If the Dallas Cowboys plan to be active ahead of the trade deadline, the fan base would love to see owner/general manager Jerry Jones make an addition on the defensive side of the ball. Dallas’ defense has been one of the worst in the league through the first six weeks, and the situation isn't getting any better.
The Cowboys still haven’t filled the void left by Micah Parsons, even though James Houston has been a revelation to start this season. However, if Dallas wants to compete for a playoff spot, it can’t solely depend on its breakout stud. Luckily for Cowboys fans, rumors are starting to swirl that America's Team could be in on Cincinnati Bengals star Trey Hendrickson.
On Thursday, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reported that his sources believe Dallas “will be in the market” for Hendrickson if the Cowboys are still in the running for a playoff spot by the time November rolls around.
Cowboys’ Week 7 Clash vs. Commanders Looms Large in Trade Deadline Plans
The Cowboys have three games before the Nov. 4 deadline, including Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders. The Commanders are coming off a tough loss at home against the Chicago Bears and will be looking to bounce back in the NFC East showdown.
With the primetime loss, the Cowboys (2-3-1) are only a half-game behind the Commanders (3-3) for second place in the NFC East. If you’re Dallas, getting a win on Sunday over Washington will give the latter a divisional loss, but also put the Cowboys in striking distance of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Philadelphia currently sits in first place at 4-2, but has struggled lately, dropping two games to the New York Giants and Denver Broncos. Let’s just say Dallas wins on Sunday and then splits their next two games against Arizona and Denver to be 4-4-1 ahead of the deadline.
If you are the Jones Family, Hendrickson might be worth the gamble, even though he’ll be a free agent at the end of this season. The Cowboys are armed with two first-round picks, including one that they got from the Green Bay Packers in the Parsons trade, which the eccentric billionaire alluded to earlier this week, via team writer Tommy Yarish.
"We certainly had in mind when we started this season that we were going to have ammo to be more flexible in terms of what we do with the roster as we move along this year, and of course as we get into the next couple of years."Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones
If the Bengals continue to falter, they will have no choice but to part ways with Hendrickson and take the best offer available, which could come from Dallas if they want to deal that Packers’ first-round pick in a potential deal.
Hendrickson has played well to start this season, posting 12 quarterback pressures, eight quarterback hits, four sacks, and three tackles for loss in four games. If you look at the Cowboys’ defense, Houston leads the way with 3.5 sacks, emphasizing the need for another difference maker.
Simply put, Hendrickson, who has had back-to-back 17.5 sack seasons, would be an instant upgrade over what Dallas has on its defensive line. Ultimately, we’ll see what the Cowboys play on Sunday, which could help determine how they approach the trade deadline.