson was rated by Pro Football Focus as one of the top five linebackers in defending the run. In 2025, he’s a top-three linebacker in the NFL in pass rush grade. The versatility could give Dallas some needed reliability in the second level ahead of the return of DeMarvion Overshown.
Giants DE Kayvon Thibodeaux (contract expires after 2026)
With the Giants’ defensive line becoming a crowded group these days, the organization could look to move former No. 5 overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux at the trade deadline.
Even though the Giants have exercised his fifth-year option in 2026, he has seen a dip in production over the last two seasons after totaling 11.5 sacks in his second year in the NFL. The talent still flashes, but with Brian Burns having a big year and the Giants wanting to develop Abdul Carter with more snaps, it could make sense for Thibodeaux to get dealt for some draft compensation.
Now, would the Giants be willing to trade him in the division after they let Saquon Barkley walk to the Eagles a couple of seasons ago? Some bad experiences with that decision could take Dallas off the table, but Jerry Jones has the draft capital to swing around for a deal like this one.
Cardinals DE Zaven Collins (contract expires after 2026)
With the Arizona Cardinals coming to town on Monday night, there will already be a natural meeting between Jerry Jones and the Cardinals front office this weekend if they choose to do so.
Collins has been one of the more stout edge defenders in his five years in the league, and the Cowboys could desperately use a savvy veteran run defender to contain the edge. The versatility of Collins to play anywhere on the defensive line could give Dallas a boost in multiple areas while also retaining the flexibility of some of its other defensive linemen such as Marshawn Kneeland.
While he isn’t necessarily a known trade candidate at the deadline, Collins could be a sizable piece that’s moved to jumpstart what may need to be an offseason rebuild for Arizona.
Steelers DT Keeanu Benton (contract expires after 2026)
The Steelers may not be willing to part ways just yet with their 2023 second-round pick, but his fit in Pittsburgh hasn’t been ideal as their starting nose tackle. Coming out of Wisconsin, some teams viewed his more as a three-technique rather than one-technique where he’s been playing for Pittsburgh.
Benton hasn’t had issues putting pressure on quarterbacks, but he has suffered some lapses in defending the run. A switch down to three-technique could end up benefitting both of those areas if the Steelers decide to move on and trade for another piece to be their nose tackle instead.
Dolphins ILB Jordyn Brooks (contract expires after 2026)
One of the more underrated linebackers in the NFL, the Dolphins could look to move Jordyn Brooks at the deadline to acquire some draft capital in the offseason.
A tackle machine that has a knack for getting into the backfield both in pass rush and against the run, Brooks currently leads the NFL in total tackles.
In Brian Schottenheimer’s final season as the Seahawks offensive coordinator, Seattle selected Brooks in the first round, and he was an immediate contributor for their group. In six seasons, he has amassed 741 tackles.
Raiders DE Tyree Wilson (contract expires after 2026, fifth-year option in 2027)
If you think hard enough, you can already see the clickbait headlines: “Cowboys trade for Raiders defensive end.”
No, not Maxx Crosby, who the Raiders have publicly said they won’t be moving at the trade deadline. But if the Cowboys want to keep sifting through the options in Sin City, Tyree Wilson could make some sense.
After being drafted with the No. 7 overall pick out of Texas Tech in 2023, Wilson hasn’t come close to living up to the hype. The East Texas native has combined for just 69 tackles and 10 sacks in 40 games, but a 17-game average of around 4.5 sacks with his limited snap count would actually be an upgrade in the defensive end room for the Cowboys right now.
At 6-foot-6, 275 pounds, his frame and athleticism give him natural advantages against the run where he was rated as the 22nd best run defending defensive end out of 121 in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus.
Titans DT T’Vondre Sweat (contract expires after 2027)
It would cost a pretty penny to trade for T’Vondre Sweat. But considering where the Titans are as an organization and the fact that general manager Mike Borgonzi didn’t draft Sweat, their fire sale at the deadline could include some surprise players.
Sweat combined for 51 tackles as a rookie and provides elite body movement and flexibility at 6-foot-4, 366 pounds. For a team that needs a run stuffer in the middle, there aren’t many that have as many natural advantages that Sweat has in that department.
It very well could cost a premium draft selection, but it may be worth it given his proven production at the NFL level.
Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson (contract expires after 2025)
There’s a reason this one is last on this list. It’s unlikely.
But if the Cowboys make a big enough offer to bring Hendrickson in with a contract extension already in place, then this one could become more realistic. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has reported that Dallas has already reached out to Cincinnati about Hendrickson, but that the interest was rebuffed.
If the two sides find themselves back on the phone, don’t be surprised if Jerry Jones takes a big swing to replace Micah Parsons with the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up from 2024.