ss BREAKING NEWS: THE $60M REPLACEMENT: Cowboys’ Trade Pitch Lands 17.5-Sack Star to Succeed Micah Parsons.
Cowboys Nation, the 2025 NFL season is heating up, and Jerry Jones is ready to make waves! With the trade deadline looming, the Dallas Cowboys owner has signaled he’s open to a blockbuster deal to bolster the roster, especially after trading Micah Parsons for multiple draft picks. The team’s defense has struggled to stop high-powered offenses, prompting Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox to propose a trade for Cincinnati Bengals’ star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. Could this move plug the gap left by Parsons and propel Dallas into playoff contention? This analysis dives into Jones’ trade strategy, the Cowboys’ defensive woes, Hendrickson’s fit, and the trade’s feasibility. Dallas fans, get ready—this could be the spark to reignite the Cowboys’ Super Bowl dreams!
Jerry Jones’ Trade Ambition: Seizing the Moment
Jerry Jones has never shied away from bold moves, and with the November 4, 2025, trade deadline approaching, he’s poised to strike. After trading Micah Parsons to Green Bay for two first-round picks and a third-rounder, per ESPN, Jones holds significant draft capital, including two first-round selections in both 2026 and 2027. His recent comments to 105.3 The Fan emphasized his willingness to act, stating he’d pull the trigger if the right opportunity arises. With Dallas at 2-2-1, sitting third in the NFC East, per NFL.com, Jones sees a chance to keep the Cowboys competitive despite their defensive struggles.
Discover more
Video
La Masia
Penn Museum
Football kits
Activewear
Spotify Camp Nou
Camp Nou
the Premier League
Stamford Bridge
Premier League
The Parsons trade, while netting valuable assets, left a void in Dallas’ pass rush. The Cowboys rank 22nd in sacks (1.8 per game) and 19th in points allowed (24.3 per game), per Pro Football Focus. Jones’ win-now mentality, backed by a potent offense led by Dak Prescott’s 3,412 passing yards in 2024, demands a defensive upgrade. A trade for an elite edge rusher like Hendrickson could restore balance and push Dallas toward a wildcard spot, with 68% of fans on X clamoring for a splashy defensive addition.
Cowboys’ Defensive Struggles: A Gaping Hole
Dallas’ defense has been a liability against top offenses. In Week 4, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts carved them up for 284 passing yards and two touchdowns, exposing a lack of quarterback pressure, per NFL.com. The Cowboys’ run defense, ranked 25th at 132.4 yards allowed per game, has also faltered, with Saquon Barkley gashing them for 112 yards in that loss. Losing Parsons, who had 14.5 sacks in 2024, gutted their pass rush—current leader DeMarvion Overshown has just 3.5 sacks through five games. The secondary, despite Trevon Diggs’ two interceptions, struggles when opponents exploit play-action due to weak front-seven pressure.
Discover more
Video
Camp Nou
Spotify Camp Nou
Stamford Bridge
Activewear
La Masia
Penn Museum
Football kits
the Premier League
Nazca Geoglyphs
This defensive slide threatens Dallas’ playoff hopes. While their offense ranks seventh, averaging 28.1 points, the defense’s inability to stop drives—allowing a 68.4% third-down conversion rate in losses—has cost them games. Jones’ acquisition of draft picks gives him flexibility, but without a dominant edge presence, Dallas risks falling short against NFC powerhouses like Tampa Bay or San Francisco. Hendrickson, with his proven track record, could be the missing piece to shore up these weaknesses.
Trey Hendrickson: The Ideal Replacement
Trey Hendrickson, a 2021 Pro Bowler, is among the NFL’s premier edge rushers. In 2024 with Cincinnati, he notched 14 sacks, 32 quarterback hits, and 17 tackles for loss, ranking top-five league-wide in all three categories, per ESPN stats. His 88.7 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus highlights his relentless motor, generating pressure on 14.2% of dropbacks. At 30, Hendrickson’s 6-foot-4, 270-pound frame and explosive first step make him a scheme fit for Dan Quinn’s aggressive 4-3 defense, which thrives on speed off the edge.
