The trade deadline is a week out, and the Cowboys aren’t just “monitoring, not monitoring, but yes, monitoring (Thanks, Ben & Skin!).”

They’re working the phones like it’s draft night. Despite Jerry Jones publicly downplaying the hustle (“I don’t have to make many calls”), ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says the quiet part out loud: Dallas has called pretty much the entire league to survey who’s available for the front seven, including defensive line and linebacker specifically.

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Lamar Jackson progress, and why Cowboys and Steelers are teams to watch at deadline@SportsCenter with @RandyScottESPN pic.twitter.com/EsJYhL2rPC

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 25, 2025

That’s how the Maxx Crosby smoke started, even if Vegas is slamming that door shut.

Translation? The Cowboys are hunting impact, depth, or both, “any tier” that can juice Matt Eberflus’ situational stops. And that’s the point. With Dak & Co. operating one of the NFL’s best offenses, Dallas doesn’t need a 2000 Ravens cosplay. They need a defense that wins downs, not beauty pageants, pressure on third-and-long, a run-stuff in the red zone, and a timely takeaway to flip a script.

Don’t expect Jerry to torch a Round 1 pick to do it, either.

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The building has multiple firsts but a long memory about premium-pick rentals. Fowler’s read aligns with that. The Cowboys are scouring all price points, from rotational linemen who can collapse a pocket to rangy off-ball backers who can run with modern offenses. Add in the pending return of DeMarvion Overshown, and Dallas could piece together the kind of competent, opportunistic unit that travels in January.

Jerry’s “we’re fine” routine is theater.

The reality is active, aggressive, and targeted. If a sensible deal materializes, such as a cost-controlled edge juice, an interior disruptor with gap discipline, or a linebacker who cleans up underneath, then Dallas will pounce. They don’t need a headliner, they need closers. And they’re calling everyone to find them.