Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ most famous line of the 2025 NFL offseason was delivered on Netflix’s documentary of him and the 1990s Cowboys: “It’s a soap opera 365 days a year.”

What if the soap opera is bad through three long episodes? The show has a few stars in it but the plot, acting, and directing is mediocre at best. After a 31-14 loss to the formerly winless Chicago Bears and a Week 2 win in which 37 points were allowed by the defense, it’s time for Jones to start thinking he should make a big swing to save the show or let the season play out and try again next year.

That’s why Jones was asked postgame about potentially making a trade with the multiple first-rounders the front office received in the Micah Parsons trade.

Jones doesn’t think there’s urgency to make a trade following 1-2 start

Jones said the Cowboys “not necessarily” had any more urgency to make a deal happen following back-to-back defensive disasters. He did, however, indicate the team would do it if the right opportunity arises.

“You’ve got to have something that comes your way that’s really special,” Jones told reporters. “And if you’ve got the currency to do it, which in this case it would be draft picks, we’ll do it.”

The Cowboys already have help on the way in the form of free agent signing DE Jadeveon Clowney, who was inactive for Sunday’s loss. Though he should help the pass rush and run defense, the 32-year-old former No. 1 overall pick is unlikely to give Dallas the answers it desperately needs. At this point, there’s not one move that would do that. There is, however, a big name at defensive end expected to be available closer to this year’s trade deadline.

Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson signed a reworked one-year deal to end a holdout earlier this year but his long-term future remains uncertain. The Bengals, who are navigating a Joe Burrow injury that will keep him out until late December, just lost 48-10 to the Carson Wentz-quarterbacked Minnesota Vikings. Would they be willing to deal Hendrickson and if so, for how much?

I reached out to A to Z Sports’ Bengals expert John Sheeran for answers.

Should the Cowboys trade for Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson?

Sheeran: It really depends on how the next six weeks go for the Bengals. If things absolutely tank and the defense just doesn’t take the needed jump even with Hendrickson, the season will essentially be lost as Burrow will still be months out from possibly returning. Even then, it’ll take a Day 2 pick and probably a player in return to get Hendrickson out of Cincinnati’s grasp. If the team is close to or over .500, you can forget getting them to sell anything. Hendrickson may also need to make a mess of things ala Carlos Dunlap back in 2020. That wasn’t needed for Cincinnati to make some calls in recent months, but remember, those in Paycor Stadium can’t stand the idea of making other teams better.

Cowboys need to avoid the trade deadline trap

The Cowboys will play six more games before the trade deadline in Nov. 5. They’ll need to be very careful about not falling for the trap they did last year. They gave up a fourth-rounder for WR Jonathan Mingo when they should’ve been sellers, not buyers. What record does Dallas need to have before their Week 10 bye to justify giving up premium draft assets for immediate-relief additions like Hendrickson?

Based on what we’ve seen from the defense in the last couple of weeks, it won’t be one mid-season arrival that solves it. This is the kind of problem that requires a full offseason to address. The front office needs to get comfortable with that possibility.

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