The Dallas Cowboys could be swinging for the fences. With the NFL trade deadline approaching, one area that could use reinforcement is the pass rush, and two names from Tennessee have surfaced as possible answers to their problem. Defensive duo Arden Key and Dre’Mont Jones.
According to multiple reports, the Titans have been fielding calls on both defenders as the deadline nears. For Dallas, a team still clinging to NFC contender status sitting at 3-4-1 heading into week 9 this kind of opportunity could be too important to ignore.
The Cowboys' defense hasn’t looked good at all this season since the trade that sent Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers before the season.
As this defensive unit is ranked towards the bottom of almost every defense category adding some new guys to revitalize the trenches could help all front of that side of the field.
Being able to add these types of guys who can put pressure on the quarterback could be a major help for this team as they try to find their identity in the post Parsons era.
That’s where someone like Key or Jones could flip the script.
Key has proven to be a high-energy rotational rusher with an ability to create pressure in big moments. He recorded 6.5 sacks last season and continues to show flashes of the explosiveness that once made him a prized free agent. His versatility to line up both on the edge and inside could make him a perfect fit in Matt Eberflus scheme.
Jones, meanwhile, brings a different element to their pass rush. Though listed as a linebacker, in their 4-3 system he’ll most likely be in the dirt as a rusher as he’s capable of collapsing pockets and eating space inside.
The timing of this potential move is also key. The Cowboys have struggled to stop teams from putting points on them, giving up 40 points already three times this season.
Adding another disrupter in the trenches could stabilize things before the postseason push. The Titans, on the other hand, are hovering around the middle of the pack and appear open to shedding contracts to reset their roster for 2026. That makes them a natural trade partner for a team looking for short-term impact.
But this isn’t just about adding talent. It’s about urgency. Dallas has reached the point where moral victories and “almost” no longer cut it.
The NFC is loaded, and every contender has a second gear. If the Cowboys truly believe they can make a run this year, they’ll need to prove it with an aggressive move that solidifies their defense for the stretch run.
Key and Jones may not be headline stars, but both fit what the current state of the Cowboys defense's energy, toughness, and depth. And sometimes, that’s all it takes to shift a defense.
If the Cowboys make a move, it’ll send a message that they’re done waiting for results to come to them. They’re ready to go out and take them.