GS. Cowboys quietly “flirt” with former Draft star with 61 tackles recently cut, preparing for a “deal closer” at a bargain price that shocks the NFL
FRISCO, Texas – In the high-stakes world of NFL trades, whispers are turning into roars as the Dallas Cowboys position themselves for a seismic shift at the edge. With the trade deadline looming on November 4, 2025, reports are swirling that the Cowboys are in “quiet flirtation” mode with a former top-20 draft pick who’s suddenly become the hottest free agent on the market: Jaelan Phillips, the explosive Miami Dolphins pass rusher whose career-high 61-tackle season in 2022 has insiders buzzing about a reunion in Big D.
It’s the kind of move that could redefine Dallas’ defensive fortunes – especially after the gut-wrenching trade of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in the offseason left a gaping hole in their pass rush. Phillips, selected 18th overall by Miami in 2021 out of the University of Miami, isn’t just any name on Jerry Jones’ radar. At 26 years old, he’s a proven disruptor with 24 career sacks over five seasons, including that breakout 2022 campaign where he terrorized quarterbacks for seven sacks, eight tackles for loss, and a forced fumble alongside his 61 total stops.
But here’s the shocker that’s got the league scrambling: Phillips was shockingly cut by the Dolphins just days ago, on October 5, 2025, in a salary-cap crunch that caught even Miami insiders off guard. The Dolphins, mired in a 1-4 start and facing a rebuild amid injuries to stars like Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb, pulled the trigger to shed Phillips’ $13.25 million fifth-year option salary. It’s a fire sale move for a team that’s waved the white flag early, but for the 3-2 Cowboys – who’ve managed just 10 sacks through five weeks despite Justin Houston’s recent surge – it’s manna from heaven.
Sources close to the Cowboys’ front office, speaking on condition of anonymity, reveal that initial “feelers” have already been extended. “It’s flirtation at this stage – low-key texts, casual calls – but Jerry’s all in on closing this deal,” one league executive told Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox. “Phillips is available now, no trade strings attached, and at a bargain-bin price? This could be the steal of the deadline.” Projections peg his market value at a mere conditional 2026 fourth-round pick if a trade were involved, but with the cut, Dallas could swoop in with a simple claim off waivers or a veteran’s minimum deal – a “deal closer” that would shock the NFL and instantly pair Phillips with veterans like Jadeveon Clowney and DeMarcus Lawrence for a revamped rotation.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect. Dallas’ defense, once a juggernaut, has sputtered without Parsons, ranking 22nd in sacks and allowing 24.8 points per game. Enter Phillips: healthy in 2025 after battling back from a torn Achilles in 2023 and a knee injury in 2024, he’s already flashed in Miami’s first five games with one sack, 16 pressures, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery. Pro Football Network’s Josh Weil ranks him as the fourth-best edge rusher from his last full season (2023-24), with a blistering 94.4 PFF grade. “He’s only 26 – prime age to hit his ceiling,” Weil wrote. “Dallas gets a young, high-upside defender who can contribute now and anchor the future.”
Phillips’ injury history – missing 20 games over the last two years – is the only blemish, but it’s also why this feels like a no-brainer low-risk gamble for Jones. The Cowboys, sitting pretty in the NFC East with wins over the Giants and Eagles, are eyeing a deep playoff run. Adding Phillips wouldn’t just plug the pass-rush void; it’d send a message to rivals like the Eagles and Commanders that Dallas is reloading, not rebuilding.
Of course, the Dolphins’ deep edge rotation – now featuring Chop Robinson and a recovering Chubb – made Phillips expendable, but his release has sparked a bidding war. The Philadelphia Eagles, fresh off injuries to Nolan Smith, and the San Francisco 49ers, reeling from Nick Bosa’s ACL tear, are also circling. Yet, insiders say Dallas holds the edge: Jones’ history of bold moves (remember the Amari Cooper blockbuster?) and Phillips’ Florida roots make this a poetic fit.
As Week 6 kicks off, all eyes are on AT&T Stadium. Will the Cowboys pull the trigger on this free blockbuster before Phillips’ phone explodes with offers? One thing’s clear: if Dallas lands him at a steal, it’ll be the deadline stunner that propels America’s Team back to contender status – and leaves the NFL reeling in envy.
