Cowboys predicted to pull off deadline trade for $13 million edge rusher originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Cowboys have one of the worst defenses in the NFL and part of the problem is their inability to get after the quarterback.
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The Micah Parsons trade has done the Cowboys no favors, which is a surprise to absolutely no one. Their pass-rush has been suffering as a result and the team desperately needs more juice off the edge if it’s going to make a run at the postseason.
Ideally, the Cowboys land an edge rusher who can help them out for more than just a half of a season. That’s where the New York Jets come into play.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Jets are open to trading edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, although she adds that their asking price is high (a second-round pick or better). However, it’s conceivable the Jets’ price will come down as the Nov. 4 trade deadline gets closer.
Pro Football and Sports Network’s Jacob Infante predicts the Cowboys and Jets will reach an agreement that sends Johnson to Dallas.
The Dallas Cowboys have the second-lowest Defense Impact (DEFi) grade in the NFL, but they’re still in the mix for a playoff opportunity at 3-4-1. Assuming they operate as buyers at this year’s NFL trade deadline, their top priority should be improving their struggling pass rush.
A Pro Bowler as a rookie in 2022, Jermaine Johnson II now finds himself on the outside looking in on the Jets’ long-term plans. Rather than pay him a long-term contract, New York could look to offload him to an edge rusher-needy team that isn’t willing to quite pay top dollar for one of the league’s elite at the position. That description fits the Cowboys perfectly.
Johnson showed a ton of promise back in 2023, when he had 7.5 sacks and earned his first Pro Bowl nod. Unfortunately, Johnson’s ascension was put on hold in 2024 after he suffered a torn Achilles.
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The former first-round pick only has one sack this season, but he figures to return to form the further removed he is from the injury. That said, his low sack production could help keep his price lower than it otherwise would be.
Johnson is perfect for the Cowboys, as he’s under contract through 2026 and will account for a reasonable cap hit of $13.4 million next year.
Even if the Cowboys have to pay a high price for his services, it won’t hurt that bad because Johnson won’t be a rental. And, if he can get back to his 2023 form or better, he could get extended, which will only make this trade look better.
