The Dallas Cowboys are starting to pick up some momentum as we enter Week 6 of the 2025 season, but the team's defense remains a major issue, especially as it relates to getting after the quarterback.
Not only are the Cowboys giving up the fourth-most points per contest (30.8) in the NFL, the team is also struggling to get to the quarterback. The Cowboys have 10 sacks in five contests, and five of those came in Week 5.
It's crystal clear that the departure of Micah Parsons via trade with the Green Bay Packers has hurt Dallas' defense and Dallas needs to make a move to fix that.
While he wouldn't guarantee a total fix, the Miami Dolphins' 26-year-old edge rusher, Jaelan Phillips, is someone who could help.
Pro Football & Sports Network's Josh Weil predicts the Cowboys will make a trade for Phillips ahead of the deadline. Here's the deal he's predicting:
- Cowboys receive: EDGE Jaelan Phillips
- Dolphins receive: 2026 fourth-round pick
"While there is no replacing Micah Parsons, bringing in someone who possesses that truly elite upside would benefit the Dallas Cowboys, especially seeing how they really get a lot out of the defensive players they bring in," Weil wrote.
The Dolphins are a total mess right now at 1-4, so it stands to reason they could be sellers at the trade deadline and Phillips is most definitely a candidate to be moved because he's in the final year of his rookie contract.
Phillips' career has been marred by injury in recent years, but he still has 24 sacks in four-plus seasons and 51 games in Miami. Phillips is healthy in 2025 and has played in all five games and has one sack and 16 pressures.
With Phillips coming back from a torn ACL this year, it stands to reason he's going to get better as the year progresses. His quiet start also means he could be acquired for cheap, which makes him more intriguing given his upside.
In Phillips, the Cowboys wouldn't just have someone who can contribute now, but if he pans out, he's young enough to be included in Dallas' future plans.
Having a defensive front with Phillips, Kenny Clark and Jadeveon Clowney getting after the quarterback would offer a serious lift for the Cowboys' struggling defense and could help propel Dallas to the playoffs in 2025.
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