FRISCO, Texas — Jerry Jones was freelancing when he raised the idea of a big trade at the start of Dallas Cowboys training camp. That is what people inside the organization told Sports Illustrated senior NFL writer Albert Breer, who published the account Monday morning in a team-by-team file on all 32 clubs, six days before Dallas opens the regular season at the New York Giants.
The logic behind such a move is there anyway, Breer wrote. He named cornerback and another edge rusher.
“Might the Cowboys have a big swing coming?” Breer wrote.
Dallas has a really nice layer of talent in its starting 22, particularly on offense, and lacks depth behind it, by Breer’s read. The same concern turns up in his Indianapolis Colts entry, where he wrote that an injury or two in the wrong spot could change the season.
Left tackle Tyler Guyton is seemingly rebounding. There is some optimism about the pass rush. Both went into Breer’s case for adding on defense between now and the deadline, which falls Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. CT.
Jerry Jones Set The Table In Oxnard
Jones expects the defense to be significantly improved this season, and he said it twice in a row on July 28 at the camp-opening press conference. Chief operating officer Stephen Jones and Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer sat beside him.
“I’d give up future to add substantive to where we are today,” Jones said.
Five of the seven picks Dallas made in April went to defense. Matt Eberflus was fired Jan. 5 after one season, and Christian Parker came over from the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 22 to install a 3-4 base the team has not run since 2012.
“We don’t have any alternative,” Jones explained. “We made that bed when we brought in new scheme, new coaches, new players. We’re going with new right there. I’ve bought into that, that’s going to happen, we’re here. Now, in dealing with it, we’ve got to start out here right now doing as best we can and bringing that thing to opening day.”
Breer filed a camp notebook from Oxnard on July 30. Jones had mentioned trading for a veteran at that press conference, he wrote, and nothing was cooking on it yet. The remarks told the rest of the league Dallas would be open for business on defense.
Friday brought a video mailbag. Jones wants to be aggressive, in Breer’s assessment. Dallas trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 28 of last year was the version of that trade where the Cowboys were the seller.
Dallas created roughly $19 million in cap space Thursday night. The conversions and restructures covered cornerback DaRon Bland, tight end Jake Ferguson, and defensive tackle Kenny Clark, two people with knowledge of the decision told The Dallas Morning News. The team now carries more than $30 million. ESPN’s Todd Archer first reported the moves.
Tyler Guyton And The Dallas Cowboys Pass Rush
Guyton is in his third season and holds the starting left tackle job. Dallas took him twenty-ninth overall in 2024 and placed him on injured reserve on Dec. 24 last season.
The tackle room changed on Aug. 29. Dallas sent 2027 third- and sixth-round picks to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Broderick Jones and a 2027 fourth-round pick. Jones started at left tackle in Pittsburgh until a neck injury in Week 11 ended his season. Schottenheimer said afterward that Jones and Terence Steele would compete at right tackle.
Rashan Gary arrived from Green Bay in March for a 2027 fourth-round pick. He had 7.5 sacks in 16 games last season. Von Miller agreed to a one-year deal on Aug. 16 and signed two days later in Oxnard. Miller has 138.5 sacks across 14 seasons and had 9 for the Washington Commanders a year ago.
Gary put Miller’s arrival in terms of how many rushers an offense now has to account for.
“Oh man, it’s an honor and privilege,” Gary said. “You get a chance to work with a future Hall of Famer. I’ve been able to work out with him in the offseason, and got to pick his brain. So it’s going to be completely different. Having him right beside me, able to get tips from him, and talking about what he is able to bring to the defense, bring to the defensive line, man — more pressure, more confidence, and more swagger. A lot more guys that you need to account for. I’m happy, excited.”
Dallas allowed 511 points last season, the most in the NFL. The total was also a franchise record, and it came to 30.1 per game. The Cowboys ranked 30th in yards allowed at 377.
Kickoff at MetLife Stadium is 7:20 p.m. CT Sunday on NBC. Dallas plays the Baltimore Ravens in Brazil on Sept. 27.
