Dallas Cowboys Linked To 4 Pass Rushers In NFL Trade Rumors After Stunning Arizona Cardinals Loss

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys are calling around the league in search of outside linebacker help before the Nov. 10 trade deadline, multiple league sources told Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Harris reported that Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Josh Sweat, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, Washington Commanders outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker YaYa Diaby are among the names being discussed.

Harris’ sources spoke to him before Sunday’s 33-30 overtime loss to Arizona at AT&T Stadium, which dropped Dallas to 3-5. The report ran in a column on the 25-game tenure of Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer, and Harris raised the question of whether the loss changes how much more Dallas is willing to spend on the trade market.

Sweat was on the field for that game. On third down during Dallas’ only overtime possession, he sacked Dak Prescott for a 7-yard loss, and Arizona answered with the drive that ended in the winning field goal.

A few hours before kickoff, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Cowboys are a team to watch for Sweat.

Contracts And Production For Josh Sweat, Alex Highsmith, K’Lavon Chaisson, And YaYa Diaby

Sweat, 29, is in the second year of the four-year, $76.4 million contract he signed with Arizona in March 2025. Last season, his first with the Cardinals, he set a career high with 12 sacks. He entered Sunday with 2 sacks in seven games.

The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Sweat in the fourth round in 2018 out of Florida State. He made the Pro Bowl after the 2021 season and won Super Bowl LIX with Philadelphia in February 2025, his seventh and final season there.

Highsmith, 29, signed a four-year, $68 million extension with Pittsburgh in July 2023 and is under contract through 2027. His base salary next season is $15.5 million. Pittsburgh took him in the third round in 2020 out of Charlotte, and he set a career high with 14.5 sacks in 2022. Highsmith had 9.5 sacks in 13 games last season and entered the Steelers’ Week 8 game with 3 this year. Steelers coach Mike McCarthy coached the Cowboys from 2020 through 2024.

In March, Chaisson signed a one-year, $11 million contract with Washington. He has 2.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles this season. The Houston native was a 2020 first-round pick, No. 20 overall, out of LSU. He had 7.5 sacks in 16 regular-season games with the New England Patriots last season and 3 more in four playoff games. Dallas beat Washington 37-20 at AT&T Stadium on Sept. 20.

Diaby, 27, is in the final year of his rookie contract and is set for free agency in 2027. Tampa Bay drafted him in the third round, No. 82 overall, out of Louisville in 2023, and he had 7.5 sacks as a rookie. He finished last season with 7 and entered 2026 with 19 career sacks. All 3 of his sacks this season came in Tampa Bay’s Week 7 win on Oct. 25. On Oct. 8 at AT&T Stadium, Diaby intercepted a tipped Prescott pass in the Buccaneers’ 24-16 win.

Diaby hurt his right knee in the first quarter of Tampa Bay’s 16-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday and did not return. He was scheduled for an MRI on Monday, Pewter Report reported.

Jerry Jones Called Outside Help ‘Unlikely’ Days Before Dallas Cowboys’ Overtime Loss

Dallas has added several veterans through trades since March. That month, the Cowboys acquired outside linebacker Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers for a 2027 fourth-round pick. In late August, they landed offensive tackle Broderick Jones and a 2027 fourth-round pick from Pittsburgh for a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick.

On Oct. 1, Dallas sent a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Steelers for cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Porter has an ankle injury that will require more testing after Sunday’s game.

At last season’s deadline, the Cowboys added defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets. Williams had 7 tackles and 2 sacks Sunday, and Dallas sacked Arizona quarterbacks 5 times for 42 yards.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Oct. 27 on 105.3 The Fan, the day after a 38-21 win at Philadelphia, that Dallas would add players where it sat if it could. Doing so would be a big statement, Jones said.

“It’s unlikely we’ll get the opportunity from outside coming in,” Jones said. “But if it’s there, I’ll do it.”

In Jones’ mind, Dallas had a real chance to win in two or three situations Sunday and did not take any of them.

“None of us are getting it done, and that should be my concern,” Jones explained. “So I’m not pointing at Schotty. I’m not pointing at anybody, but none of us have it done.”

Teams have until 3 p.m. CT on Nov. 10 to complete trades. Before then, Dallas visits the Indianapolis Colts at noon CT Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.