Hendrickson’s versatility—effective against both pass and run—addresses Dallas’ dual needs. His 2.1 tackles for loss per game in 2024 would bolster the Cowboys’ 28th-ranked run stop rate (41.2%). Compared to Parsons’ $22 million cap hit, Hendrickson’s $14.8 million in 2025, per Spotrac, is a cost-effective upgrade, especially as a rental before his 2026 free agency. His 1.2 forced fumbles last season could pair with Diggs’ ball-hawking to create turnovers, critical for Dallas’ 17th-ranked takeaway total (1.4 per game). Fans are hyped—73% in an X poll see Hendrickson as a game-changer.
Trade Feasibility: Can Dallas Seal the Deal?
Kristopher Knox’s proposed trade sends Hendrickson to Dallas for a conditional 2026 second-round pick, a steep but feasible price given Jones’ draft stockpile. Cincinnati, at 3-3 in 2025, is clinging to playoff hopes with Joe Burrow sidelined by a toe injury, per NFL Network. Their trade for Joe Flacco signals a push to stay competitive, but a sub-.500 record by the deadline could shift them to sellers. The Bengals previously sought a 2026 first-round pick and a young defender for Hendrickson, per The Athletic, but a second-rounder might suffice for a 30-year-old nearing free agency.
For Dallas, the financials align—Hendrickson’s cap hit fits under their $12.3 million space, per OverTheCap. However, Jones’ reluctance to pay Parsons’ $22 million raises questions about committing to Hendrickson long-term. A one-year rental could be the strategy, with Dallas leveraging their 2026 and 2027 first-rounders to rebuild post-trade. Bengals fans are split—56% on X oppose trading Hendrickson—but Cowboys fans, with 79% supporting the move, see it as a win-now play. If Cincinnati falters, Jones’ aggressive approach could land this deal by November 4.
Impact Potential: A Playoff Game-Changer
Acquiring Hendrickson could transform Dallas’ defense into a playoff-caliber unit. His 14 sacks would nearly double the Cowboys’ current edge production (7.5 sacks from starters). Pairing him with Overshown and Micah Hyde, who has 1.8 tackles for loss, could push Dallas’ sack rate into the top 10, mirroring their 2023 peak (46 total sacks). Hendrickson’s run-stopping prowess would also limit opponents’ ground game, critical against teams like Green Bay, who rushed for 141 yards against Dallas in 2024. A favorable late-season schedule against Carolina and Washington offers a runway for Hendrickson to gel.
Challenges remain. Hendrickson’s age and impending free agency pose risks, and integrating him midseason requires quick scheme adaptation. The NFC’s depth—Philadelphia’s 4-1 start and Tampa Bay’s 4-2 record—demands immediate impact. Yet, Dallas’ offense, with CeeDee Lamb’s 1,304 receiving yards and Javonte Williams’ 1,126 rushing yards, provides the firepower to complement a bolstered defense. If Hendrickson delivers, Dallas could hit 10 wins, securing a wildcard spot and a shot at the NFC Championship.
Jerry Jones’ bold vision and Trey Hendrickson’s elite pass-rushing could be the perfect match to revive the Dallas Cowboys’ 2025 playoff hopes. With a porous defense exposed after trading Micah Parsons, Hendrickson’s 14-sack prowess and run-stopping grit offer a solution. While Cincinnati’s playoff push and Hendrickson’s contract complicate the trade, Jones’ draft capital and win-now mindset make it feasible. Cowboys Nation, imagine Hendrickson wreaking havoc in the star helmet—this move could catapult Dallas to Super Bowl contention. Drop your thoughts below and let’s rally for a blockbuster trade to bring glory back to Dallas!
