The Dallas Cowboys trade of Micah Parsons on Thursday stunned the sports world and broke fans’ hearts. Already feeling disenfranchised, this fanbase now feels even more burned by ownership.
Jerry Jones’s frustrating post-trade press conference didn’t help those feelings, but it did offer a consolation prize for the future.
Dallas’s 82-year-old owner, president, and general manager pointed out the team holds four first-round picks in the next two years, capital he hinted could be moved for a player right away.
Jerry Jones said do not rule out the Cowboys potentially trading the picks they just got for Micah Parsons on trades for other players pic.twitter.com/JsJW5gGMbp
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 28, 2025
Was that probably just some good old-fashioned Jerry rambling? Sure.
Is it something we should still consider, especially given their aggressive pursuit of George Pickens and their contract ties to Dak Prescott? Absolutely.
Competing may not be a given for the Cowboys right now, but if they’re serious, the trade market is where they must turn. Let’s look at three potential targets in the aftermath of the Parsons deal.
Trey Hendrickson: The Big Fish, Lower Cost Replacement For Parsons
Bengals Receive: 2027 1st Round Pick (via GB), DE Sam Williams
Cowboys Receive: DE Trey Hendrickson, 2026 6th Round Pick
Before the Parsons situation exploded, it was Bengals All-Pro Trey Hendrickson dominating the headlines.
The 30-year-old pass-rushing star of Cincinnati held out for a contract, demanded a trade, and ultimately inked a new deal. There is only one caveat to that “extension,” however: it was not actually an extension.
Hendrickson is getting a pay raise to $30M for this season, but he will still become a free agent after this season and presumably would still want a new contract.
This is where Dallas can swoop in. Their newfound draft capital and cap space could make this a perfect fit for the Bengals, who, in this scenario, ship him off to the Cowboys for a 2027 first-rounder and Sam Williams.
Dallas replaces Parsons with an older, cheaper, but even more statistically productive rusher, and the Bengals secure a young rusher and a big pick in two years.
Jakobi Meyers: Unhappy Raiders Receiver Could Make Trio In Dallas
Raiders Receive: 2026 4th Round Pick, 2027 6th Round Pick, WR Jalen Tolbert
Cowboys Receive: WR Jakobi Meyers
Another guy who has requested a trade is the Raiders’ WR1, Jakobi Meyers.
To this point, they’ve been unwilling to consider a move, but if the Cowboys came knocking with an aggressive offer, things could change quickly; just ask Micah Parsons.
Meyers shouldn’t cost as much as George Pickens did, so Dallas departs with two picks and Jalen Tolbert to build the best wide receiver trio in the NFL.
With Parsons out of the picture, the offense is going to have to score. CeeDee Lamb, Pickens, Meyers, KaVontae Turpin, and Jake Ferguson are the weaponry Prescott will need to overcome his defense.
They would have a major decision to make after this season, as both Pickens and Meyers are headed for free agency, but that’s a problem for another day.
Greg Newsome II: Cowboys Turn To Cleveland For Cornerback Help
Browns Receive: 2026 5th Round Pick, 2026 7th Round Pick
Cowboys Receive: CB Greg Newsome II, 2026 6th Round Pick
The most common cornerback name in trade rumors has been the Cleveland Browns starter, Greg Newsome III.
In this story, @SethWalder suggests #Raiders trade for #Browns CB Greg Newsome II and a 2027 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick. https://t.co/IPijMH0G59
— Ryan McFadden (@ryanmcfadden_) July 30, 2025
In this Cowboys trade, they patch up what may be their biggest roster need. They need cornerbacks desperately, and Newsome, while not elite, would be a huge grab for Matt Eberflus’s defense.
Cleveland isn’t looking to compete, so they’d welcome the chance at an extra fifth-rounder, especially since it seems Newsome isn’t in their future plans.
Whether it be a blockbuster like Hendrickson, a big acquisition like Meyers, or a lower, but impact trade for Newsome, Dallas has options. Their draft capital gives them room to make a trade; it’s just a matter of whether they’ll actually do it.
Absolutely not on the Hendrickson trade, 30M + 1 st round pick AND Sam Williams?
Why would we give up 4 years of production of a cheap 1st round pick, for an expensive 1 year rental?
Maybe Williams has something beyond his ELITE athleticism to offer in a contract year?
Also no on Jakobi Meyers, overkill, and you are taking reps from Turpin, who could be an elite playmaker if given proper route trees for him.
Newsome trade is a great idea!
I believe Turpin can become the next Tyreke, no way I’d trade, Plus, he is the best return man in football. Hendrickson without a #1, I would agree unless our last #2 DEs breaks through and that is possible.
The only way I would trade for Hendrickson is if we could sign him to an extension for $30m a year and only gave up a 2nd round pick!! He’s 30 years old, so he’s not gonna be the player he has been for much longer, so giving up a 1st round pick plus Sam Williams is way too much!! Just giving up a 1st for him is too much, so I would pass on that one!!
And Jerry said they could use the picks they just got for Parsons in a trade, but only one of these ideas is using one of those picks!! These ideas should be for the picks we got in the Parsons trade!!
Now as far as Jakobi Meyers goes, I wouldn’t trade for him either!! If we’re gonna trade for another receiver then I’m sure we can come up with a better option than Meyers!! Plus we already have receivers on the practice squad that are about as good as Meyers is!! I would rather stay with Jalen Brooks and Ryan Flournoy than to waste a draft pick on Meyers!!
And Greg Newsome wouldn’t be a bad idea!! Especially if we could get him for a 6th round pick!! But I think we’re good at corner right now!! Especially if Diggs is able to play in week 1 and plays to the pro bowl level he used to play at!! And we still have Bland ready to go, plus Shavon Revel is about ready to play too!! So we should be good for now!! But if they start playing like crap then we can make a trade for him!! But until then, I think we should stick with who we have until they prove they’re not reliable!!
Well thought out. We don’t give up picks in addition to a #2s and Hendrickson. Given what the Bengals tied up in 2 WRs and a QB, I think Hendrickson can be had for a #3 because the Bengals won’t pay him and can’t afford to do so, especially since Parsons’s contract took a major player off the table concerning teams that can expend major money on DEs.
Tyreek Hill has said he wanted out of Miami. How about making a trade for him. Dallas then would have best trio in football with Lamb, Pickens and Hill.
We would need to plan on outscoring every team, but it is intriguing to see how that would work if Guyton plays better along with Steele.
What a pile of crap. You are trading most of the 26 draft for mediocre players. What a dufus. Good thing you have nothing to do with our draft and personal department.
Hey there! The article isn’t proposing that they make all of these trades, and therefore trading away most of their draft capital. They are individual speculative ideas given Jones’s comments on keeping the door open for trades with the new draft capital. You’re right; if they made all of these moves, they’d be pretty empty on picks.