Cowboys have perfect chance for long-term EDGE solution at trade deadline
The NFL trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and the Dallas Cowboys will have some big decisions to make in a matter of days. Of course, Monday night's Week 9 clash with the Arizona Cardinals is a big focus, but less than 24 hours later, all eyes will be on Jerry Jones and the front office.
Jones has said the team will be "open for business," while Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones has said that Dallas will make a move if the opportunity presents itself, with a focus on the defensive side of the ball.
Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report has a perfect option for the Cowboys, with "one trade that makes sense" for the team to bolster the defense and help fill the void created by Micah Parsons' departure.
Enter New York Jets linebacker Jermaine Johnson II, who would immediately upgrade the team's defense on the edge.
While the Cowboys have linked to several high-profile options on the defensive side of the ball, Gagnon thinks Johnson fits in better with the Dallas approach.
"There's a Micah Parsons-sized hole impacting the Cowboys defense," he writes. "Johnson isn't Trey Hendrickson, but he's younger and under contract in 2026. I think that jibes better with the Cowboys, who need a longer-term solution here."
Johnson, a former first-round pick who spent time with the Jets while current Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton was on the staff, would likely only cost the team a Day 3 pick.
The NFL trade deadline is set for Tuesday, November 4, at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Making The Right Move
Johnson is among the players who are expected to be available at the trade deadline following the Jets' dreadful 1-7 start to the season.
Johnson is only 26 years old. Add him to a linebacking corps with Overshown (25), Kenneth Murray (26), Jack Sanborn (25), Marist Liufau (24), and Shemar James (21), and you suddenly have a lot of young depth at the position.
This season, Johnson has recorded 19 total tackles, one sack, one pass defensed, and a run stuff. In his last full season, Johnson tallied 55 tackles, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble, a fumble recovery, one interception, and a touchdown.
Johnson is a versatile defender who can play standing or with his hand in the dirt, and for a team that needs any help it can get, adding a player who can contribute in multiple ways is the smart move.
Bills QB Josh Allen Calls Out Rookie’s ‘Terrible’ Move
The Buffalo Bills have already made NFL history heading into Week 4 against the New Orleans Saints.
No team has gone 3-0 while scoring over 100 points with zero turnovers and less than 15 penalties while recording over 150 rushing yards per game and 250 net passing yards per game, per OPTA Stats.
Unsurprisingly, Bills quarterback Josh Allen‘s performance is playing a huge role in the team’s success. During Buffalo’s 31 -21 victory over Miami Dolphins, Allen threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns.
Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir’s fourth-quarter score marked Allen’s 200th career passing touchdown, however, it was Allen’s second touchdown of the game that the Bills star discussed with reporters on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
Allen connected with rookie tight end Jackson Hawes, the Bills’ fifth-round pick from the 2025 NFL draft, early in the second quarter. Hawes gushed over his QB1 after the game. “He’s the MVP, man. He’s the greatest player in the world,” Hawes told reporters.
As for being on the receiving end of the shovel pass, Hawes felt prepared. “We go through these walkthroughs that are a bit of a slower pace. He’ll be messing around and give you a little no-looker every now and then with the ball. Really, it’s just getting you ready for the games.”
Bills QB Josh Allen Called Jackson Hawes’ Celebratory Spike ‘Terrible’
While Allen is incredibly proud of the rookie’s first score, there’s some work to be done when it comes to his touchdown celebration. “It was a terrible spike first of all,” Allen said. Turns out, judging spikes is part of the team’s film studies during the week.
“We judge our spikes in the offensive room. The way that it’s judged, if it leaves the screen on the top, it’s a great spike. I don’t think his got a foot off the ground, it just kind of rolled forward.”
In Hawes’ defense, the Georgia Tech alum told reporters that he “just kind of blacked out” when he spiked it, as he was still processing his first touchdown.
Jackson Hawes Is Ranked As The No. 1 Rookie In The NFL Through Week 3
Bills general manager Brandon Beane seems to have found a winner with the 173rd overall pick this year. Pro Football Focus ranked Hawes as the No. 1 rookie in the league after assessing the first three weeks of the season.
“Hawes recorded a 75.8 PFF overall grade against the Dolphins on Thursday night, highlighted by his first career touchdown — a five-yard shovel pass flipped into a tight window between two defenders,” PFF’s Lauren Grey wrote. “Hawes earned a 76.2 PFF pass-blocking grade (second best) in the game, too. He logged a 62.0 PFF run-blocking grade due to three negative plays, his first such plays of the season.
“Hawes now owns an 88.2 PFF receiving grade for the season. He has caught all three of his targets for 39 yards and remains seventh in PFF run-blocking grade at the position (78.6). He also places in the top 10 in pass blocking (77.4).”
