The 49ers and Cowboys were NFC favorites coming into 2024. Will they make a trade at the deadline to revive their chances?
After a 12-5 season and an NFC East title, the Cowboys’ journey this year has taken a different path. They have stumbled to a 3-4 record and find themselves in third place in the division—a far cry from the dominance they envisioned.
Meanwhile, out west, their NFC rival, the San Francisco 49ers, sit at 4-4, locked in a tight race with Arizona atop the NFC West. Under head coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch, the Niners have built a reputation for bold moves before the trade deadline, unafraid to leverage future picks to fuel the present. But this season, even with all their top picks in hand and a mounting list of injuries, the 49ers have yet to make a single significant acquisition.
For two teams with Super Bowl aspirations, the trade deadline looms as an opportunity—perhaps the final chance to strengthen rosters and correct course. With their seasons slipping through their hands, both the Cowboys and Niners may soon find that waiting is no longer an option.
So, what have we heard from the leaders in each organization regarding their trade deadline strategy?
Check out all our NFL Trade Deadline updates!
Jerry Jones Hints at Possible Blockbuster Deadline Trade
Frustration is a familiar feeling for Cowboys fans regarding the front office. Despite glaring gaps on both sides of the ball and a string of humbling losses, Dallas has yet to make a single move to right the ship. And, for many, it’s a painful reminder of the kind of promises made and left unfulfilled.
On Friday, team owner Jerry Jones hinted at the possibility of a trade before Tuesday’s NFL deadline. Speaking on 105.3 The Fan, he suggested he was willing to “look for all the meat on the bone that can improve our team.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones when asked on @1053thefan about the possibility of Dallas doing something significant before next week's trade deadline: "If I see something … we look for all the meat on the bone that can improve our team."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 1, 2024
When asked if he could pull off a move bold enough to steal headlines on Election Day, Jones, of course, didn’t shy away from making headlines with his answer.
Question posed on @1053thefan to Jerry Jones: “Is there a trade you can make that can steal all of the headlines on Election Day?”
Jerry gave a hearty laugh, thought about it, then answered.
“Yes.”#DallasCowboys
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) November 1, 2024
But the Cowboy fan base’s familiar skepticism will continue to linger until they actually see a move made. They’ve seen this before: a tease, a promise, a hint of urgency—and, too often, no follow-through. This is, after all, the same man who pledged an “all-in” approach before the season but left Ezekiel Elliott as the team’s primary offseason signing. Now, with holes at wide receiver, running back, and in the pass rush, fans watch the clock tick down, uncertain if any move is on the horizon.
The trade deadline stands as a last chance. But with Jones’ history of words over action, Cowboys fans know not to hold their breath.
John Lynch Provides Update on 49ers Trade Deadline Strategy
With less than a week until the trade deadline, 49ers GM John Lynch tempered expectations during his appearance on KNBR Wednesday. He downplayed any notion of a major move, checking off the familiar boxes of an executive managing fans’ hopes. Lynch spoke about the team’s injury struggles and offered the classic line, suggesting that returning players could feel like midseason “acquisitions” in their own right.
“Nothing’s imminent right now. I will tell everyone that,” Lynch said. “But if something does come together here—the trade deadline’s on election day, interesting how they did that—but if anything comes by then, that makes sense, it can make us a better football team, fits with our financial position, and all those things, then we’ll certainly pull the trigger.”
San Francisco has made bold, splashy moves before—securing names like Christian McCaffrey and Emmanuel Sanders in past seasons to fuel deep playoff pushes. But they’ve also leaned into smaller, strategic additions, such as adding Charles Omenihu in 2021 to quietly bolster the defensive line.
John Lynch and the 49ers haven't been shy about in-season trades / making moves at the NFL Trade Deadline.
Will San Francisco make a trade this year?
2019: Emmanuel Sanders
2020: Jordan Willis
2021: Charles Omenihu
2022: Christian McCaffrey
2023: Chase Young#49ers pic.twitter.com/5P2jgg3AOq— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) October 30, 2024
Lynch’s tone, though, suggests something closer to the latter—adjustments that shore up the roster rather than redefine it.
“I do look at that injury list and say, … ‘We’ve got a chance to get a lot of these guys back, and that can buoy our team,’” Lynch said. “And that’s as good as any trade we could make because these guys are familiar with what we do, how we do it. I think when you’re looking at a trade deadline, we’ve taken advantage of it in a number of ways the years in which we’ve been here,” Lynch explained. “It’s been really good to us. It’s just got to be a fit, and you’re always calling and receiving calls.”
