The Cowboys will look to avoid a 1-3 start tonight when they take on the Giants. Dallas is not planning to make major moves with respect to players or personnel, but the door is of course open to an in-season trade in the coming weeks. 
The 2024 offseason was dominated by negotiations on the Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb fronts. Both players eventually worked out a deal, but their combined AAV of $94MM will lead to a number of difficult financial decisions moving forward. The team’s top remaining priority is a monster extension for Micah Parsons, something which will not be finalized until after the 2024 season. Any additions made before the trade deadline will keep Parsons’ looming raise in mind.
“Could we take advantage of an opportunity if we felt like the situation was there? Absolutely we can,” COO Stephen Jones said during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota). “Obviously the cap is a lot more than just about this year. Where our pressure starts to hit is going forward, as we try to have three players the caliber of Dak and CeeDee and Micah.”
The Prescott and Lamb accords will begin next season, while Parsons remains attached to his rookie deal through 2026 given the Cowboys’ decision to pick up his fifth-year option. The two-time All-Pro is set to earn $21.32MM that year, although a long-term accord will cost much more annually. Taking on players with term beyond the current season would complicate the Cowboys’ Parsons extension efforts (along with other matters like a second contract for Tyler Smith or new commitments in pending free agents Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence). As a result, Dallas will be targeting rentals in any upcoming trade acquisitions.
With nearly $24MM in cap space, the Cowboys certainly have the flexibility to make a notable addition by taking on an expiring contract. Plenty will depend on the team’s success over the next few games in determining whether or not a move is contemplated as Dallas looks to post another double-digit win campaign (or at least do enough to qualify for the postseason). Jones reiterated his confidence in the Cowboys’ in-house options to rebound from the losses of the past two weeks, though.
“We believe in our process,” he added. “We believe in this football team. We believe in this coaching staff. We believe we’re going to right the ship.