Jerry Jones stirs confusion with his classic trade deadline misdirection

In Dallas, the clock keeps ticking and the drama never stops. With the trade deadline just hours away, the Cowboys head into their bye week with more questions than answers. They’ve dropped five of their last nine games, and according to Essentiallysports, team owner Jerry Jones is once again the lead character in a saga filled with rumors, retractions, and strategic silence.

One of the central figures in this storyline is Mazi Smith, the 24-year-old defensive tackle drafted in the first round back in 2023. His performance this season has been underwhelming—just five games played, three inactive appearances, and little sign of progress. With Kenny Clark now on the roster and Osa Odighizuwa locked in with a massive extension, Smith has clearly lost ground. Still, Jerry Jones surprised everyone by saying, “I really like our key players,” suggesting Smith won’t be traded.

Shutting down the rumors

That statement from Jerry Jones was enough to cool the trade chatter—for now. But the possibility of packaging Smith in a deal to land a pass rusher remains on the table. After trading away Micah Parsons, the Cowboys are actively looking to bolster their defense. Names like Arden Key, Bradley Chubb, and Malcolm Koonce have surfaced. Jaelan Phillips was also in the mix, but he’s already been dealt to the Eagles.

Jerry Jones downplayed the idea of being sellers at the trade deadline.

“I like our nuts and bolts a lot.” pic.twitter.com/8SWWERmeDi

— Ali Jawad (@AliJawad024) November 4, 2025

Confusion escalated when Jerry Jones told Stephen A. Smith in an interview that a trade had already been completed and that more could be coming. He refused to name names or offer details. Before the Monday night game against the Cardinals, no deal had been announced. After the 27-17 loss, Jones backtracked: “Right now, there’s no trade.” Yet he hinted something could still happen before the deadline. “There’s one I could make, and I’m leaning toward doing it,” he said, keeping everyone guessing.

Wordplay and distractions

Cowboys legend Troy Aikman, speaking on ESPN, questioned Jerry Jones’ comments: “One defensive player isn’t going to turn Dallas into a contender overnight.” And while fans tried to decode the owner’s cryptic remarks, Jones dropped another bombshell—a $2 billion partnership with the NHL to host the 2027 Stadium Series at AT&T Stadium, featuring the Dallas Stars.

But even that headline couldn’t steal the spotlight from Jerry Jones’ verbal gymnastics. With the deadline ticking down, the Cowboys remain center stage. Mazi Smith, for now, is still part of the cast. Whether that’s out of conviction or strategy, only Jones knows. And as always, he won’t say it outright.