ClutchPoints
The Dallas Cowboys’ season is teetering on the edge of disaster. At 3-4-1, the Cowboys find themselves in a precarious position, sitting 10th in the NFC playoff picture and struggling with one of the league’s worst defenses. Following a humiliating 44-24 defeat to the Denver Broncos in Week 8, the urgency to address glaring roster deficiencies has never been more critical. With the NFL trade deadline set for Tuesday, November 4 at 4 p.m. ET, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys’ front office have less than a week to make moves that could salvage their playoff aspirations.
The Cowboys’ defensive struggles have been alarming. Dallas has allowed 250 points and 3,200 yards through the first eight games, becoming one of only 15 teams in NFL history to reach such dubious marks this early. The defense ranks 32nd in passing yards allowed at 297.3 yards per game, and the pass rush has generated just five total sacks on the season. Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ scheme hasn’t meshed with the personnel, leading to communication breakdowns and receivers running wide open. Although the offense ranks second in the NFL at 31.7 points per game and boasts a dynamic trio in Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, the defensive deficiencies have created a negative point differential. Jones has indicated he’s willing to make moves to help the team regardless of Sunday’s blowout loss, and with four first-round picks over the next two years in their arsenal, the Cowboys have the capital to make impactful acquisitions. Here are three perfect trades Dallas must execute before the deadline.
The Cowboys’ pass rush has been virtually nonexistent this season, and Bradley Chubb represents an immediate solution to that problem. The Miami Dolphins, sitting at 2-6 and clearly in selling mode, have made both Chubb and Jaelan Phillips available. While Phillips has garnered more interest around the league, Chubb’s proven production makes him the safer bet for a Cowboys team desperate for results now.
Trade Details:
Cowboys Receive: EDGE Bradley Chubb
Dolphins Receive: 2026 third-round pick, 2026 sixth-round pick
Cap Implications: Chubb carries a manageable $12.3 million cap hit for 2025, though his contract jumps to $31.2 million in 2026 and $31.5 million in 2027
Chubb leads Miami with four sacks this season and has shown he’s fully recovered from the torn ACL that sidelined him for all of 2024. The two-time Pro Bowler posted 11 sacks in 2023 and has proven he can be a difference-maker when healthy. At 29 years old, Chubb brings veteran leadership and playoff experience that the Cowboys’ young defensive line desperately needs. His ability to set the edge against the run while providing pass-rush pressure addresses multiple needs simultaneously. The Dolphins have no incentive to keep him with Chop Robinson ready to assume a larger role, making Chubb one of the most realistic acquisitions available. For Dallas, adding Chubb alongside Osa Odighizuwa would immediately upgrade their ability to generate pressure, taking stress off...
