Are the Cowboys going all-in for 2026?
At a training camp press conference Tuesday, owner Jerry Jones made it clear he’s willing to deal draft picks — and that some conversations have already started.
“I’d give up future to add substantive to where we are today,” Jones told reporters. “Would I invest something substantive to get the right kind of deal to improve us opening day? I would. I feel good about this team this year.
“I haven’t seen this team play together. But in general, looking ahead, I think we’ve got a chance to be worthy of spending some future if we saw an opportunity.”
While Jones, 83, didn’t mention any specific players the team was looking into, he may’ve been referencing Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea, who requested a trade from Tampa Bay on Monday.
A trade would likely be for someone on defense, as the Cowboys allowed 30.1 points per game last year, the worst mark in the NFL.
After missing the playoffs for the second straight season and finishing 7-9-1, the Cowboys began revamping their defense this offseason, though holes remain scattered throughout the unit. Dallas has not been to an NFC Championship game since 1996, the year the franchise won its last Super Bowl.
Although the Cowboys couldn’t land superstar Maxx Crosby via trade, they traded for former Packers pass rusher Rashan Gary, who has 46.5 career sacks and had 7.5 last year.
The Cowboys then doubled down on defense with their two first-round picks, taking Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and UCF pass rusher Malachi Lawrence.
Lawrence is more of an unknown, but Downs, who many thought of as the best defender in the draft, should make an immediate impact under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
Jones revamping the Cowboys defense comes less than a year after trading franchise cornerstone Micah Parsons to the Packers, who had 52.5 sacks in four seasons in Dallas.
