Even if Dak Prescott thought the Dallas Cowboys needed to overhaul their struggling defense completely, he would never say so publicly. Most franchise quarterbacks would not. They have enough to worry about on their side of the ball, and it would likely be disastrous to the locker room to speak about all the problems on the other side of the ball.

Prescott is as good as it gets with public relations. He rarely struggles to find an answer, regardless of the topic. About 30 minutes after probably the worst loss of the season last Sunday, 44-24 at Denver, Prescott was asked about Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.

“I trust and I like the guys that we have,” he said. “I honestly do. That’s not just a political answer or whatever it is.”

Despite the defense being arguably the worst in the league and one of the worst in franchise history, Prescott went on to say he trusts them.

“Getting a trade takes opportunities and plays away from somebody else,” he added. “So I just echo to those people or to the guys in the locker room, forget a trade. Do more. Shut that talk up, whether it be offense, whether it be defense, whatever position group that you guys are alluding to, step up and shut the talk up.”

Prescott had a slightly different take after Thursday’s practice when asked again about the trade deadline.

“It definitely can help a team, (not) being naïve and understanding where we are,” he said. “To say one position is where we need to go, or that, I’m not sure. Leave it to the guys who are in those talks and I’m sure making those decisions and working hard right now as we near the deadline to figure out something.

“It definitely can help. Not going to shy away from saying that. But I will go back to what I said after the last game. I just encourage the guys in the locker room to do whatever they can in this time to shut that talk up. That’s just all of us looking in the mirror and trying to say where can I be better and how can I take advantage of this opportunity?”

The ONE STAR COWBOYS PODCAST does not have solutions for this defense, but we do have another episode out for you to enjoy. https://t.co/NW56YqjjEFhttps://t.co/2WtFjHZxX3

— Kevin Turner (@ktfuntweets) October 29, 2025

The Cowboys play the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night at AT&T Stadium and are looking to improve their defensive roster via the trade market. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas that “all options are there.” However, he added that nothing was close to being done. When specifically asked about reports connecting Dallas to standout pass rushers Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson, Jones responded: “There hasn’t been anything close to a deal. We’re looking at all phases of our roster. … I don’t know if we will or not (make a trade).”

also provided a signature Jones quote when asked about the potential of trading for a linebacker.

“Not necessarily,” he responded. “Not at all. But possibly so. Now, how about that for an answer?”

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones provided a little more during his Friday interview on The Fan.

“We’re extensively working on, as we are today, trades,” he said. “It takes two to trade. You don’t ever want to trade for the sake of just saying, ‘Hey, we made a trade.’ If we can find players that make us better and the deal is right, then we’re always up for that.

“(Jerry Jones has) that in his blood. He likes to trade. He likes to do deals. … I will say this, there’s certainly interesting things that are out there as we head down to the wire.”

Here are the latest players who could become available and would make the most sense for the Cowboys.

Maxx Crosby, DE, Raiders: One sports betting site has odds posted for several top trade candidates. The Cowboys are in the top five for three of the players — all pass rushers. Crosby is at the top of that list. The Raiders have said they are not looking to trade him. And they probably won’t. But what if the offer is too good to pass up. The Cowboys certainly have the draft picks after getting two first-round picks in the Micah Parsons trade. They also have the salary-cap space. The site has the Cowboys as the favorite to be Crosby’s next team at +250. The New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions are next. This would be the biggest swing the Cowboys could make, adding one of the NFL’s top five pass rushers.

Trey Hendrickson, DE, Bengals. The Cowboys are fourth in odds for Hendrickson, trailing the Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Commanders. He’s 30, which is two years older than Crosby, but he’s also a free agent at the end of the season. Crosby is under contract for four more years.

Bradley Chubb, DE, Dolphins. The Cowboys are third in odds for the 29-year-old, behind the Philadelphia Eagles and Commanders. He’s two years removed from an 11-sack season and has two years remaining on a contract that pays him around $19 million per year.

Jaelen Phillips, DE, Dolphins. Like Chubb, Phillips has become a popular name because Miami is expecting to be deadline sellers. The 26-year-old has recently dealt with Achilles tendon and knee injuries. (Update: The Dolphins traded Phillips to the Eagles on Monday morning)

Arden Key, DE, Titans. Tennessee is expected to be a seller and Key can get to the quarterback. He had 6.5 sacks and 15 QB hits last season.

Jeffery Simmons, DT, Titans. He’s one of the NFL’s top interior defensive linemen, so he won’t come cheap. But he could be exactly what Dallas has been missing in the middle of its defense.

Logan Wilson, LB, Bengals. DeMarvion Overshown is on track to return after the Cowboys’ Week 10 bye. As long as he is healthy, Overshown will instantly upgrade the defense. But he needs help, and Wilson could be available. He’s been a 100-plus tackle player each of the previous four seasons.

Demario Davis, LB, Saints. Davis is 36, but he’s still one of the NFL’s most productive linebackers. He would certainly upgrade a position group that has arguably been the team’s worst.