gs. Don’t Look Now, But the Dallas Cowboys Are Reportedly Closing In on a D-Line JUGGERNAUT
The Dallas Cowboys are a tale of two teams in 2025. Their offense ranks among the NFL’s elite, torching defenses with precision and explosiveness. Flip to the other side of the ball, however, and it’s a nightmare: Dallas sits 31st against the pass, 29th against the run, and 31st in points allowed. The defense is hemorrhaging yards and scores, turning promising games into blowouts.
A glaring weakness? Pressure on the quarterback. Through eight games, the Cowboys have managed just 15 sacks—tied for the ninth-fewest in the league. Micah Parsons’ absence has left a cavernous void on the edge, and the front office knows it. That’s why Dallas has been aggressively shopping for a pass-rushing upgrade, and according to Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon, they’re zeroing in on New York Jets edge rusher Jermaine Johnson.
Gagnon predicts the Cowboys will surrender a Day 2 draft pick to land Johnson, a move that could transform their defensive line into a legitimate juggernaut.
At 26, Johnson is in his prime with proven upside. His 2023 campaign was a breakout: 7.5 sacks, consistent disruption, and the kind of athleticism that makes offensive tackles sweat. A torn Achilles derailed his 2024 season, but this year—despite a quiet stat line of one sack and 14 pressures—he’s trending upward the further he gets from injury.
The Jets, mired in a 1-7 disaster, are primed for a fire sale. With Will McDonald IV emerging on a rookie deal, New York could dump Johnson’s contract before his pricey fifth-year option hits in 2026. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes that rival teams believe Johnson is gettable, even if the player himself downplays trade rumors and “it feels like he’s staying.” For a rebuilding Jets squad desperate for draft capital, sentiment takes a backseat.
Johnson’s deal is the cherry on top: locked in through 2026 at a bargain $13.4 million next year. That’s elite value for a player with his pedigree. If he recaptures 2023 form—or better—Dallas gets a multi-year cornerstone. Extend him, and you’ve got a long-term partner for Parsons, creating a pass-rush duo that could dominate the NFC for years.
Dallas has the need, the cap flexibility, and the draft ammo to pull this off. Acquiring Johnson isn’t just a deadline bandage—it’s a foundation piece. Pair his youth and explosiveness with an offense that’s already humming, and suddenly the Cowboys’ defense doesn’t look so porous.
Don’t sleep on this trade. If it happens, Big D’s D-line could evolve from liability to unstoppable force overnight. The juggernaut is coming—watch out.
