You may argue the Dallas Cowboys should be sellers, not buyers, after a 2-3 start to the season. But Jerry Jones would disagree.

“I just wouldn’t know that [losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers] had an effect,” said the Cowboys owner about his trade deadline strategy. “If I have a decision to make or get a chance to make a decision, I should be doing all the things that I would be doing every day to try to get better.”

The Cowboys are trying to win now and they know they have a tight window to make it happen. So truth be told, I wouldn’t be surprised if Dallas keeps trying to add to the roster. And one area I expect them to address is edge rusher.

Not getting after the quarterback is seriously hurting the team and there are several good options expected to hit the market.

So here’s what I did below: Using the new A to Z Sports Trade Simulator, I looked for trade partners to upgrade at EDGE. To make it as fair as possible, I tweaked the trade scenarios until I got a “fair trade” grade from the simulator. Let’s dive in.

Tuli Tuipulotu, Chargers

• Cowboys get: EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu, 2027 fourth-round pick
• Chargers get: 2027 second-round pick

Tuipulotu racked up 13 sacks last year and is getting after the QB at a high level in 2026 again. One would imagine the Chargers aren’t dealing the productive 24-year-old pass rusher but he is on a contract year. Right now, he’s Top 15 in pass rush win rate and fifth in the league in pressure rate, per Sumer Sports.

Tuipulotu would also boost the Cowboys’ run defense, as he leads the league in run stops with 13.

With L.A. sitting at 0-5, everything is on the table. The Cowboys could get a special pass rusher in Tuli, but they’d probably be looking at paying edge rusher money next year. Though he’d be very expensive, Tuipulotu fits a crucial Jerry Jones’ requirement: he has a potential future with the Cowboys.

Jones said last Thursday: “I wouldn’t give up future capital for a player who didn’t have some future or potential future [with the team].”

If Dallas wanted to, Tuli could be much more than a short-term rental. He could be their next star at the position.

Maxx Crosby, Raiders

• Cowboys get: EDGE Maxx Crosby
• Raiders get: 2027 first-round pick, EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, 2028 sixth-round pick

The Las Vegas Raiders and 3-2 and thus aren’t looking like sellers. But before the trade deadline, they have to go through the gauntlet. They take on the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, and San Francisco 49ers before Nov. 10. The schedule doesn’t get any easier after that stretch, as they play the defending champs Seattle Seahawks one week later.

That is to say, the Raiders might be sellers before you know it. We also know two things. One, they actively shopped Crosby in the offseason to the point of agreeing to trade him to Baltimore. Two, the Cowboys made strong offers for the Raiders superstar. So no, I don’t think Crosby is undoubtedly not getting traded.

And if you’re wondering, Crosby is still doing Crosby things. He’s Top 10 in pressure rate and pass rush win rate.

Alex Highsmith, Steelers

• Cowboys get: EDGE Alex Highsmith, 2027 fifth-round pick
• Steelers get: 2027 second-round pick, 2028 third-round pick

At times it seems like the Cowboys are subscribed to Steelers+. Since 2025, they’ve acquired WR George Pickens, OT Broderick Jones, and CB Joey Porter Jr from Pittsburgh. What’s one more player?

Highsmith’s value might be inflated a little after his very strong start to the season, so I think the Cowboys can get away with offering less than the trade simulator suggests. But Highsmith is better than given credit for, which is to be expected since he plays in such a star-studded room featuring T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig.

Highsmith leads the Steelers room in total pressures, pressure rate, and pass rush win rate through five games.

Khalik Mack, Chargers

• Cowboys get: EDGE Khalil Mack
• Chargers get: 2028 fifth-round pick

Mack may not be the same guy he once was, but he’d probably be the Cowboys’ best pass rusher the moment he walks in the door. He’s up to three sacks for the year and his pressure rate ranks better than any Dallas edge rusher not named Donovan Ezeiruaku.

Mack’s four stuffed runs are tied for the fifth-most in the NFL.

Mack isn’t quite at the level of other names on this list, but he’s also the cheapest option in terms of expected compensation required to land him.

Josh Sweat, Cardinals

• Cowboys get: EDGE Josh Sweat
• Cardinals get: 2027 fourth-round pick, 2028 fourth-round pick

Sweat and the Cowboys were linked to each other in the offseason for good reason. The edge rusher isn’t happy in Arizona and at some point requested a trade. He’s a clear scheme fit for Dallas having played in Vic Fangio’s defense in Philly and overlapping with Christian Parker in 2024, when the Eagles went to the Super Bowl.

The compensation for Sweat might be the tricky part to figure out. Two fourth-rounders seems a little bit rich at first but the thing is he’s under contract through 2028, which elevates his value.