Cowboys' Championship Trade Push
Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Open to Trading for Impact Player to Chase Championship
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Key Points
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March trade attempt for Maxx Crosby was nearly completed, but the deal collapsed when the Ravens backed out over a failed physical.
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Dallas did acquire Rashan Gary and used a first-round pick to draft edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, highlighting the ongoing emphasis on upgrading the pass rush this offseason.
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George Pickens was franchise-tagged, earning $27.2 million in 2026 with the potential to become a free agent in 2027.
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Vita Vea reportedly asked for a trade on Monday, keeping the door open for big-move discussions; the SI piece notes the Cowboys have been looking at bold moves in the mold of Rams’ prior trades (e.g., Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie).
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed Tuesday that the team is in active trade talks and is willing to give up future draft picks to land an impact player now. "We're talking as we speak," Jones said at the team's first training camp press conference in Oxnard, adding he would trade a "top pick" for added "firepower" in 2026, according to Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys open the preseason Aug. 15 against the Seattle Seahawks after going 7-9-1 last season.
Jones, son Stephen Jones, and new head coach Brian Schottenheimer all signaled the front office is still open to a "substantive" roster move. Jones called Dallas a Super Bowl contender — and an underdog — in the same breath, per The New York Times.
Near-Miss Maxx Crosby Deal Shapes Current Trade Mindset
Dallas nearly pulled off a blockbuster trade in March. The Cowboys came close to acquiring Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby, but the deal fell apart when the Baltimore Ravens — a third team involved in the swap — backed out after a failed physical, according to Sportsnaut. The near-miss left the Cowboys without their target but clearly hungry for a big-name pass rusher.
That pursuit set the tone for the entire offseason. Dallas ended up signing edge rusher Rashan Gary and used a first-round draft pick on edge rusher Malachi Lawrence. The moves show a clear front-office priority: upgrade the pass rush at almost any cost, per The Score.
Vita Vea Trade Request Opens a New Window
The most recent spark for trade talk came Monday. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea asked for a trade, according to SI. That request landed on the same day Jones confirmed he had spoken with another team. Vea is one of the best run-stuffers in the NFL, and his availability fits exactly the kind of bold, defense-first move Dallas is eyeing.
SI noted the Cowboys have been studying trades in the mold of the Los Angeles Rams' big swings — deals like acquiring Myles Garrett or Trent McDuffie. Jones is not looking for a depth piece. He wants a name that changes the defense immediately.
George Pickens Deal Signals Cowboys' Spending Appetite
Dallas also added wide receiver George Pickens this offseason and placed the franchise tag on him. Pickens will earn $27.2 million in 2026, with a path to free agency in 2027. The move shows the Cowboys are willing to spend big on offensive weapons too, not just defense, per Sportsnaut.
The spending pattern — Gary, Lawrence, Pickens, and now trade chatter — points to a team that believes its championship window is open right now. Jones has seen this movie before. He navigated the Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb contract talks while holding the roster together. Now he wants to add a piece that pushes Dallas over the top, according to The Score.
Schottenheimer's First Camp Carries High Expectations
New head coach Brian Schottenheimer opened training camp in Oxnard with a roster that is already more talented than the one that went 7-9-1 a year ago. He stood alongside Jones and Stephen Jones at Tuesday's press conference and backed the idea that more moves could come, per The New York Times. He inherits a team with Super Bowl ambitions and an owner who is not afraid to mortgage draft capital to meet them.
Jones put it plainly: the Cowboys could be underestimated. He framed Dallas as a team with something to prove — and a front office still willing to pull a trigger. Whether that means Vita Vea, another edge rusher, or someone not yet named, the Cowboys are not done building, according to Dallas Cowboys.
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