Jerry Jones: Cowboys in NFC's 'Upper Echelon,' Not Planning Big Trade Deadline Talks

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones downplayed the likelihood of any major additions ahead of the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline.

"The initiation of an opportunity to make a trade at this time that would help us principally has to start over on the other end," Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan's Shan & RJ (via the Dallas Morning News' Michael Gehlken). "... I like where we are with our personnel today."

He added the Cowboys are "in the upper echelon" of the NFC:

Some fans might question whether Jones is overestimating Dallas' strength and setting himself up to once again be disappointed at the end of the year.

The Cowboys entered their Week 7 bye on a high thanks to their 20-17 road victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, but that win followed a resounding 42-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Heading into Week 8, they sit ninth in Bleacher Report's NFL power rankings, which puts them behind the Philadelphia Eagles, 49ers and Detroit Lions in the NFC.

Jones' general doubt about the Cowboys making a headline-grabbing trade within the next week is understandable. Acquiring Amari Cooper ahead of the 2018 trade deadline worked out nicely, but deals of that magnitude at this point in the year are rare.

Especially when Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons are all due for extensions within the next few years, Dallas shouldn't overpay for proven talent and lose the kind of draft capital that will be invaluable in filling out the roster.

At the same time, maintaining the status quo could leave the Cowboys staring up at the competition in the NFC title race.