The Dallas Cowboys aren’t just done dealing after snagging cornerback Joey Porter Jr., at least if owner Jerry Jones has anything to say about it. Jones went on 105.3 The Fan Wednesday and dropped a classic Jerry-ism: “the door is always open to get better.” He then doubled down, saying he’s “never” of a mind to ignore any way for the Cowboys to improve. Sounds like another trade could be brewing, but man, you gotta look at the cost.
The “Always Open” Door and the Looming Contract Crunch
So, Porter Jr. is now a Cowboy, but here’s the kicker: he’s in the final year of his rookie contract. Sound familiar? It totally should, because it’s exactly what happened with wide receiver George Pickens back in 2025. Dallas slapped the franchise tag on Pickens, which just pushes the problem down the road. Now, they’ve got to figure out the futures for both Porter and Pickens, and soon. When Jones got asked about extensions for either guy getting done this season, he didn’t give a straight answer. Reading between the lines, The Athletic’s Jon Machota is saying it looks pretty unlikely. That’s a huge deal. You trade for these guys, but then you’re immediately facing massive contract decisions.
Is 2025 Happening All Over Again?
Right now, the Cowboys are sitting at a shaky 2-2. And get this: they’ve already allowed the third-most yards in the entire league. Does that give you flashbacks? Because it absolutely should. We saw this movie in 2025, remember? An elite offense just got absolutely canceled out by a defense that was about as porous as a sieve. If that’s the trend, Dallas *has* to benefit from another big trade to shore things up. It’s like they’re caught in a loop, trying to fix the same problem every year, even with new pieces.
The Steep Price of “Getting Better”
Here’s the problem, and it’s a huge one: Dallas is seriously running out of draft assets. They only have three picks in the first six rounds of the 2027 draft. And that 2028 second-rounder? Gone, sent to get Porter Jr. When you think about the extensions Porter and Pickens are going to demand, the front office is supposed to be balancing out those expensive veterans with some young, cost-controlled talent. How do you do that when you keep shipping away all your draft picks? It’s a tough spot. Unless some “too good to pass up” trade miraculously falls into their lap, Jones really needs to be looking beyond just 2026. The future gets here fast, and if you keep mortgaging it, you’re gonna pay the price.
What’s next for Dallas? Are we going to see another trade splash, or will Jones finally hold onto some draft capital? We’ll be watching to see if they can break that 2025 cycle, or if they’re just digging a deeper hole for themselves.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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